CONTENTS Abstract 3 Background 4 Continuity and change 5 Aims and objectives 6 Structure 7 Methodology 8 Case study 10 Scope and limitations 10 CHAPTER 1 AGENTS 12 1.1 Agents for change 1.2 Agents for Continuity CHAPTER 2 TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 24 2.1 Roots of traditional Bhutanese architecture 2.2 Buddhism and its influence 2.3 Traditional architecture CHAPTER 3 CONTEMPERARY ARCHITECTURE 58 3.1 Emergence of Thimphu and Phuntsholing as major urban centers 3.2 Building Rules and regulations 3.3 The traditional architecture guidelines 3.4 Aspects of emerging contemporary architecture in the country. 3.5 Attitudes towards architecture in the light of traditional architecture and the Guidelines 3.6 Criteria for selecting case study CHAPTER 4 CASE STUDY 74 4.0 Short introduction to case studies 75 4.1 Administration Block, RAPA, Thimphu 78 4.2 Hostel Block, RTC. Ngabiphu 88 4.3 Headquarter MOH, Thimphu 100 4.4 National Library Extension, Thimphu 112 4.5 Amankora, Paro and Punakha 122 COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS 133 CONCLUSION 136 Illustration Credits and Bibliography 141 Abbreviations and Glossary 145 Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 148 Acknowledgements 157