Founded in 2009, the Saraf Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the heritage and culture of the Himalayas and shaping a future led by design, community, sustainability, and creative learning.

With a commitment to preserving the past and shaping an inclusive future, the Foundation is organised into two interconnected verticals: Heritage and NEXT.

The Heritage vertical focuses on safeguarding the cultural, architectural, and natural legacy of the Himalayas through research, conservation, documentation, and interpretation. NEXT is an evolving platform that brings together communities, artists, designers, educators, and researchers to respond creatively to local challenges through creative collaborations, locally grounded solutions, and sustainable action.

Some of the Foundation’s most prominent initiatives include: Taragaon NEXT in Kathmandu, a cultural hub where architecture, art, and creative learning converge; Sagarmatha NEXT in Syangboche, along the trail to Everest Base Camp, which explores sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship, through community-led initiatives in the Khumbu region; The Nepal Architecture Archive, which safeguards over 80,000 drawings, maps, sketches, photographs, and other archival materials, making it one of South Asia’s largest architectural collections.

Building on its roots in the Himalayas, the Saraf Foundation is now expanding its work across South Asia through new NEXT centres that respond to local contexts and encourage meaningful collaboration and exchange.