1. Construction Technology and Material
Malla House
[Amit Pokhrel]
[2012-nov-17]

2. CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIAL
MALLA HOUSE
CONTENT
1. PREFACE
2. INTRODUCTION
3. HISTORY AND ITS IMPORTANCE
4. CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUES
5. MATERIAL USED

3. PREFACE
The Purbanchal University offers different project work as a part of M.Sc.
Urban Design and Conservation Curriculum in the first semester. The main
objective of the project work is to provide the opportunity for the students to
study and analyze field related problems. This project report is completed
within the given prescribed time.
This project report “Malla House” would be a helpful guideline for
implementing the Newar tradition and building design aspects.This report
would also help to understand, share and explore knowledge of the traditional
architecture of the kathmandu valley.
To understand the value of Mallakaalin houses, their histories and presence,
this project report was done. this report was prepared based on existing some of
the malla houses which are found in Bhaktapur(field visit)

4. 1. INTRODUCTION
From the earliest century; construction material and techniques have all had an
importance role in the development of infrastructures. building environment which
bear no visible human marks are rare- the realm of oceans, the poles, deserts,
mountain summits. Nepalease traditions, cultures and environment are so unique
and intricate that the buildings, cottage and nepalease tradition monuments, places
are such made which are measured from different angles with aesthetic figurative
ways which shows the beautiful and perfection of the model design of the building
and monuments.
The preservation of our cultural heritage is so many here. From the mallas period,
there are many infrastructures made in Nepal which has more importance in its
own as well as a value for tourism development. Mostly in Kathmandu valley,
there are many cultural and religious places which have their link with traditions
and from different cultural aspects of life. The people here are Newari, Ranas,
Sahas, Brahmins, and Chetris and different other castes found in Nepal.
The cultural and traditionally originalities are mostly found in capital city which is
one of the centralized value and a place of amazing the specific nature of
Kathmandu valley where many religious aspects temples, representation of nations
values and different materials used in many cultural and heritage places of Nepal
on the contrary of material and techniques built for.
Many crafted buildings, temples and different kinds of houses to palaces of Nepal
are such built, which should be studied so to know the construction values and
techniques by the researcher, conservationist and the knowledge seeker. History
itself introduce of the building techniques, materials from mud to clay to brick or
timber to plank to timber joist.
Local studies should be made to understand the meaning and terms of different
construction material and techniques which are used in different buildings,
monuments, temples and such places which are used for built purposes for human
benefits and a place for understand its presence in this nature. Our cultures have
their own presence around the world and a renowned place and a place of multi-
cultured with different castes rarely found around this world.

5. While the prospects of building construction and material are quite good for
judgment, history is reassuring. It appears that there are human and technological
factors which are identify with successful societal accomplishments. There have
been the adaptations in the construction material and techniques which are
exemplary. In addition there has developed an extensive way of knowledge on the
environment which is fundamental to human and design based upon objective
principles-it is a challenge and an architect concept on construction material and
techniques.
2. HISTORY AND ITS IMPORTANCE
The historic timeline may be a useful outline and reference for those interested in
correlating the historic development of various components of the construction
material and techniques which are used in local built environment.
The appearence of New Dynasty, The Mallas , at the begining of the 13th century.
stone inscriptions or silapatras, and copper plaques or Tamapatras, while recording
the construction of buildings and sculptures, given a relatively precise pictures of
the development during this period. under the rule of the mallas a period of
relatively stability began, lasting almost 600 years. the concept of built of Malla
house was based upon the locallly avaialabilty of materials and the craftmenship.
The complete turning away from traditional form and architectural style as well as
the traditional building materials had a marked effect on the continuity of
traditional architecture and on the producers and users of traditional materials, such
as the brick makers, brick layers, and carvers.
A characteristic and universal features of this kind of design is the vertical room
arrangement which is not the dependent on the size of the houses. due to security
reason, and the need to use as little irrigable land for building purpose, causes the
Malla house to be vertically orientated. generally it is three storeyed, but two-
storeyed houses occur and four-storeys in the centre of town. the uniform depth
facilitates the building of additional houses on to existing ones, to form block of

6. houses. the extension were of equal height, the depth being determined by that of
the main house and the aim of each family and every clan seems to have been the
building of one single house around one courtyard or chowk, providing them with
both the security and privacy.
If the chowk is surrounded by one large unit, only the vertical utilisation of space
still applies, as in smaller units. different staircases, generally located in the
corners, lead to separate room clusters, which due to the symmetry facade , are not
distinguished from the outside. as the size, location and heating facilities of the
rooms impose certain limitation on their use, the courtyard becomes a vital
component of the house itself. in short, it is a multi-purpose area, useful for most
of the daily activities of the occupants.
Thus, buildings in the so-called the most typical living buildings) represent the
craft and architecture of the cultural rennaissance of the Malla period, which began
around the begining of the 15th century and survived the begining of shah period
but rapidly faded during the rana period(1845-1951 A.D)
IMPORTANCE OF MALLA HOUSE
1) The houses are constructed of brick, and are three or four storeys high
2) The Malla houses apartment are not lofty
3) The Malla have door and windows of wood, well worked and arranged with
great regularity.
4) The dwellings have not changed much either
5) 3-storeys with a pitched roof and of common materials such as burnt brick
and timber
6) Brick may be of sun-dried rough and simply baked, others may be carefully
burnt for specific purposes, others again have especially smooth surfaces and
are polished before firing
7) Distinguishing features-may be the ornately carved doors and windows, of
which the crowning achievement is the large living room window or Sajhya
facing the street from the second or third floor
8) Symmetry is the aim in the design of the Facade
9) The entrance door is barred with two massive wooden planks
10) The windows are generally closed by fine wooden lattice work

7. 11) Sajhya window in the main living room is for the communication to
the street
12) Some typical malla house/newar house, the 3rd floor is generally an
attice directly under the roof which is mainly used as the kitchen and eating
room
13) The ground floor is never used as a living area,as among other
reasons, it offered no protection against dampness
3. CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUES
Different kinds of materials are used to build Malla house”. Locally available
material are used in house as well as the majority portion of timber, brick and mud
are used to build this kind of infrastructures. Properly the overall concept of roof
was greatly designed by use of timber, properly settled posture. The traditional
built of thise kind of houses are specially built by mud, brick and timber.
Foundations of the Malla house are strong by stone as well as brick for maintaining
strength. The building techniques are interesting to see and observe. Rope are used
for settled posture of roof, with the use of timber overall on that roof from the
height level to roof level.
Actually Malla house are made by burned brick, mud and from such material
which are used for building prospects. the material and techniques surely
maintained by craftsmen or such designers who make such historic importance
infrastructures which not only represents newari culture but also represents its
design, material aspects and a place for heritage conservation of Nepali traditions
and our country Nepal. The techniques are very good and a measurable concept on
that time where it’s much more difficult to adjust all that kind of beam, joist,
timber (wooden beam/rafter) and column to its built figure. The techniques to stand
the building like these kinds of typical houses or other such related works are quite

8. tough and hard to stand for its roof from the sub structure to super structure level to
maintain properly in a desired shape.
5. CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL USED
1. Stone*for foundation work
2. Brick* for wall posture
3. Mud (clay)*
4. Wood (timber)*
5. Burned brick*for wall
6. Tiles (taali)*roof purpose
7. Jhingati*
8. Wooden column with crafted techniques*
9. Wooden rafter*
10. Sajhya(window)*

9. Statuary Publication
The document which are published here is the sole publication
of the Author. Any misuse and the mis-interpretation of this
document by anyone, author does not take the responsibility for
the same.
Er. Amit Pokhrel
M.Sc. Urban design and conservation, 3rd semester student
Khwopa Engineering College