He was one of the best architects in the world, the 60-year-old building of the Ministry of Health.

Kathmandu. The 60-year-old building of the Ministry of Health, considered one of the best architectural designs in the world, is no longer functional. During the chaotic events of the Genzai movement on September 9, an unruly group set this building on fire, turning it into ruins.

The design of this building, which houses the Ministry of Health, was done by the famous architect Carl Louis. There was not a single visible pillar in this building. Public health expert Dr. Baburam Marasini says, 'There were no visible pillars in this building. It was constructed with strategically placed walls and interconnected room systems.' Engineering students from abroad would also come to study and observe this building.

Louis designed a total of three such buildings across the continent of Asia. Buildings similar to the Health and Population Ministry were built in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

There was no damage to the building of the Ministry of Health during the earthquake of 2015.

Although this building has not been dispute-free in recent years. When the Ministry of Health decided to add a tin roof to create an additional floor, Nepali architects protested. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City had instructed to stop the work of adding a tin roof and building an additional floor. The Supreme Court had ordered to demolish the additional floor, stating it would damage the original design.

Dr. Marasini states that students have stopped coming recently, claiming that the structure of this building has been deteriorated. This building was constructed in the year 2023 BS with the support of USAID. Initially, this building served as the project office for the Nepal Family Planning and Maternal and Child Welfare Program. The inauguration of the building, which was built for the family planning and maternal and child welfare program, was done by the then king Birendra Shah on the occasion of his 31st birthday.

Until the year 2050 BS, the maternal and child welfare program was running from one floor of this building. Since 2040 BS, the Ministry of Health located in Teku was moved to this building on Ramshah Path. There was one floor for the Ministry of Health, where there were 24 employees, including the secretary and the minister. An office for the family planning and maternal and child welfare project was established.On the 24th of Bhadra this year, during a demonstration by the Genji, the said building of the Ministry of Health was completely burned down, yet the red-colored building without pillars stands as a ruin, blackened by the flames.

'The USA may have an old map; the concerned authorities must contact and work towards building the structure as it was before,' says Dr. Marasini.