Adaptive Reuse of Historical Buildings around Kathmandu Valley: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Providing a new working position to an ancient structure happens when adaptive reuse is utilized for a building with historical, architectural, or cultural significance, because this method ensures that the design character, structural strength, and heritage value stay safe. Since quick urban growth and shifting social needs transform old cities in this modern time, adaptive reuse functions as a helpful strategy because it protects the old construction heritage while contemporary requirements are met. Professional individuals claim that the heritage structures within Kathmandu Valley face great stress from city growth, limited maintenance, and different usage styles, which reason causes this investigation to examine the real application of adaptive reuse in this location. By using a detailed method of analysis, this study assesses how adaptive reuse helps to keep conservation and green urban growth in balance, because this assessment relies on examining scholarly papers, known protection theories, and specific examples. Attention is given to Newa Chhen, Patan Museum, and Kaiser Library by the researcher, because looking at these buildings shows the design, building, and usage changes that made sure these ancient structures stayed helpful. International examples and accepted protection rules are added to the research to give comparison points, which addition assists in finding rules that work for the Nepal situation. It has been observed by the study that adaptive reuse maintains the design character and local heritage, and adaptive reuse also helps the environment because adaptive reuse makes the life of ancient structures longer, stops building trash, and decreases the need for fresh supplies. Many big problems are identified in this work, which problems are the poor following of legal rules, small money amounts, hard technical issues, and the lack of professional individuals who have deep knowledge in protection.