Seismic Resilient Reconstruction of Traditional Buildings of Kathmandu valley

Global Report on Disaster Risk, ranks Nepal on 11th position in terms of earthquake risks as earthquakes. A devastating earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April and May 29, 2015 and its repeated aftershocks have had a big toll on life, property, infrastructure, cultural heritage. The study analyzed construction of the traditional residential buildings considering disaster. The study was based on both primary and secondary data collection. Sankhu and Khokana were selected for the case studies as those were severely destructed traditional settlements as well as both are enlisted to be World heritage town by UNESCO. The study reflected that the foundation of traditional houses were damped, there was a lack of integrity between walls, roofs and floor, use of wet rot and decay timber components, roof caved in because of the timber members were rotting due to alternate wet and dry conditions and the suitable remedies were given for the problems. It was found that traditional buildings with modern technological innovation were observed to be more seismic resilient.

The study was carried out by Sadichchha Shrestha of Kathmandu University on 2016.

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