Ken's Participation in the Druk Sherig and Yangphel Projects
Ken's
love of mountain landscapes and affinity for building
in the mountains has deepened since 1997 when
he was invited to The Kingdom of Bhutan in the
Himalayas (often referred to as "The Last
Shangrila" and "The Switzerland of Asia")
as a consultant for Druk Sherig Construction.
The
purpose of this trip was to assess existing building
methodolgies in Bhutan and advise on the introduction
of appropriate power tools and other mechanized
construction equipment. Ken had the great privilege
of touring many remote construction sites on this
trip and fell in love with Bhutanese architecture.
Since 1997 Ken has returned to Bhutan three times
for various lengths of time, most recently in
2003 for 5 months where he has been helping his
good friend Ugyen Rinzin of Yangphel (www.bhutanexplorer.com)
as a consultant and advisor for a magnificent
lodge and guest cottages high in the beautiful
Paro Valley of western Bhutan just 30 miles from
the Tibetan border. Ken assembled a team of his
subcontractors from Bozeman to assist in the project
in the key areas of carpentry and woodworking,
plumbing and heating, electrical and masonry and
tile work.
Additionally, Ken and his team sourced, procured and
shipped large quantities of tools, materials and equipment
from the U.S., Taiwan, and Thailand to Calcutta, India,
then overland into Bhutan. Ken's experience in dealing
with complex logistical and organizational challenges
is evidenced by the successful results as these magnificent
structures near completion, literally on the other side
of the world.
It is Ken's dream to establish a relationship with a
client who has a keen interest in Bhutanese architecture
and would like to have a traditional Bhutanese style
house designed and built with the appropriate climatic
and environmental adaptations in the Rocky Mountains
of Montana. Ken is currently serving as a consultant
on just such a project for a friend who will be building
a traditional Bhutanese style house in the Hill Country
west of Austin, Texas. A strong bond has developed
between Bhutan and Montana as a result of Ken and his
team's involvement in this unique project. "The
Last Best Place" and "The Last Shangrila"
have become intertwined.
