TIAFF: A Plan For Paradise

Finnish architect Pekka Helin is commissioned to design a new city for 600,000 people in Nepal. Known for his elegant urban modernism, Helin now, at the end of his career, wants to create something “that has never been done before”.

The new city is envisioned as a paradise for its inhabitants, characterised by green spaces, sustainable energy and high-quality housing that blends tradition with modern styles. But do the Finns and the Nepalese truly understand one another? And are Western dreams compatible with the reality of a poor Asian country? A Plan for Paradise is a study of cultural differences and of people striving to bridge them.