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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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'We Must Use Land In A Very Discretionary Manner' (july 2011)
4 min 42 sec to read
World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of New Business Age, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:
Â
What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?
We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land. There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.
Â
Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.
Â
Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?
The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner.
Â
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.
Â
Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.
What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects?
I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
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 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepal’s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal. The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we can’t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project ‘Westar Skyliving’ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. It’s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What’s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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