What is "modelhouse"

Namuna Ghar (The Model House) in Bhaktapur is a typical traditional Newari house, which had been neglected for a long time, until Mr. Rabindra Puri decided to buy and renovate it. Having a great passion for Newari architecture, Mr. Puri believed that he needed to set an example in order to convince other home owners to restore their houses, rather than to demolish and rebuild. The house was in a very bad state. Nobody lived in the house for ten years and there were rumors that the house was haunted. It was used as a chicken farm for the last five years before it was restored. When the restoration work started certain elements were found which indicated the house to be about 150 years old.

The house has been restored in its original shape, reusing most of the materials. The weakest part of the house had to be demolished and rebuilt in traditional style. It was a major challenge to save all the wooden frames, windows and bricks. Only a few materials and materials for modern facilities, like the bathroom, are new. For the interior decoration traditional and local materials were used. The restoration methodology was totally traditional. Some modern earthquake resistant measures were also adopted.

The area of the project is 259.21 square meters but the house is built in an area of 84.8 square meters and there is a garden and a lawn in front of the house. The total cost in restoring the house is 17,000 $U.S. which was financed by its owner.

The house was reconstructed in a time span of about a year and a half. The construction work was started in September 1999 and it was completed in March 2001.