Conserving Nepal's historic buildings and settlements

Shwet Bhairab Architects & Associates is based in Madhyapur Thimi, a historic Newar town in Bhaktapur. Heritage conservation sits alongside our architecture and urban planning practice, which lets us treat a historic building, its neighbours and the settlement around it as one system.

We work on traditional houses, historic settlements and heritage areas. We record what exists, understand how it was built and lived in, and prepare conservation, regeneration and planning proposals that owners, communities and local governments can act on.

सम्पदा संरक्षण (sampada sanrakshan) and परम्परागत घर (traditional ghar) design and conservation in Kathmandu Valley and across Nepal.

Heritage Services

Heritage Conservation

Conservation plans and design for traditional houses, historic buildings, courtyards and public spaces, with repairs that respect original materials and structure.

Historic Settlement Regeneration

Heritage-led regeneration plans for historic towns and settlements that link conservation with public space, movement and local livelihoods.

Traditional Architecture

Study and documentation of traditional building forms, materials and construction, including the Newar architecture of Kathmandu Valley, to guide repairs and new design.

Adaptive Reuse

Giving older buildings a viable new use, such as a home, an office or a guest house, while keeping their character and structure.

Heritage By-laws

Design guidelines and by-laws for heritage areas, so new construction and renovation fit the character of the settlement.

Heritage Documentation

Measured drawings, photographic records and condition surveys that create a lasting record of a building or settlement before any intervention.

GIS & Heritage Mapping

Mapping of heritage assets, land use and building conditions with GIS to support planning and conservation decisions.

Selected Heritage Work

Silgadhi Heritage-Led Urban Regeneration

Location: Doti, Nepal

Services: Heritage Conservation, Urban Planning, GIS, By-laws

Heritage-led regeneration planning for the historic settlement of Silgadhi, combining conservation, urban planning, GIS mapping and by-laws. For the full range of our planning work, see urban planning in Nepal and our projects.

How a Heritage Project Is Carried Out

01

Survey

Field survey, measured drawings, photographs and conversations with residents.

02

Analysis

Assess condition, significance, materials, use and risks.

03

Concept

Agree conservation and regeneration principles with the client and community.

04

Master Plan

Plan land use, public spaces, movement and phasing of work.

05

Drawings

Prepare conservation and construction drawings and specifications.

06

3D Visualization

Visualize proposals so owners, communities and authorities can decide.

07

Implementation

Support approvals, procurement and supervision of works.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I conserve a traditional house in Nepal?

Start with a documented survey of the building: its structure, materials and condition. Repairs can then be planned to keep original materials and construction methods wherever possible, with any structural strengthening designed to suit the building. We carry out the survey and prepare the conservation drawings.

Can an old building be given a new use?

Yes. Adaptive reuse can make a historic building viable again as a home, an office or a guest house, while its character is kept. We assess the building first so the new use fits what the structure can carry.

Do you work outside Kathmandu Valley?

Yes. Our projects span Nepal, including planning and design work in Okhaldhunga, Baitadi, Chitwan, Dhangadhi and Doti.

Have a Heritage Building or Settlement to Conserve?

Tell us about the building or place and we will suggest the first steps.

Request a Consultation