Khokana Heritage Center: Preserving Tradition Through Oil, Food And Wellness

Abstract

Khokana, a traditional Newar settlement in the Kathmandu Valley, embodies a profound intersection of cultural heritage, community cohesion, and resilience. Renowned for its distinctive architecture, communal lifestyle, and rich cultural practices to Newar identity. At the heart of this community lies a network of social institutions, rituals, and shared spaces that reinforce unity, collective memory, and local empowerment. These community practices are deeply interwoven with the socio-economic fabric and spiritual life of the people. However, in recent decades, Khokana has faced numerous challenges due to urbanization pressures, inadequate infrastructure, economic stagnation, and the marginalization of traditional livelihoods. As generations migrate or shift away from local traditions, the transmission of cultural knowledge and collective identity is at risk. This thesis, titled �Khokana Heritage Center: Preserving Tradition through Oil, Food and Wellness� explores strategies to revitalize Khokana through inclusive, community-based development. The proposed design focuses on creating a multi-functional community hub that fosters cultural preservation, social cohesion, and economic empowerment. The hub is envisioned as a center for traditional crafts, agricultural innovation, heritage education, and community-led tourism. It includes workshop spaces for local artisans and farmers, a cultural archive, exhibition areas, meeting halls, and marketplaces for local produce and products. The design emphasizes participatory planning and is tailored to support the people of Khokana in sustaining their intangible heritage while adapting to contemporary needs. By integrating learning spaces, cultural exchange programs, and income-generating activities, the center aims to empower local residents�particularly youth and women through skill development, entrepreneurship, and leadership training. The project is for Khokana�s self-reliance by aligning heritage conservation with socioeconomic advancement. It demonstrates how ground roots initiatives and localized planning can serve as resilient models for sustainable rural development in Nepal and beyond. By integrating these objectives, the project supports both the retention of cultural heritage and socio-economic development of the community.