Vernacular Architecture

Of Kangra(HP)

SUBMITTED BY-
SAHIL KAUNDAL SUBMITTED TO-
11613 AR. VANDANA SHARMA
B.ARCH. 4th Year,7th Sem.

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Vernacular architecture
• Latin word Vernaculus means domestic, native,
indigenous.

• Vernacular architecture is a category of architecture

based on localized needs and construction
materials, and reflecting local traditions.

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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. Can

not be imported from elsewhere.

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Factors influencing vernacular
architecture

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

• Rainfall
• Example: Slanting 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.

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Culture

• Size of family unit- Joint family or nuclear family?

• How is food prepared and eaten?
• How do people interact?
• Local customs and beliefs.

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Materials
• Availability of forests implies high preference to wood
for construction purposes. And mud/stone otherwise.

• Material 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.

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Vernacular Architecture of
Kangra(HP)

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Location of
Kangra On Map

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 Location
• Kangra is located at 32.1°N 76.27°E.
• It has an average elevation of 733 metres (2404 ft.)

Climate
• Humid, sub-tropical zone.
• Annual rainfall is between 900–2350mm.
• Winter temp. ranges from 0 to 20 °C.
• In Summers hot (ranges from 25 to 38 °C) and dry.

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 Economy

• The Economy of Kangra District consists mostly of

agriculture and farming.
• Tea cultivation plays a vital in the economy.
• Industries like water packaging, construction
materials, and potato chips.

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TYPICAL HOUSE IN KANGRA - 1
Pitch Roof with Slate
Covering

Courtyard Verandah 12
TYPICAL HOUSE IN KANGRA - 2

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Building Materials

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Mud, Stone & Sun-Dried Bricks
• Easy availability.
• Good insulation.
• Good binding properties.
• Mud mortar is used as the joining material. Sun dried
mud Bricks are used in the construction of the wall.
• Hard Stone: Obtained from local quarries and used in
building foundation and walls.
• Slate Tiles: Metamorphic rock. Used in roofs of
buildings. Has high quartz content, frost resistant,
absorbs heat and provides moisture barrier.
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Sheesham & Bamboo Wood
• Easily available, one of the strongest.
• Imparts stability to tall structures.
• This wood is insect and termite resistant and even
when untreated, can withstand long periods of weather
corrosion.
• Used in making posts, beams, window and door
frames, shutters, roofs etc.(Sheesham).
• Soft wood, easy to work in absence of high tech tools.
• Its properties were understood early and its texture
and scent have been prized for ages.
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Traditional Builders
• Traditional Artisans are employed. There
knowledge is transferred orally from master artisan
to apprentice. Mostly people procure materials
from their surroundings and build houses with the
help of relatives and neighbors. This has fostered
an empirical knowledge of construction material,
tools and technology and all of these are reflected
in traditional building techniques.

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Planning Techniques

• Factors that govern the planning are

• climatic conditions,
• cultural influences,
• topography(heights),

• More: orientation, traffic movement, available

usable spaces, sources of water supply, natural
drains and paths.

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 Climate Influence
• Due to the composite
climate, The orientation of
the houses should be such
that, penetration of the sun
rays max in winter & min. in
summer.
• The path of the sun,
controls the height of
building, as the sun is
needed for each dwelling
unit.

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• Small window size and low ceiling height to
prevent heat loss and keep the interiors
warmer.
• Site susceptible to high winds, storms, floods
and landslides should be avoided.
• Roof in all around the building should have
proper slope for efficient drainage, in heavy
rain fall.

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Cultural influence
• The house which constitutes many stores has been
built for storage of grains which formed the back bone
of the agrarian family.
• Generally cow-shed and kitchen forms a separate unit.
• The Indian calendar months of Baisakh, Poh, Magh and
Phalgun are regarded as auspicious for the start of
construction.
• Ideally, the main aspect of the house should face east
and the rising sun.
• As a general rule the houses do not have a boundary
wall.

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Topography

• Area falls in the region of high to very high seismic

hazard.
• Unlike plains, here a new dimension or a height
variation to the ground poses additional problem.

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Planning
• Ground floor: Kitchen and Living area
• First Floor: Generally Storage area.
• Low Height of the rooms (2.1 – 2.5 m), keeps
interiors warmer from heat released by individuals,
also low surface to volume ratio reducing heat loss
from surfaces.
• Inner walls thickness is 6 inch and outer wall
thickness is 12 inch(Adobe Bricks).

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Plan

Ground Floor Plan

(Used as Living,
Bedroom and Kitchen)

First Floor Plan (Used as Storage Area)

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Flooring

• In the ground level mud

& cow-dung were used
for flooring above the
plinth made of random
rubble masonry.
• The upper floors are
made of timber planks
and timber-joists and
bamboo.

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 Roofing
• Pitched roof with locally available
timber. Slate used for roof covering.
Below the roof a ceiling is constructed
with timber. This attic is used as a
storage space.

• The light-weight roof construction and

the air between the roofing and attic-
floor provided a very good thermal
insulation against the passage of heat.

• Low pitched roof provides a good

solution to drain off the rain-water from
the dwellings.
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Thank you!

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