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SUBMITTED TO:

VERNACULAR ARCHITECURE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH SACHIN SINGH

SUBMITTED BY:
RAR-408 VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
CHANDAN GUPTA
“Vernacular architecture is a category of
architecture based on localized needs
and construction materials, and
reflecting local traditions.”

 Latin word Vernaculus means domestic, native,

indigenous.
Vernacular architecture is influenced by:

• Localized needs
• Local construction material
• Local traditions
Hence, varies from area to area;
It is an epitome of place to which it belongs and can not
be imported from
elsewhere.
 Factor Influencing Vernacular Architecture
(Climate)

• Season wise
The material should remain hot in winter and cold in summer.

• Rainfall
Example: Slating roof and construct dwelling on stilts in areas with high
level of rainfall.

• Winds
Orientation of buildings such that they have minimal area to the direction
of prevailing winds.
Factor Influencing Vernacular Architecture
(Materials)

• Availability of forests implies high preference to wood for construction

purposes, and mud/stone otherwise.

• Materials used will depend upon the physical condition of that area. The
area prone to earthquake would have different architecture than the
one with floods.

• Vernacular is sustainable and doesn’t exhaust local resources, only those

resources are used which are found in abundance and are non-
exhaustive.
INTRODUCTION

• Himachal Pradesh is a state in the

northern part of India; which is covered by
hills almost.
• Hence along with Himachal Pradesh all the
state of northern part of India followed
almost same vernacular architecture.
• Himachal Pradesh is spread across valleys
with many perennial rivers flowing
through them.
• Almost 90% of the state’s population lives
in rural areas.
 GEOGRAPHY

• Himachal is covering an area of 55,673

square kilometres (21,495 sq mi), it is a
mountainous state.
• The drainage system of Himachal is
composed both of rivers and glaciers.
• The drainage systems of the region are the
Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi,
the Beas, the Sutlej, and the Yamuna.
• These rivers are perennial and are fed by
snow and rainfall. They are protected by
an extensive cover of natural vegetation.
 CLIMATE

• Due to extreme variation in elevation, great

variation occurs in the climatic conditions of
Himachal.
• The climate varies from hot and subhumid
tropical in the southern tracts to, with more
elevation, cold, alpine, and glacial in the
northern and eastern mountain ranges.
• The state's winter
capital, Dharamsala receives very heavy
rainfall, while areas like Lahaul and
Spiti are cold and almost rainless.
CULTURE
• Himachal Pradesh was one of the few states that
had remained largely untouched by external
customs, largely due to its difficult terrain
• Himachal Pradesh is a multireligious, multicultural
as well as a multilingual state like other Indian
states.
• Western Pahari languages is known as Himachali
languages are widely spoken in the state. Some of
the most commonly spoken individual languages
are Kangri, Mandeali, Kulvi, Chambeali, Bharmauri
 and Kinnauri.
• Himachal is well known for its handicrafts.
• The carpets, leather works, Kullu shawls, Kangra paintings, Chamba
Rumals, stoles, embroidered grass footwear (Pullan chappal), silver
jewellery, metal ware, knitted woolen socks, Pattoo, basketry of cane
and bamboo (Wicker and Rattan) and woodwork are among the notable
ones.
• Of late, the demand for these handicrafts has increased within and
outside the country.
• The Hindu communities residing in
Himachal include the Brahmins, Community
Kayasthas, Rajputs, Sunars, Kannets, 2.18 1.16 1.15 0.18 0.03

Rathis and Kolis.

• The tribal population of the state

consists mainly of Gaddis Gujjars,
Kanauras, Pangwalas, Bhots, Swanglas 
and Lahaulas.

95.17

Hinduism Islam Sikhism Buddhism

Christianity Jainism Other or none
 HIMACHALI VERNACULAR: KATH-KUNI
• Kath-Kuni is an indigenous construction
technique prevalent in the isolated hills
of northern India, especially in the region
of Himachal Pradesh where it's known as
"Kath Kuni" and in Uttarakhand it's
known as "Koti Banal".
• It is a traditional technique which has
been orally transmitted from one
generation to another.
• The construction was devised keeping
the seismic activity, topography,
environment, climate, native materials
and cultural landscape in perspective.
• Most of the oldest temples, in the
region, are built using this ancient
system.
• It has much in common with other local styles outside India
in the Himalayas.
• The lower parts of a building are very solidly constructed,
including lots of stone.
• The upper parts may be entirely made of wood.
• This unique construction technique has led to the formation
of a vernacular architectural prototype known as Kath-Kuni
(cator and cribbage) architecture.
 MATERIALS

• The primary building materials employed in the construction are stone (igneous),
wood and slate (metamorphic). Stone, usually granite, which is good in
compression is used for foundational purposes.
• The walls are made of stone and wood which are alternatively stacked up, one
over another. Wood which is good in compression and tension are interlocked in
the corners with other wooden members.
• Deodar/Kali wood which is commonly available, is used as wall, flooring and
roofing members.
• Slate, is used as a water proofing roofing material, employed to protect the
building from heavy rain and snowfall. All the materials are locally available and
are easily sourced.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE

• The construction typically involves

laying courses whose outer layer
comprises random rubble masonry
and wood, laid out alternately.
• The walls are almost two feet
thick in dimension and act as a
cavity wall.
• The courses alternate until a ceiling height is attained. The cavity wall of every
outer course of wood/stone is filled with smaller stones within. They act as
insulation fillers between the outer layers.
• After one course of random rubble there is a course of wood (only outer course),
which is interlocked by dovetail random intermediate joints, to hold the wooden
members in place.
CHARACTERSTICS OF HIMACHAL ARCHITECTURE
(Traditional Architecture)

• Chehni Kothi in Tirthan Valley, Himachal

Pradesh, is among the few villages left that
still practise the traditional construction
methods.
• The typical layout of Himachal village is
quite evident here with the nine-storey
temple tower, once a fort residence of
Queen Chaini, occupying the central
location.
• A new house being built overlooking the
temple courtyard follows the
traditional kath kuni construction.
 Long-Lasting Structures
• Kath kuni is derived from two words
‘kashth or kath’ for wood in Sanskrit and
‘kona’ for corner.
• With many typical ancient structures
having survived tectonic tremors, the
resilience of the kath kuni structures lie
in the flexibility of dry masonry and
alternate layers of wood beams without
any cementing material.
• The stone plinth rises above the ground
level giving strength to the
superstructure and also preventing it
from snow and ground water.
Weather-Friendly Architecture

• While a truncated stone corner protects the

wooden beams, a wooden peg known
as kadil helps in keeping solid wood beams
in place.
• The double-skinned walls with the air gap
between two parallel wooden beams filled
with loose, small stone pieces insulates the
structure, keeping it warm in cold weather
and cool in summers.
• The air gaps also dissipate the seismic force
during earthquakes preventing cracks and
caving in of walls.
 Aesthetically Pleasing
• This mountain architecture, that seems to
grow organically from the terrain and blends
in its surroundings seamlessly, does not
compromise with aesthetics either.
• Topped with pent-and-gable slate shingles
roof, these structures with projecting
balconies have intricately carved wood
cresting.
• The locals carve columns and beams with
elaborate patterns for the decoration.
• The mix of texture of stone with wood
creates interesting patterns on the walls.
 Stability for Years

• While the stone roof naturally weighs down

the structure providing stability, the small
openings and projected balconies help
manage the weather.
• Usually, the lowest part of the built
structure works as storage or shed for cattle,
while the houses rise up to two or three
storeys,
• The temple towers often built on the highest
spot of the village, meant as watch towers,
go up to nine storeys.
  A Dying Craft?

• Some villages gradually opting for brick and

concrete structures, kath kuni the
vernacular architecture of Himachal Pradesh
is on a decline.
• Not only do houses made with newer
materials come with heavy maintenance.
• The issues of transportation costs for
construction materials and outsourced
labour, and constructional waste ultimately
harm the ecology.
 Decline

• With urbanization and newer construction

materials available in the market, that
deliver buildings much faster, the
traditional techniques started losing its
relevance over time.
• Also, with rising demand for natural
materials, the rapid loss of forest covers
resulted in the enforcement of Environment
Forest Act that banned the use of any more
wood from the forests.
Advantages

Sustainable and Energy efficient

Insulates during extreme weather conditions

Employs local crafts and keeps the tradition alive

Materials locally available

Employs unskilled labour

Disdvantages

Lack of availability of building

materials

Time-consuming to construct

Laborious
 Thank You!
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