CASE STUDY

POTTERY SQUARE Bhaktapur NEPAL

 Location: Bhaktapur, Pottery Square.
Specialization: Pots, Utensils,
Decorative, etc.
General: The Pottery Square of
Bhaktapur is a conserved traditional
village, where the whole community is
based on pottery making.Pottery is the
way of their livelihood. One can see
almost all the houses making pottery
every day.The potters are called Kuma,
a caste for potters. The whole family of
Kuma is engaged in the workshop. The
tradition is- the trade is handed down from
father to son generation
Space Used: Work is done in
ground floor which opens up to
a courtyard or community
gathering area. The upper portion of the
house is used for residential purpose by
the potters.
Raw materials are stored in the ground
floor, as it is damp and dark, which is
good for storage. Plan of potters workplace
The squares are used for sun drying of
 Machines and tools used:
Potters Wheel & Turntables
Shaping Tools(paddles, anvils, ribs)
Rolling tools(roulettes, slab rollers,
rolling pins)
Cutting/piercing tools(knives,
fluting tools,wires)
Finish Tools(Burnishing stones,
rasps,chamois)

Infrastructure:
Buildings
The houses in the square are old
traditional
Type.Most of the houses are 3 bay
types, in ground floor-the front part is
used for Potters wheel,the second part
is used for storing and the third part is
used for staircase. The staircase is
placed in front in case there is lack of
space.
Wall is made out of mud mortar and View of the pottery square, Bhaktapur
brick exposed faade.Courtyards or
Working Environment:
Lighting and Ventilation:
Workspace on ground floor, lights
are through door openings thus found
inadequate.
Ventilation inadequate.
Thermal environment:
As traditional houses are thermally comfortable, extreme
temperature does not affect the workers.
The kiln area produces smoke and dust which may affect the
dwellers.

Safety: In case the kiln is located inside the house, it can be

dangerous if any fire breakout.
Otherwise kiln are isolated and made separate.

Positive Aspects:
Whole community is based on pottery, court spaces are shared.
Working environment is calm and peaceful.

Negative Aspects:
Congested work space, work done in private space at the ground
floor
Natural light not sufficient in workspace, have to depend on