South Asian Architects' Conference To Be Held In Nepal Next Week

By Yuba Nath Lamsal KATHMANDU, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- The Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA) will host the 14th regional conference of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation of Architects (SAARCH) in Kathmandu on the first week of February. Nepal is taking over as the chair of SAARCH from the conference, organisers said. Senior architects representing national bodies of architects from member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) except Afghanistan will participate in the regional conference, Senior Nepalese architect and chairman of SONA Kishore Thapa said. SAARC has recognised SAARCH as a SAARC-recognized body. Thapa said the conference will provide a good opportunity for architects in general and Nepalese architects in particular to learn from sharing of experiences on reconstruction especially after devastations caused by natural calamities like the earthquakes. Nepalese architects and engineers have an important role in making sure that Nepal’s heritage monuments which have been destroyed by last year's earthquake are rebuilt without compromising our indigenous designs for which the conference will be beneficial, Thapa said. "We have been mobilising our architects to assist the government in the task of rebuilding the nation with earthquake-resistant technology but keeping intact traditional architecture and the regional conference will further enhance knowledge and skill of Nepalese architects and engineers,” Thapa said. SAARC has recognised 17 different South Asian professional organisations as its apex or recognised bodies. SAARC was established in 1985 to foster cooperation among eight South Asian countries at various levels. Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan are the members of the SAARC, which has nine observers including China, Myanmar, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Mauritius, Iran, United States and European Union. -- BERNAMA