Can we make Nepal’s traditional homes safer without replacing them?

When the dust settled after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake , thousands of Nepalis walked through villages that no longer looked like home. Stone walls that had stood for generations lay in ruins. Historic settlements that had survived centuries of harsh Himalayan winters had collapsed within seconds. Families searched through stones, broken bricks, and timber, not only for their belongings but also for memories.

Across the country, schools, monasteries, temples, and community buildings suffered extensive damage, while countless traditional homes were reduced to piles of rubble. The earthquake claimed nearly 9,000 lives, most due to the collapse of more than 600,000 houses, and hundreds of thousands of families were left without shelter.