Project type
Design, Renovation, Interior, Furniture making
Location
Bishalnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal
Total Area
650 sq.ft (60. 39 sq.m)
Project team
Gaurav Maskey (Project Architect)
Niraj Joshi (Project in charge)
Suraj Joshi (Construction in charge)
Project status
Completed
Photography
Nicolas Marie (Metalwood Nepal, Nilo Studio)
Farmer’s Mart has been a unique concept both in its operation and architecture. It is a place where organic produce from farms spread all over Nepal are brought directly for sale. This model has benefitted both farmers and end consumers by eliminating the retailer cost and highlighting the health advantages of organically grown produce. Initially, farmer’s mart had the idea of creating a new space for their outlet. They had leased a land at Bishalnagar in front of the Central Park Apartments for this purpose. The client also wanted the project to be constructed with shipping containers, giving out a vibe of organic and sustainable building technique.
After our site visits, we moved forward with the thought process. Space and operation requirements were sorted with determining flow of the space. Among various sizes and orientation possibilities of the shipping containers, the desired shape was identified. A 40 feet long container would be the display and shopping area of the new Farmer’s Mart and a 20 feet long container stacked over it for the office space.
Before landing the containers, it was required to create a leveled surface for the 40 feet long container. Instead of constructing a massive concrete plastered base, the container was placed on 10 metal post jammed into the reinforced concrete pads. The major challenge here was to place the metal box with the precision in inches. For the 20 feet container above, it was rested on the 40 feet container on one side and the ‘Y’ Column on the rear. The remaining portion of the below container was used as a deck for café seating purposes. A staircase was also provided to connect these spaces. The compound also included a garden space where open markets were held on weekends. The ceiling of the 20 feet container now would create a dry area for that purpose.
Major challenge in any cargotecture project is the logistics management in placing the shipping containers. Even in this case the electric wires on the road were a big hurdle in the process. The placement was done during midnight to address the busy roads of Bishalnagar. Next step in the process was fenestrations and staircase construction. These were done with mild steel and aluminium frames assembled on site.
For the interiors, primary questions that we had discussed were the insulation on the containers. Up till date we have always prescribed insulations on the containers as metal boxes would have poor thermal insulations. Upon detailing and estimating the budget was uneconomical for the client. We would rather have active system of HVAC and use plants as a medium of external insulation. Air conditioners have been prescribed and provisions for installation of insulation in the near future have been provided. Additionally the garden with a lot of greeneries and white tone of the containers have helped to an extent for keeping the containers insulated.
New approach for the electrification has been done in this cargotecture project. Previously in all our projects the drills for the project damages the integrity of containers in some ways. Leading to minor leakage and holes, we spent quite a lot of time filling these holes again. So for farmers mart we had a unique idea of welding 1 ½” x 1” MSH Tube for installing electrical lines making the containers free of tiny drill holes.
Inspired by the approach of the client towards sustainable architecture by upcycling major building components we proposed the use of recycled container sheets for making the cash counter. Paired with our mangowood, it has been special element for us in the project. Rest of the containers was white washed so that the color palette of produce would breathe life into the interiors. The counter had rustic sanded tones of the metal sheet which would pop out from the walls and ceiling.
We have been involved in several cargotecture projects, with each opportunity we get to learn several new techniques and designs. Farmer’s Mart has been a opportunity for us build a commercial space using upcycled materials where the carbon foot print of the building is reduced making it sustainable. Sustainable architecture is now an important aspect of branding for Farmer’s Mart. They have established a great example in Nepal.
