PPF received one of the 3 commendations awarded in the recent ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact. The Bhattedanda Village Stupa Sanitation and Caretaker Project was a collaborative project in conjunction with the villagers of Bhattedanda and Australian Architects.

In 2019 the PPF Nepal Sanitation Fellowship plumber Aidan Ward worked very closely with the villagers and local skilled tradespeople to build a community based sanitation block in the forest precinct that contains their holy worship place (the stupa) and a small monastery. This site can often have more than 300 people gathering for ritual worship practices and life events such as funerals.

The block was designed in collaboration with Architects Jasper Ludewig, Harry Catterns and David Donald and had been requested by the villagers to improve sanitation standards at this very significant site.

In 2023 after a COVID affected hiatus, Architect Shane Marshall collaborated with the villagers to design and oversee construction of a compact cottage to house the stupa caretaker couple who previously were living in a stack of tin sheets.

The Jury Citation noted the project “exemplifies the power of deep engagement – prioritising local needs, values and lived experiences to guide design and implementation”. Further the project continues to empower “residents through active participation in the design, construction and maintenance of the project.”

The Jury concludes “This initiative stands out as a model of socially engaged architecture. It advances the discipline by fostering self-determination, improving environmental health outcomes and significantly enhancing the community’s sense of dignity and ownership”.

Bravo to all our team members and to the village teams in particular locall Project Managers Surya Lama and Prem Lama who have remained committed to our projects for the past 10 years.