Trapchishar and Choetrikhang

Trapchishar and Choetrikhang Project Report Spring - Summer 2000
Trapchishar is one of the oldest surviving houses on Barkor Street, the main public circumambulation path around the Jokhang temple. It is located on the northwest corner, and therefore has a very prominent position as it greets pilgrims and visitors soon after they begin to make their round. The stone foundations can be assumed to date back to the 17th century. The Choetrikhang House next door was formerly a place for Sera monks to prepare religious torma offerings, and its walls are less old than those of Trapchishar.
Choetrikhang House		Trapchishar House, 1994 at night

THF's 1996 rehabilitation work on Trapchishar and Choetrikhang

In 1996, THF saved the two buildings from demolition by organizing the rehabilitation of the already deserted and very dilapidated structures with quickly raised funds. The local partner at that time was the Lhasa City Construction Office. For a variety of reasons the work could not be completed at that time, still missing was the traditional waterproof Arga roof and the toilet upgrading. Still, the work in 1996 heralded an eventual slow-down of the redevelopment of the old city and ultimately led to the protection of 76 residential buildings in 1998.

In 2000, THF organized the making of the proper Arga roof for the two sites.

The residents of Trapchishar performed a special ceremony as work began, for a successful completion and to please the protector spirit that is said to live in one of the corners of the roof.

Roofs of traditional Lhasa houses are flat, consisting of a wooden structure covered with pebbles, soil and coated with a thick layer of Arga. Arga is a mineral common throughout central Tibet which, after rhythmic beating lasting about a week for each roof section forms a waterproof smooth surface.
Roofs of traditional Lhasa houses

The curves along the edges of the Arga roof have to be beaten with a wooden tool.		The residents of Trapchishar hosted a thank-you ceremony and lunch for the THF workers.
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See some of the survey work of Trapchishar House.
Plans Level 1, by Dakar, Jian-Jun and Loden / THF
North elevation, by Jian-Jun, HXL / THF

See some of the survey work of Choetrikhang House
Plans Level 1, by Dakar, Jian-Jun and Loden / THF
North elevation, by Jian-Jun and Huang Xiao Ling / THF

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