Architects Without Frontiers | Australia

For the fourth consecutive year, OzQuest and Architects Without Frontiers offered Architects, Architecture students and all related construction & design professionals and students an opportunity to travel to Nepal, experience world heritage Nepali architecture, interact with and contribute to the local community through community development projects.

Between December 28, 2009 – January 24, 2010 two groups including architects, students and landscape architects from across Australia and overseas participated in the expedition. Four Nepali architecture students from Nepal Engineering College, sponsored by Hayball Pty Ltd Architects, also joined the project.

After two introductory days in Kathmandu, followed by a long bus ride, we arrived at Bhulbhule – a small village at the start of the Annapurna circuit. From here the groups hiked to the villages where they were to work – Gosshing and Siurung. In Gosshing work was done to complete a school which had been started in the 2008/2009 expedition – working alongside local tradesmen assisting with drywall construction, timber work and painting. We were welcomed into the community and enjoyed tent accommodation and warm hospitality.

Both groups participated in the construction work in the village of Siurung, working on the construction of a new kindergarten. Prior to departure design workshops were held to develop plans for the kindergarten. The design was modified on site due to the excavation works undertaken by the village and site conditions. In Siurung we assisted the local tradesmen in drywall construction, concreting, site set out and excavation.

On return to Kathmandu the groups visited the Nepal Engineering college to see architecture education in Nepal and further build on ties between AWF, OzQuest and Nepal Engineering College. Future expeditions will see a greater involvement with Nepal engineering college

David Anderson

Contact David Anderson for more details on the 2010-2011 Expedition