o.Univ.-Prof.Mag.Dr. Gabriela Krist
Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Project leader
Dr. Rohit R. Ranjitkar
Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust
Senior scientist
Mag. Martina Haselberger, MSc
Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Pre-doc scientist
Mag. Katharina Fuchs
Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Pre-doc scientist
Mag. Fabian Sever
Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Pre-doc scientist
Background
The Institute of Conservation at the University of Applied Arts Vienna has been collaborating with the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT) in the preservation and research of Patan’s Royal Palace complex and the monuments in the Darbar Square since 2009.
In response to the earthquake 2015, the focus has been shifted towards first-aid measures and conservation of earthquake-damaged monuments, which is carried out with funds from the Austrian government (Austrian Development Agency, Austrian Federal Chancellery, Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, University of Applied Arts Vienna; funding period 2015-2023).
The collaboration and related projects are directly linked to and carry on a long and fruitful tradition of Austrian-Nepalese collaboration in the field of heritage preservation, which goes back to the 1960s. The first comprehensive inventory and conservation master plan for built heritage in the Kathmandu Valley were accomplished with involvement of Austrian scholars (Prof. Carl Pruscha, Prof. Eduard F. Sekler); the Patan Museum, being among Asia’s finest art museums, was revitalized with Austrian support and expertise (Prof. Götz Hagmüller). The FWF-funded project hereby is another milestone in this interdisciplinary and international collaboration aiming to increase and deepen knowledge on the World Heritage site Patan Darbar Square.