"Modern architecture is spiritually dead." - Bibhuti Man Singh

His bio reads like this: "still trying to confirm some inner certainties about architecture: hopelessly romantic, incurably impractical."

Sounds familiar? Yes, that is our own Bibhuti Man Singh, who graduated from the West Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore in 1972. He completed his Post Graduate training through a JICA sponsored program. He is the Chief Architect of Kathmandu-based architecture firm Technical Interface and the Former president of the Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA). Some the projects he worked on include the Park Village Resort at Budhanilkantha, Club Himalaya at Nagarkot, Himalayan Pavilion in Hanover Expo 2000, etc.

His most recent endeavor is the conceptualization of the Digi Chhen for its proposed reconstruction (please see http://janabahaa.blogspot.com/2009/09/minutes-of-meeting-discussion-regarding.html). His preliminary proposal for the Digi Chen reconstruction will ultimately feature the following:

1. A revival of the classical composition that existed before the fire.
2. A more streamlined composition of functional spaces on each floor.
3. A visitor-friendly depiction of popular imagery on the facade.
4. Fixtures & finishes more in line with contemporary sensitivities.
5. Repair & reuse of existing artifacts & materials (adaptive reuse).

He also believes in fully documenting the whole process of creating the new design for the Digi Chhen as it unfolds over the coming months in a transparent and inclusive manner with the aim of incorporating all conflicting or competing interests or perspectives into the final design.

You can read some of his published interviews at http://www.ecs.com.np/archive/oct_06/article_2.htm and http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishmonthly/businessage/2000/Jan/cover.htm.

If you have any questions for him, please feel free to put up them up as a comment to this post together with your email address, and they will be forwarded to him.