The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Koto Kanno gave away the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards 2004 to Rabindra Puri for outstanding restoration of Namuna Ghar amidst a function in Bhaktapur marking the 60th UN day, today.
A statement issued by the UNESCO said Namuna Ghar in Bhaktapur is a typical traditional Newari house, which had been neglected for a long time, until Rabindra Puri with a great passion for Newari architecture, bought and renovated it.
Puri want to set an example in order to convince other homeowners to restore their houses, rather then to demolish and rebuild.
The Namuna Ghar is a three-storey, brick and wood structure that typifies the traditional architectural style of the ancient town of Bhaktapur, the statement said.
The house is believed to be around 150 years old and features beautifully carved pillars, wooden windows and a pitched tiled roof besides having an open space on the top floor, one of the defining characteristics of Newari architecture.
The UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards recognizes the efforts of private individuals and organizations that have successfully restored and conserved structures and buildings of heritage value in the region.
A total of 37 entries were received this year from 12 countries and administrative areas in the Asia-Pacific region. A variety of types of projects were submitted for the Awards, including: seven religious buildings, fourteen institutions, eight residential buildings, three commercial projects, three urban conservation programmes, and two cultural landscapes.