Thakali Culture Interpretation Center At Thini Thini, Mustang

Abstract

This thesis explores the design of a Thakali Culture Interpretation Center in Thini, Mustang, a historically rich Himalayan village facing the rapid erosion of its vernacular identity. The project aims to preserve and promote the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Thakali people through an architectural intervention rooted in tradition yet responsive to present and future needs. The methodology includes site visits, informal ethnographic interviews, mapping of spatial organization, and analysis of traditional and modern construction practices. By studying socio-cultural patterns, festivals, culinary practices, craftsmanship, and lifestyle transitions, the design acts as a bridge between heritage conservation and contemporary community needs. The thesis investigates Thini's cultural, environmental, and spatial context, identifying the challenges of modernization, climate change, and outmigration. As a transit point for trekkers en route to Tilicho Lake, Dhumba Lake, and other destinations, the center is conceived not as a static museum but as a living cultural interface. The program includes exhibition areas, an archive and media lab, a ritual hall, flexible workshops, children's play space, and outdoor courtyards for seasonal interaction. The design responds to steep terrain and harsh climate using terraced layouts, wind-buffering forms, and local materials. Passive solar strategies and seismic resilience ensure environmental and structural sustainability, while architectural references draw from traditional Thakali houses and communal courtyards. The proposed design aspires to revitalize Thini as a cultural anchor in Mustang, offering both residents and visitors a space to learn, reflect, and participate in Thakali heritage. It fosters intergenerational knowledge exchange, economic opportunity through crafts and tourism, and year-round community use. The thesis concludes that culturally grounded, climate-responsive architecture can serve as a tool for both preservation and adaptation, enabling traditional communities to evolve without losing their identity.