Architecture is to create art for people's use and a basic necessity.
-Ar. ML Kayastha
Ar. Matsyendra Lal Kayastha, was the third SONA president back in 1995-1997. He is the chairman and co-founded “Mr. & Mrs. M.L. Kayastha & Associates Pvt. Ltd.” with his wife, Architect Mrs. Chandralekha Kayastha, the First Lady Architect of Nepal. The duo got married while studying architecture from Baroda and set out to establish the private practicing architecture firm in 1976, which stands today to be an introductory firm to define architecture practice in Nepal.
For the last four decades, the firm has been working full time with Experienced and Qualified Architects, Engineers, Designers, and Technical Manpower, Equipment, and Office Facilities. The firm has been dedicated to the development of Nepal through Architectural and Engineering Services. Over the years, the firm has had numerous opportunities to work with various Departments of the Government of Nepal, Tribhuvan and Mahendra Sanskrit Universities, USAID, UNDP, The World Bank and Asian Development Bank, NABIL Bank, British Embassy, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office, Corporations, Paropakar Maternity Hospital, B & B Hospital, NGOs, INGOs and other private agencies, after being selected through pre-qualification of consultants, technical proposals and design competitions. His journey to being an architect started with a scholarship opportunity, " I was asked to name the famous architect behind Chandigarh's planning, I promised them to be like him though I had no idea who he was" he laughs and explains how he got into the University.
Architecture is to create art for people's use and a basic necessity. Following the principle of Vitruvius, “Utility strength and beauty” Mr. Kayastha and the team has been able to design more than 100 buildings. To practice Architecture one must be willing to learn lifelong. Every new project comes with new challenges and the time demands it’s identity hence you need to be innovative. Co-ordination is required, no matter how good the design is we need support of other technical fields like civil engineer electrical engineer.
He smiles,"I am more than happy to be an architect and to be able to have good income with it as a pioneer of contemporary architecture here in Nepal. Strolling around the Kathmandu valley makes me happy as I see the buildings we built. It's more than satisfying.”
Success isn't defined by hard work solely. Luck and opportunity is to be acknowledged and grabbed at the right time alongside knowledge and creative sense. Having said this, Mr. Kayastha expresses his gratefulness to his lovely wife who elegantly handles and leads the firm till today while claims himself to be lesser involved in architecture as of now.
SONA was formed with a purpose, to introduce architecture and to bring together architects. He strongly suggests we have standard fees for architecture practice and make laws to protect low pay that develops unhealthy practices and work together to expose architecture.
(Based on interview with Ar. Angel Shrestha)
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