Housing around the monument zones is characterized by a striking juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern.
* **Traditional Homes:** The immediate periphery of the durbar squares features traditional Newari houses made of exposed brick with intricately carved wooden windows (like the famous Sanjhya windows). Many of these have been converted into boutique hotels or cafes. * **Modern Structures:** Just outside the strictly protected UNESCO boundaries, concrete pillar-and-beam construction dominates. * **Market Conditions:** Real estate near the monument zones is extraordinarily expensive and rarely sold, often passing down through families for generations. * **Regulations:** There are strict building codes within the monument zones limiting the height of new structures to preserve the historical skyline, though enforcement has historically been a challenge.