Stanford’s Students Prepare Design for Quake-hit Village

September 14: A team of engineering students from Stanford University of California has prepared community design for an earthquake affected village of Dolakha. In collaboration with Today’s Youth Asia, seven engineering students from the university presented the village design amid a function held in the capital on Thursday, September, 13.

The students Alex Nutkiewicz, Andrew Sonta, Bessie Noll, Addison Bliss, Evan Carlson, Ann Tanaka and Cameron Park under the university’s ‘Global Engineering Programme presented their design at the  ‘Engineering for Nation-Building’ programme for creating an eco-conscious, eco-tourism, cost-effective and earthquake-resistant village. The students as a part of their Summer Service Learning Programme (SSLP) had conducted research of Dolakha community before preparing the design. Students from different engineering background including mechanical, structural, architectural and physical have developed appropriate design identifying the needs and values for developing the village. The design was based on utilization of local materials like mud, stones and pine wood for construction in a cost-effective way.

Briefing about the programme, president of Today’s Youth Asia Santosh Shah, said, “Stanford University while collaboration with different countries for its students study in international community, has collaborated with Today’s Youth Asia for the first time in Nepal.” According to him, the students developed design of sustainable village for Dolakha considering two major problems- natural calamities and poor economic background.

The design was handed over to Shanti Pakhrin, a member of parliament and leader of Nepal Communist Party of Dolakha. Appreciating the students’ research and design of earthquake affected Dolakha, Pakhrin said the design is worthwhile for developing the village.

Highlighting on the importance and role of engineering, President of Nepal-Swiss Friendship Society Khem Raj Lakai said that the approach of Stanford’s students would help in changing the present state of the village. He said, “This design is a reference for housing constructions that will be available to anyone at any time.”  

On the same programme, Architect Shirshak Baniya also presented housing design for the Terai region. “There is a gap between engineers and locals of Terai due to which engineers are not being able to present the designs of national level as well.” Revealing the values of traditional housing design of Khatiya’s culture in Terai, Baniya stressed on maintaining the design for Terai in a modern way. The design was handed to Sanjya Kumar Gautam, a member of parliament and former minister for irrigation.

Speaking about the role and economic impact of India’s Kumbha Mela, Satyaendra Tripathi, fellow of India Foundation, highlighted the importance of management aspects in any great occasion in Nepal. He also handed over Kumbha to Manish Suman, member of Provincial Assembly of Province 2 and general secretary of Rashtriya Janata Party Nepal.