TRIBHUWAN
UNIVERSITY  

             INSTI TUTE OF

ENGINEERING  
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE             
PULCHOWK CAMPUS

                        

             DESIGN THEORY - II

SUBMITTED TO:                                 SUBMITTED BY:

INU PRADHAN SHALIKE MA’AM                         DIPSON K.C. (077BAR012)
                                                                                         NEHA KUMARI RAY
(077BAR021)
                                                                                         NISHA YADAV(077BAR024)

                                                                                         SHIVAM MISHRA(077BAR036)   

CONTENT
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1. PREFACE
2. AKNOWLEGDEMENT
3. OBJECTIVES
4. INTRODUCTION
5. ARCHITECTURAL PHILOSOPHY
6. WONAW AND ASSOCIATES
7. AWARDS AND HONORS
8. INSPIRATION
9. SOME OF HIS PERSPECTIVES
10. ARCHITECTURE FOR HIM
11. EDUCATION
12. DESIGN THINKING
13. THOUGHTS ON THE FOLLOWING
14. PROJECT TIMELINE
15. PAVILIONS HIMALAYAS
16. Restaurants: ND's Putalisadak
17. Environment Friendly Residence
18. ADVICE FOR YOUNG ARCHITECTS
19. CONCLUSION

PREFACE

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This project suggests us to visit an Architect and gain some
knowledge about him his philosophy, Influences, Inspiration,
Beliefs, Style,and how he thinks to come up with design solution.
Hence, under the supervision from out lecturer, Asst.prof Dr. Inu
Pradhan Salike who recommended us for the visit, we went to Ar.
Alex Shrestha whose architectural form is named as Wonaw &
Associates which is located at Satdobato, Lalitpur.It is indeed a
pleasant experience visiting and knowing about any Architect.
From the visit: we are there to know about the philosophy,
Influences, Inspiration, Beliefs, Style of architect and how things
are working in the real life projects through design perspective,
how architect come up with his design solutions which we can
take into account and have inspiration from that which influences
and leads us to have more creative, thoughtful approach to our
design problems. Apart from that, we got to know many ideas
about the designing. After the visits, we have to come out a report
with what we see, experience and understand there.

AKNOWLEGDEMENT

While bringing out this project to its final form we came across a
number of people whose contributions in various ways helped this

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project and they deserve special thanks. It is a pleasure to convey
our thanks to all of them. First and foremost we would like to
express our deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to our
teacher Asst.prof.Dr.Inu Pradhan Salika for giving us this
opportunity to make this report on “FAMOUS ARCHITECT OF
NEPAL”. We are extremely thankful to her for her support and
guidance despite her busy schedule. Secondly I would like to
thank Ar.Alex Shrestha despite of his busy schedule he managed
his time schedule for us so that we can have meeting which leads
us to know him well about his philosophy, Influences, Inspiration,
Beliefs, Style and special design features such as sustainability
which he wants to accomplished in his every design of houses,
hotels or any other buildings.

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the visit;
 we are up to have idea about the philosophy, Influences,
Inspiration, Beliefs, and Style of that architect we visited. 
 Their working environment and the working techniques they
used to come up their design solutions. 
 Process they carry out during designing.
 Experience of the architect and how he uses his experience in
the field.

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 Study how he handles and convince his clients.
 To have inspiration from architect, which influences and
leads us to have more creative, thoughtful approach to our
design problems.
METHODOLOGY

primary method secondary method

visits research from internet
emails facebook page
contacting google
informal meeting

Methodology

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INTRODUCTION

 CEO of Wonaw and associates.

 Ar.Alex Shrestha was born in 1982.
 Alex completed his secondary
school in Kurseong, India , his O
levels from Dubai and his CBS
from Delhi.
 He then obtained his Bachelors of
Science in Architecture, with a
distinction, from the University of
Santo Tomas in Manila, Philipines ,
in 1998.
 Completed his Master of Science in
Urban planning from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu.
 Always interested in designing and in drawing, he credits his
choice of career in architecture to the opportunities his school
provided him in exploring and developing his interest in this
area. His father was an aircraft engineer and so becoming a
pilot was the other area of interest as a child , but he decided
on architecture anyway and has no regrets about his choice.
 represents a new generation of architects and urban planners
creating a positive impact across the Asia landscape
 He respects the good design of the other architects but was
never inspired by their designs and tried to be like them

ARCHITECTURAL PHILOSOPHY
 Blend of architecture with nature using the principle of sustainability.
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 Doesn’t believe in conceptual styles. “The solution should be contextual”
he says.
 Promotes sustainablity in all his designs in terms of food, energy water.
 With a strong conviction to achieving design excellence within the local
context, he confidently confronts and challenges design principles,
materials and technology limitations to produce beautiful, functional and
sustainable architecture

WONAW AND ASSOCIATES

 Shortlisted as the top 4 in the Asia Pacific Region for the Architecture of
the Year Award.
 Practices sustainable and green architecture to minimize negative impact
of the buildings into the environment
 UK’s leading name in high-end residential and commercial architecture
and interior design.
 fusing logic with imagination and truth with discovery.

AWARDS AND HONORS

• AHDA 2016, Asia Hotel Design Awards 2016
• 40 under 40 awards celebrating young design leaders of today and
tomorrow 2016
• Green apple awards winner 2016 for the built environment and
architectural heritage
• The International Hotel And Property Awards Shortlisted 2017
• Society Of Nepalese Architects, Award of Excellence 2021

INSPIRATION
• No turnover point in life that inspired him to be an architect. His interest
toward art and craft eventually grew his peculiarity towards architecture
• His school subject related to arts and craft thrived him toward
architectural field

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• Perhaps to make up for being away from that he had a strong urge to give
back to his country
• Not even an overnight dream to pursue sustainability, it was his affinity
for nature. Thinking on the problems which could be solved with his
expertise. He created a livable space in the nature, for nature

SOME OF HIS PERSPECTIVES

• Every little bit of energy that you save both at home and at work helps,
and depending on your budget, you can do numerous things to conserve
energy and reduce costs
• If your budget permits, you might also want to install solar heated under
flooring heating or radiators which are highly efficient but need to be
installed during construction
• Lighting also has a profound impact on our physical, physiological, and
psychological health
• Indoor gardening is ideal for fostering plants not native to a particular
outdoor climate while providing whole new way to get creative ith
greenary that you can enjoy all year round.
• Designing spaces for children requires awareness and sensitivity to the
uniqueness of the child as a user within a space.

ARCHITECTURE FOR HIM

 Architecture needs to be dynamic not frozen
 In the beginning, architecture was a struggle for him, but he loved the
creativity, the development process behind creating something by himself
 Create inspirational pieces that not only is beautiful in papers but also
beautiful in reality
 A successful architect is those who always stay updated about the style,
taste, materials, technology

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 As an architect we need to be a good critic to analyze and grasp the good
or bad design practices
 Architecture molds the society
 He wants to decrease the load of environment by minimizing
constructional waste and bring sustainability
 Started practicing architectural renderings and works during his 3rd year of
bachelors

EDUCATION
• Secondary school: Goethals Memorial School in Kurseong, India
• O levels: Dubai
• CBS from Delhi, India
• Completed Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a distinction, from
the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines
• Completed Master of Science in Urban planning from Tribhuwan
University, Kathmandu - completed MBA from Pokhara University

DESIGN THINKING
 requirements of client -- Commercial Residencial
-Pattern -lifestyle of client
-Existing business -budget
-Format of business -preferences
-Working culture
-Preferences
 context of project ------ Site location
-Limitation of site
-Workmanship
-Materials available
-Technology
 budget
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 self-limitation
 economy of country
 style of that place
 architects’ expertise

THOUGHTS ON THE FOLLOWING

 CURVES: Curves inspire the youngsters, so he uses curves for the
places where youngster's usually go
(cafe). Curves looks aesthetic but in
terms of spaces, usage, and
optimizations is not very good.
Practically it is difficult to
construct. Curves are very
beautiful, cheerful, and interesting
and cannot be used in all contexts.
Played with curves in his early days
for about 10 years
 MATERIALS: Every material has its own importance & challenges.
New materials available in the market gives flexibility. Materials
should be used very carefully according to the climatic condition,
region, altitude, transportation and easy to renovate
 TAKES ON OTHER ARCHITECT’S PROJECTS: Appreciates
others work
Feels like prominent
buildings missed
 TAKES ON OWN BUILT PROJECTS: Always thriving for
rectification of the projects during construction .Learns from
previous mistakes.Treats his projects like his baby

PROJECT TIMELINE
• Restaurant: Bakery Cafe at Nanglo – 2012

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• ND's Putalisadak-2012

• Pavilion Himalaya: Eco

Resort- 2013.
• Environment friendly
residence -2017

• Jagatpur Lodge by Annapurna-

2017

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 Lumbini Museum, Refurbishment Works-2021

PAVILIONS HIMALAYAS

Client: Douglas Maclagan

Location: Phusrekhola,Pokhara
Type: Eco friendly resort

Introduction
• Unique and first of its
kind self-sustainable
Eco Resort project in
Nepal
• Surrounded by
farmland, forested
hills, and a mountain-
fed stream, the 14
luxurious eco-friendly
villas form the natural
landscape

Features

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• Thermal insulation by cavity wall and double-glazed window
• Grey water recycling
• Rainwater harvesting
• Solar panels and heat pumps for hot water
• Solar pv cells for electricity
• Solid waste management (biogas plant)
• Lightening arresters
Analysis
• Site analysis: villas facing the lustrous farm, Himalayas and Phewa
lakes
• Providing homely environment by creating separate villas
• The structures are built on single and split-level configurations, using
the natural topography to minimize the disturbances to the flow of
the land
• Consideration of detachment of the villas from the service areas yet
not too far from the services
• use of local materials, workforce, indigenous technology, and local
architecture blended with eco-friendly technologies and practices

Restaurants: ND's Putalisadak

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• Crowning feature of metal ribbed sail structure, fabricated
indigenously out of a curved metal struts welded together
• Sydney opera house-ish structure
• Opted to yellow color to bring color contrast against a grey building
• A courtyard like area laced with helical stairways
• Kitchen defined and bound within food display zone and service
counter

Environment Friendly Residence

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Passive Solar Design
• Thermal Insulation on wall, ceiling, and floor
• Double glazed windows
• Solar Electricity Production
• Solar hot-water system
• Rainwater & grey water harvesting
• Sewage treatment
• kitchen waste to cooking gas and compost
Analysis
• Practical design practice for the context of kathmandu valley
• Construction cost > annual expense cost
• Blend of modern and traditional architecture
ADVICE FOR YOUNG ARCHITECTS
• Exposure to world
-travel
-surf through google
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• Learn from good as well as bad designs
• Etiquettes towards architecture
• Interaction with peoples
• Continuous effort. Never give up.
• Focus on creativity for now but later shift towards practicality
• Learn different software from now
CONCLUSION
 The thing that the architect told us about sustainable design in terms
of food and energy which helps to reduce the pollution is inspiring.
Sustainable designing seeks to minimize the negative environmental
impact of buildings through improved efficiency and moderation in
the use of materials, energy etc which helps to improve quality of
life.
 “Form follows function or function follows form”, he believes all
these things are cliché instead architecture is the balance of both. The
context of the site and the requirements accordingly should be given
more importance
 Being a sensitive person towards nature, he developed a solution on
balancing the load of waste on the environment through
sustainability similarly every architect needs to find his/her core
emotion and find the best possible ways to solve it.
REFERENCES
 Wonaw and associates official page
 https://thebuiltculture.com
 Linkedin

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