SERAPHIC ABODES

A Community for the ever-growing elderly population in Nepal

Riya Pradhan

A thesis submitted in partial

Fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of

Bachelor of Architecture

Department of Architecture,

Montfort del Rosario School of Architecture & Design

ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY

2023

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 Thesis Approved: _____________________________________________
Date Asst. Prof. Suparath Valaisathien,
Dean
_____________________________________________
Date Asst. Prof. Nobpadol Suvachananonda,
Chairperson

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 _____________________________________________
Date Asst. Prof. Jaturont Boonla-or
Thesis Advisor

Abstract

This thesis aims to provide senior citizens with a space that uplifts their quality of
life without it being expensive and provides them with a Nepalese home-like
environment. With the children out of the country or unable to take care of the old
parents, these senior citizens are left behind alone and without money. These
seniors require a sense of dignity as well as a place to live comfortably.
The activities provided would include an income-generating source for the elderly
to get back a sense of control of their life.

They deserve to live in a safe space with less pollution. Considering the existing
issues such as the stigma of old age homes being for the poor and discarded in the
Nepalese community, people tend to opt out of it. Being in a space that feels like
home surrounded by like-minded individuals, the depression of loneliness can be
avoided. Dedicating a community for senior citizens instead of just a home would
mean they have people to engage with and help take care of each other.

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Table of Contents:

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………2
I. Background of Interest………………………………………….………………………..2
II. Design Statement…………………………………………………………………………….…………….3
III. Research Questions
IV. Research Objectives
V. Scope and Delimitations
VI. Research and Design Methodology
VII. Definition of Terms
VIII. Benefit of Study………………………………………………..…………………………….3-4

2. References…………………………………………………………………..…………………………….17

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 1. Introduction

1.1 Background of Interest:

For the elderly in Nepal, a range of plans is being implemented by the

government, charities, and generous individuals. Yet, they remain without
access to the necessary support and care that would assist them with
living with ease. Old age homes there contrast greatly from those found in
Western countries. The stigma around such places in Nepal is that these
homes are for aged citizens without family or income. Furthermore, basic
facilities are missing from such residences.

According to a study done by Acharya in 2007, seven elderly homes were

surveyed which represent a distinctness of their own. The existing elderly
homes in Nepal are unpopular due to the societal stigma, and depressing
environment. The following table shows the carrying capacity and the
presently occupied seats. All the homes have specified criteria for entry
regarding age, helplessness, and alike. But there are no communities
designed for the needs and wants of the old age society.

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 Many senior centers, like Pashupati Nath Briddhashram, Gaushala, Siddhi
Shaligram Briddhashram Bhaktapur, Senior Citizens Home, Godavari, etc.,
can be found in Nepal. There are 103 recognized old age homes, which
are typically viewed as a conflict between family relatives and social
ideals. Older generations can live in these existing homes, and they are
safe, but their architectural elements and interior layout are not
comfortable for them. Aside from their living conditions, these homes
have problems dealing with the nature of the senior citizens i.e., childish
behavior, old age depression, and frustration. Such facilities should be
designed with an emphasis on functionality, mobility, flexibility, and
psychological considerations. Most of the homes arrange temple visits,
pilgrimage and some have regular yoga and Satsang sessions. (Acharya,
2007)

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit one of the most popular old
age homes in Nepal. I went to Pashupati Bridhashram only to see the
horrible situation they are living in. From old buildings to a lack of facilities
such as proper bathrooms, unclean environment, and overcrowding are
just a few among a long list of problems there. The poor state of the place
and the pain experienced by every user greatly distressed me. The
location wasn't being maintained correctly, and it wasn't accomplishing its
goals.

Figure 1 Pashupati Briddhashram Figure 2 Pashupati Briddhashram

As an architect, I was devastated to see the landscape in such a

deteriorating condition. This establishment houses elderly people who
don’t have any income source and is standing through donations and

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 some governmental help only. In Nepal, one of the major needs for old
age homes comes from poor families who cannot afford to take care of
their old or diseased parents. These elderlies are often found in temples,
disregarded, and left to fend for themselves.

As of 2019, over 2 million people living in Nepal are aged over 60 which is
almost 9% of the country’s total population. The proportion of older
people is expected to double to 18.6% in 2050 with 36 million people
aged over 60. This means that for every five Nepalese, one will be a senior
citizen.1 In Nepal, the Elderly population growth rate is quite higher than

Table 1 Size and growth rate of elderly population, Nepal, 1952/54-2011

Source: Population Monograph of Nepal, 2003 & 2014.

the population growth rate.

• Data shows that in every two years, the average life expectancy is
increasing by one year in Nepal.

1
Ref: HelpAge International. 2012. Ageing in the 21st Century: A Celebration and A Challenge. New
York: UNFPA.

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 • In Nepali culture, generally, parents prefer to live with their
children, especially with sons. A study shows more than 80% live
with their children and only 2.7% of the elderly were living with
their daughters. Children are also considered as insurance for old
age because another social security system is not well developed in
Nepal.
• Recently in recent decades, the number of youths going abroad for
employment and higher studies is increasing rapidly. 2

Issues:

From the facts mentioned above I have categorized the issues faced by
old people in Nepal:

Environmental Issues:

Kathmandu, being one of the most polluted cities in the world, faces
issues like air pollution, noise pollution from the roads, unmanaged
waste, etc. Sick people can’t help getting sicker in environments like such.
Old people are vulnerable to countless diseases, so they need to be as far
away from these pollutants as possible. However, upon observing the
living conditions in the present retirement homes, pollution is evident.

To eradicate this issue, we might be able to use the method of upcycling

the construction waste materials found in many parts of Kathmandu left
behind after the 2015 earthquake.

Nepal also faces other environmental problems like earthquakes, lack of

electrical energy, and lack of clean water supply. There are many
sustainable options to control these issues in a budget-friendly manner
like passive design, earthquake-proofing, use of solar energy, and
rainwater management.

2
Aryal, Gokarna Raj (M. Phil), The Status of Elderly people in Nepal, 2019

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 Financial Issues:

Nepal does not lie among the rich nations; poverty is still a very real issue
there. So, building with sustainable materials and upcycling would help
the government build a comfortable home for senior citizens without
compromising the budget for other structures.

With age, old people lose many senses other than their physicality, they
lose the sense of control over their life, they don’t have any ambition left,
and so on. When old people retire, they stop earning. This makes them
obligated to depend upon family members for support. Due to economic
pressure, youth migrate, searching for employment opportunities and
settling elsewhere. The children, whether they leave the country or not,
might not be able to support their parents financially, which happens to
be the main reason these elderly people find themselves in front of a
temple door. It is not possible for all children, whether they are abroad or
in the country, to leave everything and take care of their parents, and
grandparents. These old people also don’t want to have to depend on
anyone financially. To give them a sense of control in their life, be it
financially, it would be appropriate to include some activities they can do
to earn while in the retirement home. This would provide them with a
sense of purpose in life and a stable income source.

Social Issues:

In the past, old age homes have been viewed as a place parents go when
they or the caretakers are too poor to sustain themselves. Due to this
stigma, people opt out of these homes and continue to live in their own
houses despite them being unsuitable for senior living. (Unsuitable in
terms of long, narrow, and high staircases, unhygienic, and not
environmentally sustainable.)

According to the culture and tradition, in Nepal, paying respect and

proper care to older adults, especially in their end-stage of life, is believed
as a good deed. In earlier days, the family was taking care of older adults.
According to tradition, children were obligated to provide care and
support to their parents (Geriatric Center Nepal 2010, 9). Nepal is rich in

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 traditional norms, family value systems, and culture, where the well-being
of older adults is taken by the family rather than the government
(Himalayan news service, 2017).

Due to the trend of youths migrating out of the country, senior citizens
are left alone at home, making them vulnerable to mental problems like
loneliness, depression, and many more. There are cases where older
adults are alone because they have no relatives at all. (Geriatric center
Nepal 2010, 9). So, those old people are left to think they are very alone
and have nothing to look forward to in life as everyone they loved and
lived for has left them behind. With more young people leaving the
country and being familiar with the Western way of life, the purpose of an
old age center will eventually become more of a communal need than just
a solution to family conflicts. These homes will be sought out as a
retirement retreat rather than serving their purpose as a place to discard
the old people who have no one to receive care from.

When people start to get old and cannot do the things they could
normally do before, the family must take care of them. This makes them
think “Am I a burden to my family?”. I have heard these lines from various
old people. Therefore, they want to live away from their families and go
to places they think are more home-like. Most leave the cities to live
alone in the village they used to live in before migrating to the city.
Therefore, for individuals who are financially stable and can afford all the
facilities needed, a well-equipped retirement home is becoming
increasingly important so that they can live a life of dignity as well.

Senior citizens might benefit from living in a lively environment with like-
minded people and make the best out of their remaining days. Senior
citizens in this community could stay together and help each other out
and take care of each other. This would minimize the number of nurses
the facility might need and in turn, minimize the cost of living in it.
Therefore, dedicating an entire community to elderly people might be
more suitable for them to feel less lonely, happy, and engaged in society.

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 1.2 Hypothesis, Uniqueness/ State-of-the-Art, Thesis
Statement, or Design Statement

This Architecture would provide a haven for the elderly community. For
people who have lived independently or with families all their lives, living
at an old age home could be challenging. Adapting to rules and new
people will take time. To make this process smooth and convenient the
atmosphere and ambiance of the place play a major role.

The design of the old age home should concentrate on comfort and a
user-friendly experience. Most of the time senior citizens feel like they are
cooped up in their houses. So, introducing outdoor activity areas in the
old age community architecture would be a key factor that will be a
tremendous change in the environment for the elderly.

This design would provide senior citizens with a space that uplifts their
quality of life without it being expensive and provides them with a
Nepalese home-like environment.

1.3 Research Questions

1. What kind of behavior and lifestyle does the aging population of Nepal
have?
2. What kind of structure, programs, and design limitations do the present
facilities have?
3. What should be improved to fit their physical and mental needs in
terms of design elements, programs, accessibility, etc.?
4. What kind of materials would be suitable in Kathmandu’s context to
upcycle or recycle to build a cost-effective community?
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 1.4 Research Objectives

• To study the specific characteristics and behaviors related to

elderly people and know the specific needs of elderly people to
integrate with the community, socialization, privacy,
independence, and personal development in their daily life.
• To study how to use appropriate design techniques and elements
for the elderly that help with their physical and mental
shortcomings without it seeming to be a medical institution.
• To study how to design a space with limited resources and budget.
• To design a sustainable and cost-effective elderly community that
uplifts their quality of life.

1.5 Scope and Delimitation

1) This study is limited to a population who are above 60 years of age.

This study is based on elderly people sampled from the Kathmandu
district of Nepal. The findings of this study may not be
representative of the elderly population of the whole world.
2) This research will investigate the architectural elements that are
culturally, spiritually, and mentally significant to the elderly
population of Kathmandu, Nepal.
3) This research does not contain religious housing or temple
architecture, but it is connected to the regional architecture in the
area.
4) This thesis is not limited to building an elderly house but rather a
community tailored to the needs of the elderly people of
Kathmandu.
5) This thesis excludes any clinics or hospitals that may be needed on
community grounds.
6) This thesis would be contributed as a government project in a
business architecture standpoint.

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 1.6 Research and Design Methodology

The research will be conducted in the following format:

Primary data:
• Interviews with the local people around the site
• Interview the select elderly people who are currently living in such
facilities.
• Interview the families having elderly people.
• Survey according to the interviews

Secondary data:
• Books on Nepalese architecture and related fields
• Research papers from resources
• Surveys done by organizations,
• Articles on senior living in Nepal
• Books and case studies on senior living.

➢ The Traditional Architecture of The Kathmandu Valley, Bibliotheca

Himalayica, Wolfgang Korn
➢ Elements of Nepalese Temple Architecture, Purusottam Dangol
➢ Acharya, P. (2007). Senior Citizens and the Elderly Homes: A
Survey from Kathmandu. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and
Anthropology, 9.
➢ Bhatta, A. (2016). Senior citizens' home.
➢ Shakya, A. (2017). Senior citizens' homes.
➢ Kudo S, Mutisya E, Nagao M. Population aging: An emerging
research agenda for sustainable development. Social sciences.
2015 Dec
➢ Chalise HN, Paudel BR. Elderly Abuse among Community-Living
Older Adults of Least Developed Country-Nepal. Arch Phys Rehabil
Med. 2020

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 ➢ Aryal, Gokarna Raj (M. Phil), The Status of Elderly people in Nepal,
2019

1.7 Definition of Terms

Seraphic Abodes: A house befitting an Angel, or a heavenly house.

Elderly Community: A community space that includes but is not limited to

apartments for elderly people, activity zones, daycare for old people,
parks, etc.

The Western way of life: The Western way of life in this thesis is related
only to the thoughts they have on senior homes. It is the practical
understanding of how when people get old their children cannot take care
of them full-time as they need to earn and have a separate life of
themselves.

Quality of Life:

Quality of life means different things to different aged people. For

children, it includes a big space to play in, a fun interior, etc. For young
adults, it might be a modern design, gaming space, or adventure. For
adults, it’s luxury and travel. However, for senior citizens, a life of quality
does not necessarily include an extraordinary or lavish lifestyle. They only
want a safe and comfortable place to sleep in, a clean bathroom, and a
healthy lifestyle. Luxury for them is a space that takes care of them with
bar handles, ramps, fewer stairs, clean air to breathe, and community
space.

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 1.8 The benefit of this study
1) To help understand the problems developing countries face in
terms of the increasing elderly population and find solutions to
them.
2) Understanding the local architectural structures and elements of
Kathmandu, Nepal.
3) To learn more about building a space appropriate for old people.
4) Understanding the sustainable way to build in an earthquake-prone
environment.

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 References

1) Acharya, P. (2007). Senior Citizens and the Elderly Homes: A Survey

from Kathmandu. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology,
9.
2) Bhatta, A. (2016). Senior citizens' home.
3) Shakya, A. (2017). Senior citizens' homes.
4) https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/352465/ThapaBinit
a.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y
5) https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/bitstream/123456789/8424/1/Full%20Th
esis.pdf

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