Nepal is taking part in Living City Design Competition hosted by International Living Building Institute, a non-governmental organisation working on creation of sustainable environment.

Kathmandu has been selected as a model city from Nepal.

Non-profit Ecocity Builders and Novatek are partnering with Nepal, Bangladesh and America to enter the competition.

At the competition, design teams from around the world will create visual rendering of sustainable cities based on the imperatives of Living Building Challenges.

“Nepal Valley is a more than 2,000-year-old urban area with historic city planning and urban systems rooted in sophisticated administrative oversight, marketplaces, religious festivals and rites, temples and public spaces, strong urban boundaries and pedestrian cores, “ said Kirstin Miller, executive director of Ecocity Builders.

He further said Nepal suffers due to climate change, water shortage, pollution, poor sanitation, energy crisis, health issues and rapid unplanned development.

The interventions prescribed by the Living City Kathmandu team could provide a practical solution to many issues regarding the city design, added Miller.

Shanta Lal Mulmi, executive director of Resource Centre for Primary Health Care, said the government should work with the concept of zero-waste strategy and eco-friendly settlement in the Valley for its sustainable development.

He further said that future generations be taken into account, in relation to environment management and quality of life.

source: Himalayan News Service (2010)," Nepal in urban design contest ",The Himalayan Times, 14 September 2010