Artist village: Where Arts meets

Project idea

The Artist Village aims to be a lively and inclusive space where art, culture, and community come together. It seeks to support local and international artists by providing dedicated spaces to live, work, exhibit, and collaborate.
It is designed to be a vibrant cultural hub. The village includes:
Artist residences
Studios for painting, sculpture, metalwork, and pottery
Galleries and exhibition spaces
Workshops and classrooms
Cafés, retail shops, and community spaces

It highlights Nepal’s rich handicraft traditions and tackles issues artists face, such as a lack of affordable workspaces, limited exposure, and minimal public engagement. The Artist Village also aims to attract tourists to help local economic growth through cultural tourism and handicraft sales.

Project description

The main idea is to create a space that encourages creativity, community interaction, and cultural preservation. It responds to issues like:
Rising urbanization and loss of artistic spaces in cities.
Economic hurdles and lack of support for Nepal’s handicraft industries.
The need for sustainable, flexible, and welcoming environments for artists.

The concept emphasizes:
The balance between tradition and modern design
Integration with nature and the landscape, featuring winding pathways, courtyards, and terraced land use like in traditional newari styled architecture (a distinctive style indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, characterized by intricate wood carvings, brickwork, and a blend of Buddhist and Hindu influences)
Community involvement through exhibitions, workshops, and learning spaces

It aims to promote cultural exchange and economic improvement while celebrating Nepal’s traditional crafts, including Thangka painting (the traditional Tibetan Buddhist scroll paintings, often depicting deities, scenes, or mandalas, used for devotional, decorative, and teaching purposes), stone and metal sculpture, and pottery.

Technical information

The project is located in Panauti, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal ,an area known for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. The planning follows zoning guidelines and includes:
Site Area: 2.289 hectare of contoured land
Zoning: Divided into residential, workshop, exhibition, administrative, and public interaction zones

Design Features:
slope roof with jingati tiles ( traditional terracotta roof tiles commonly found in Kathmandu, Nepal)
Courtyard-based planning with traditional Nepali elements
Natural lighting through skylights, clerestories, and open terraces
Rainwater harvesting, solar lighting, and waste management systems
Use of local materials and traditional architecture for construction which includes brick, stone, wood, etc.


Spaces include:
Workshops for painting, sculpture, metalwork, and pottery
Temporary and permanent residences for students and artist
Gallery and exhibition halls
Library, community kitchen, cafés, and administrative blocks
Outdoor spaces like sculpture parks and amphitheaters

The project also adheres to universal design standards and climate-responsive architecture, focusing on accessibility, comfort, and sustainability.

Documentation

Show PDF 1