ATELIER FORD
Author | Illustrator | Designer
Grand Hiti at Gosaikunda
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Site: Langtang Valley, Nepal
Team: Alexander J. Ford, Jack R. Parnell
Drawings: Elevation - Section [22x22"]
Fa. 2023
On the high, southeastern shore of Gosaikunda the ancient trail forms a shallow bridge between two bodies of water. Seasonal festivals bring religious pilgrims to the lake, who walk the path and bathe in the springs—sacred both to Shiva and Gauri. The Grand Hiti is situated on that bridge, between the waters. Dormitory towers flank the structure, providing travelers lodging. Centered are the tea house and traditional baths, consisting of tepidaria, caldaria, and frigidaria for men and women. Massive vaults on the waterline allow the freshwater lakes to communicate, and offer a shrine for pilgrims to engage the holy lake.
The Grand Hiti is constructed with local stone, and erected according to the techniques of traditional Nepalese masonry and carpentry. Wood-form brick, compressed by hand and naturally cured, constitute the inner bath houses. A cast-in-place concrete plinth is fitted with colossal vaults and knitted over with timbers—forming the shrine’s ornate, recessed ceiling. Crowning each dormitory tower, exposed to the prevailing winds which race down through the valley, is a series of compact wind turbines. These turbines harvest the gales at Gosaikunda to supply what little electric power is required to move steam through the Hiti.
