Development and Sustainability: Traditional Courtyard House of China and Nepal

Development should take into account the needs of the present generation as well as the environment, economic, social and culture. The onslaught of globalization and technology impacts the development of a developing country, resulting in changes in culture, traditions and social life. The technology, materials and skills used to build the traditional courtyard house in the olden times are primitive, simple and locally available, but include a long history of settlement, culture, tradition and social life. Beijing and Kathmandu are the capital cities of China and Nepal, where rapid industrialization and urbanization change the urban fabric and environment in short time. The traditional built environment that is a symbol of ancient history, culture and social life is being distracted by the onslaught of globalization.

 An ancient structure that exhibits potential for a country’s growth should be managed and developed on a larger scale. The purpose of this paper is to focus on traditional houses that protect the sociocultural, heritage, and traditions from ancient times. A model has been developed for the sustainable development of traditional courtyard house. It provides basic knowledge for sustainable development that will be beneficial to other contemporary houses of similar nature.