Sustainable materials
and construction
Low carbon materials, locally appropriate building systems and new ways to construct sustainably.
Based in Nepal. Connected to the world.
Advancing Ideas.
Engineering Solutions.
Shaping Sustainable Futures.
NAVI Center brings together science, engineering, technology, local knowledge and interdisciplinary research to develop practical solutions for complex challenges across the built environment, natural environment and society.
Materials researchNIST photograph
Science meets
the everyday.
the everyday.
Research · Innovation · Application · KnowledgeGet to know NAVIN
01 / Who we are
Global knowledge.
Local realities.
Practical innovation.
Nepal Advanced Vision in Innovation and Nano Science Center is a research and innovation institution based in Nepal and working through global collaboration.
NAVI Center brings together scientific research, engineering, technology, heritage knowledge and community experience to investigate challenges and develop practical, sustainable solutions.
Our work moves between research and application, connecting laboratories, institutions and communities with the realities of the field.
Read our company profileDifferent disciplines.
Room for new perspectives.
We connect the physical and social worlds, including psychology, human behaviour and the ways people experience their environments.
02 / What we research
Many disciplines.
Shared questions.
Six connected areas of inquiry, shaped by evidence, local knowledge and practical application.
Sustainable materials
Vernacular and
living heritage
Traditional knowledge, cultural landscapes, conservation and adaptive reuse in contemporary life.
Resilient
infrastructure
Systems that respond to climatic, environmental, geological and social conditions.
Disaster resilience
and recovery
Risk reduction, resilient settlements, reconstruction and long term community recovery.
Inclusive infrastructure
and communities
Accessibility, livelihoods, social inclusion, psychology and the needs of everyday life.
Innovation and
emerging technologies
Advanced materials, nano science, GIS, remote sensing, AI and digital systems where they can help.
03 / Research in action
Questions we’re
working on.
Our current programs explore materials, construction and heritage in Nepal. Each place provides lessons with wider relevance.
Heritage / Upper Mustang, Nepal
What can living heritage
teach contemporary design?
Documenting vernacular architecture through building surveys, structural assessment and conversations with local builders.
Inside the research
Research question How can traditional building forms, materials and craft knowledge inform conservation and future construction?
Approach Study building form, materials and load paths alongside local experience.
Application Conservation guidance and design principles grounded in living heritage.
Built pilots / Sundarijal, Nepal
Learning from bamboo
in buildings people use.
Bamboo construction for schools and housing, including a structural system at Kundalini School and pilot houses.
Inside the research
Research question How do bamboo structural systems perform over time in occupied buildings?
Approach Monitor built demonstrations and gather user feedback.
Application Practical construction knowledge for schools and housing.
Karnali, NepalLime stabilized soil roofing
The question Can locally produced soil and lime roofing provide a durable, affordable alternative to corrugated iron?
The work Study mix design, curing, monsoon waterproofing and comparative cost, with the aim of usable guidance for masons.
Terai, NepalBamboo and lime composite panels
The question How can bamboo and lime panels meet strength, comfort and durability requirements?
The work Test structural and thermal performance, moisture and pest resistance, and suitability for local carpenters and masons.
Laboratory and fieldMortar in reinforced stone masonry
The question Under what conditions can mud mortar safely support modern reinforced stone construction?
The work Compare mud and cement mortars for bond strength, shear, durability and repeated loading.
CENTER
04 / The Field Lab
Ideas meet
reality here.
NAVI CENTER is where research moves into real environments, bringing observation, experimentation and community experience together.
From a material sample to a settlement, we ask how an idea performs in the conditions that matter. Fieldwork can connect different locations and disciplines.
- Material and technology testing
- Infrastructure and environmental assessment
- Heritage documentation and spatial analysis
- Community and participatory research
- Pilot construction and disaster assessment
05 / Knowledge Centre
Knowledge should
travel.
Findings become more useful when they can be read, questioned and applied by others.
Our Knowledge Centre will bring together research papers, technical reports, case studies, policy briefs, practical guidelines, datasets and field documentation. Research outputs will be added as they become available.
Meet
NAVIN
Research.
Company profile NAVIN
Research.
06 / People and collaboration
Better questions
come from conversation.
We welcome universities, research institutions, governments, communities and innovators interested in working across disciplines and borders.
People behind the work
Research brings together engineers, scientists, architects, social researchers, heritage specialists and technical advisors. Visiting researchers and research associates can contribute new expertise and perspectives.
Our professional network
The Center draws on an informal advisory network in engineering, public health, environment, law and development, with academic guidance from researchers connected to Tribhuvan University and the Institute of Engineering.
Professional connections are distinct from formal institutional partnerships.
Ways to work together
Joint and comparative research, international field studies, technology development, academic exchange, pilot projects, conferences and shared publications.
07 / Perspectives
How we think about the work.
Evidence and experience belong together.
Measurable findings gain depth through local knowledge. We connect scientific inquiry with the people who know a place through daily life.
Complex environments offer shared lessons.
Nepal’s terrain, communities and living heritage offer a context for learning about climate adaptation, rural infrastructure, biodiversity and resilience.
New technology changes the questions.
Automation and digital tools reshape how we see, investigate and act. Their value lies in thoughtful application and their consequences for society.
08 / An open invitation
Bring a question.
Let’s work on it.
Researchers, institutions, students and organizations are welcome to explore collaboration with NAVI. Start with a research question, the context and what we could contribute together.
Research and innovation partnerships
Explore joint studies, technical development, knowledge exchange and field pilots. A useful proposal outlines your question, methods, location, expertise and intended application.
Fellowships and internships
Explore research fellowships, visiting research, student projects and internships across our research themes. Share your interests, relevant experience and the work you hope to develop. Specific openings will be announced when available.
Incubation and lab collaboration
Explore how an early idea can move through experimentation and field application, from civil engineering to broader engineering and interdisciplinary research.
Find us in Kathmandu
Download our profile Ward No. 31
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal