Typology on exterior design of townhouses in a World Cultural Heritage Site of a Nepali City

Abstract The paper deals with the exterior design of townhouses in an urban block of the eastern part of Bhaktapur in Kathmandu Valley. The primary purpose is to provide an analysis method to determine the typical combination among exterior design components of Nepalese townhouses. By using multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis, 118 samples are grouped into 13 clusters. Secondly, all the clustered samples were put onto the original plots on the map to see the characteristics of their locations. Such a process would help a designer/planner reflect on how they should compose a proper facade in reconstruction works of townhouses after the earthquake in 2015.