04 – HIMALAYAN ARCHITECTURE

AR152 – HOA 3
ARCH. CERVANTES
HIMALAYAN
HIMALAYAN
 The Himalayas were thrust up when India
HIMALAYAN collided with Asia 50 million years ago

Geology
HIMALAYAN
CLIMATE
• Wide variety of climates, diversity in agriculture
& plant life across land
• Himalayan biomes: alpine, temperate,
subtropical, and tropical.
• East to west: precipitation differs
astronomically. Eastern Himalayan regions
(Bhutan, Tibet, Eastern India) receive the 2nd
most rainfall annually in the world.
HIMALAYAN
CLIMATE ALPINE ZONE

• Home to yaks, wild goats,

wolves, and snow leopards.
• Sheep, often accompanied
by nomadic highland natives.
Graze in the sub-alpine
region.
HIMALAYAN
CLIMATE TEMPERATE ZONE
• Temperate zone is home to
a wider variety of life, both
flora & fauna.
• Forests of pine, oak, poplar,
walnut, larch. (Most areas
inaccessible to logging
operations)
• Domesticated animals: yak-
cow crossbreeds thrive,
with goats, sheep
HIMALAYAN

The Great Himalayan Range in Central Nepal

“Himalaya” = “Abode of Snow”

HIMALAYAN
CLIMATE TROPICAL & SUBTROPICAL ZONE
• Former home of tigers, leopards,
rhinoceroses, and deer: these
species now restricted largely to
sanctuaries in India & Nepal
• Himalayan foothills, one of the
most densely populated areas in
India.
• Due mainly to the exceptionally
fertile land.
HIMALAYAN
HIMALAYAN
SOCIAL INFLUENCES
• Newars and Gurkhas (of Tibetan Mongol stock)
settled in early times and established an
indigenous style in art and architecture which
has never been modified.
• Art flourished during the reign of Mulla Rajas
(13th – 18th c.)
HIMALAYAN
SOCIAL INFLUENCES
HIMALAYAN
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES
• Hinduism
predominate
religion with 86.5%
of the population
• Buddhism (Tibetan
Tantric) is next
largest religion,
7.8%
• Islam, 3.5%
HIMALAYAN
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES
• Lumbini, Nepal: The
Birthplace of Buddha
HIMALAYAN
GEOLOGICAL
HIMALAYAN
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL
• Drawn from both cultures – India and China
• Characteristic architectural heritage:
• 1. STUPAS/CHORTEN
CHORTEN – oldest monuments
• 2. TEMPLES
• 3. VERNACULAR HOUSES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE
IN NEPAL
STUPA
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - STUPA
1. SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA,
Katmandu
• Originally an Ashoka
tumulus on a hill
• Stands on a low narrow
plinth (base or podium)
HIMALAYAN
STUPA
HIMALAYAN
STUPA
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - STUPA
2. BODHNATH, Katmandu
• platforms - 12.0 m. high
• 14.0 m. high spire
resembling the finial of
Swayambhunath.
• Revered by Buddhist as
well as Nepalese Hindus.
• Gaya-jatri - festival to
worship the holy cows.
HIMALAYAN
STUPA
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - STUPA
PARTS OF STUPA
• Pinnacle – Symbol of Mt. Sumeru (The
King of Mountains)
• Umbrella – Protector of three jewels,
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
• Lotus – Symbol of compassion and
purity
• Thirteen Steps – The thirteen states of
Bodhisattvas’s ground for the
complete enlightenment
HIMALAYAN
STUPA
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - STUPA
PARTS OF STUPA
• Two Eyes – Symbol of method and wisdom
• Nose Symbol – Symbol of Nirvana
• Prayer Flags (not really a part, but worth
including as they are always there!)
• Dome – Symbol of Universe or Vase of
great treasure Mandala – Mansion of
Buddha
• 108 niches on the stupa containing Buddha
statues
• Mandala – Mansion of Buddha
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - TEMPLE
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - TEMPLE
• Himachal Pradesh, amid the Himalayan mountain
range, is a land of the Gods, Hindu temples, of many
types
• The temple is where the past intersects with the
present through belief, historical time.
• It is an explanatory workshop of the greatest
craftspeople and artists as well as sincere efforts of the
ordinary local people.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - TEMPLE
• The wooden temple here refers to the type of temple
where wood is used as the primary material of
construction for the structure.
• Stone is used only in temple’s foundations and roofs
as slabs and slate stone shingles similar to the
independent granaries.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - TEMPLE
• The wooden temple here refers to the type of temple
where wood is used as the primary material of
construction for the structure.
• Stone is used only in temple’s foundations and roofs
as slabs and slate stone shingles similar to the
independent granaries.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - TEMPLE
• TYPOLOGY OF WOODEN AND WOOD AND STONE TEMPLES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL - TEMPLE
• TYPOLOGY OF WOODEN AND WOOD AND STONE TEMPLES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
• They are of indigenous styles and peculiar to the
hills.
• Preparation of layout plans in hill area for the
construction of different types of buildings, such
as housing clusters, commercial complexes,
institutional buildings is much more complicated
as compared to the preparation of such plans in
the plains.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
• Layout planning is complicated due to constraints of hilly
terrain for construction of buildings and roads beyond certain
degree of slope. It is further complicated due to the following:
– Difficulty of getting suitable orientation on the hill slopes.
– Problems of soil erosion and land slides.
– Restrictions by the forest department.( ban on cutting of the trees).
– Limitations on the height of the building due to earthquake risk.
– High cost involved in the site development due to the cutting and
the filling process.
– Non-availability and transportation problems of construction
materials.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
• Architectural styles found in the Himalayans have been
identified as the following:
– (a) Pent-
Pent-roof or Chalet style
– (b) Nagara style
– (c) Pagoda style
– (d) Tower style
– (e) Flat roofed temples
– (f) Pyramidal style & (g) Gompas.
Gompas.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Pent- roof or Chalet Style
• The square or rectangular wood and stone
temples with pent roof are the most ancient.
• In size these structures differ considerably,
while they all have only one common feature,
that is the finely cut large and excellent stones,
that constitute their base.
•The usual pattern is a square resting on a
raised platform of stone. The building itself
may be entirely of wood or of the wood and
stone.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Pent- roof or Chalet Style
•It generally consists of a central cellar
with an open verandah around it, and is
covered with a pent roof of wood, which
either slopes on two sides from the
central ridge, or on four sides from the
top
•Most remarkable among these temples
are Lakshana Devi temple at Brahmaur,
Shakti devi at Chhatrari in Chamba.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Nagara Style
•The Nagara temples in Himachal
Pradesh broadly follow the overall form
and design of the typical Indo-Aryan
stone temples, found in Orissa and
Khajurao areas.
•Some minor modifications were made
in the form of these temples of the
plains to adapt them to the climatic
conditions of the hill areas.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Nagara Style
•The series of monolithic temples of
Massur in Kangra district are the earliest
specimen of the Nagara design.
•There are a number of seventh century
Nagara type temples at Brahmaur, such as
Manimahesh and Ganesha built by Meru
Verman ( 680-700 A.D).
•The famous Lakshmi Narayan temple of
Chamba is a group of temples with Nagara
style.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Pagoda Style
•These are rectangular stone and wood
structures with successive roofs, placed one
over the other making them in some cases look
like multistorey edifices.
•These temples are believed to have Chinese or
Tibetan influence in their architecture.
•The arrangements in the interior of these
temples, including the wood carvings resemble
those preserved in the Pentroof temples.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Pagoda Style
•The temples at Hidimba Devi
at Manali, Mahadev temple in
Mandi district and Tripura
Sundri Devi temple, Kullu
come under this category
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Tower Style
•Another type of pent-roof style is seen in
the tower temples or it may be said that
when the chalet type structure is raised to
two to three storeys height, so that the
verandah all around extends beyond the
walls to form a cantilevered structure, as if a
chalet placed on the high pedestal, it looks
like a tower.
•The excellent types of this temple are
Bhimkali temple at Sarahan and Dum Devta
temple, Bhanmol, Shimla
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Flat Roofed
•These temples are made of
ordinary walls of mud and lime
plaster.
•But the remarkable point about
them is the wall paintings in
Pahari style.
•This architectural styles include
temples of Narbadeshwar
(Sujanpur-Tihra) and Brajraj
swami (Kangra valley)
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Pyramidal Style
•Considering style of roofs as a basis of
distinction, such types of temples are
built on square plinths.
•All the four lower eaves of the temple
roof are of equal length and the roof
goes on narrowing towards centre
forming pyramid like roof in the
centre.
•One of the examples of the pyramid
style roof temple is Dundi Devi temple
at Dabhas in Shimla district
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – TEMPLE/HOME
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•Gompas
•These are generally flat-roofed
complexes of many rooms. These
monasteries or the Gompas are the
repositories of Buddhist art and culture.
•The Gompa is the embodiment of the
earthy seat of Buddha and other deities
that make up the Buddhist Pantheon.
•Every village or a hamlet has its own
monastery, and it forms the centre of
the culture and social life of the people.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•The long walls of the house are parallel to the mountains and the
gaushala door faces the valley.
•The house has a high plinth so that the cows may remain cool during
summers warm during winters.
•In the lower part of the gaushala walls, only stone is used at base level.
•In the upper part of the wall the kath khuni method of layering wood
and stone begins.
•The first floor has rooms for fixed storage and unique feature of mini
granary integrated in the centre of the structure. It is hidden from
outside view.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•The second floor is used for cooking, cleaning, living and entertainment of
guests. To one side of the entertainment room is the kitchen and the other
side is the living room.
•The rooms on the third floor are made of beautifully carved local wood.
The balconies have a corner built in wooden bench and extended cubical
spaces such as washrooms.
•The stone used in the walls are chiseled and well dressed.
•The walls are constructed with stacking wooden framed on each other.
While on the second floor, the stacking of wooden frame is seen with an
infill of rubble.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTU
RE IN NEPAL
– HOUSES
HIMALAYAN
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• TYPOLOGY OF HOUSES
•House is a space inhabited by people and their stories.
•The character of a Himalayan vernacular, the story unit is basically a
cuboid .
•The
The smallest houses are two or three layers stacked in two or three
levels (ground, first and second floor)
•The size of the house increases by placing cuboids side by side and
then extending up three levels.
•Each house is determined by capacity. The capacity is not only the
size of the family but also the family’s socio – economic status.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• TYPOLOGY OF HOUSES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTU
RE IN NEPAL –
HOUSES
• TYPOLOGY OF
HOUSES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• TYPOLOGY OF HOUSES - DARBARGADH
•Houses for the powerful historical leaders of the villages that
is grand that reflects their status in the community.
•The
The Darbargadhs was built using kat khuni construction
techniques with much larger spaces.
•Darbargadhs have enclosed groups of stacked cuboids, still
following the conventional orientation of facing the valley and
the mountain but also including enclosed courtyards or narrow
street like open to sky spaces and towering cuboids at the
highest point, for significant yet personal local deities.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• DARBARGADH
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• TYPOLOGY OF HOUSES - DARBARGADH
•The entrance for the people of these princely houses is separate
from that of their animals.
•The
The balconies of Darbargadhs are very elaborate, enclosed and
carved with local flora, fauna and deities.
•The structure comprises of excluded spaces and a unique layout.
•They contain all elements of a vernacular house with added
attraction of an interior temple.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• DARBARGADH
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL – HOUSES
• SOCIAL USE
•In warm sunny days, activities take outside the
house on balconies and plinths while during the
colder times, the activities are performed within
the warmth of wood and stone walls.
•The womenfolk fashion their own chulhas. These
chulhas are defining aesthetic and practical
elements of the kitchen. These are generally
placed in the corner and allows the smoke to
escape through the vents in the roof. People often
gather around for interaction around the chulha.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL
• OTHER FEATURES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL • OTHER FEATURES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL
• OTHER FEATURES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL
• OTHER
FEATURES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL
• OTHER
FEATURES
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL
• TOWNS
• Typical formal feature is the monumental
pillar supporting a metal superstructure
adorned with mystical symbols, group of
divinities and portrait statuary of
royalties.
• Architectural styles and technology,
mainly based on two building materials:
wood and clay (bricks) with metal used
for ornaments.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL
• TOWNS
• Street facades of houses, usually
planned with interior courtyards
are elaborately treated
• DURBAR SQUARE
– generic name used to describe
plazas opposite old royal palaces in
Nepal.
HIMALAYAN
HIMALAYAN
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
• BRIEF HISTORY
• A country where no colonial flags fluttered, Bhutan is a
nation, which has retained all the charisma of the old world,
embodied in the monastic fortresses, ancient temples,
monasteries and chortens (stupas), which dot the
countryside and prayer flags fluttering above farmhouses,
on hillsides, lush forests and rushing glacial rivers
• Bhutan has caught the attention of the world by its
development philosophy called Gross National Happiness
(GNH). It is a champion of cultural and environmental
preservation, which rose above the fallacies of development
with the adoption of preservation and sustainable
development principles.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
• CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
• Culture is a way of life and in Bhutan, religion which plays
a very important role has dictated many aspects of its
culture.
• These are embodied in the arts and crafts, ceremonies
and events, and basic social and cultural values. Despite
development, the tradition of fine art still exists and are
manifested and expressed through exquisite traditional
paintings on monasteries and houses, adding not just
color but beauty to the unique architecture.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
• CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
• Bhutanese architecture epitomizes one of the most striking
physical features of Bhutan.
• The characteristic style and colour of every building and house
in the kingdom is a distinct source of aesthetic pleasure.
• Patterns of rich colours adorn walls, beams, pillars and doors in
traditional splendour.
• Art and paintings are also important aspects of Bhutanese
culture and they bear testimony to the spiritual depth of
Bhutanese life.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN Taktsang
Lhakhang
Taktsang
Lhakhang is
Bhutan’s most
iconic landmark
and religious
site. The name
Taktsang
translates to
“The Tiger’s
Nest”.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
Taktsang Lhakhang, con’t
• It was first built in 1692 at a cave where Guru
Rimpoche meditated in the 7th century A.D.
Legend states that Guru Rimpoche flew to the
site atop the back of a tigress and meditated in
the cave for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours
in order to subdue evil demons residing within it.
• The cave has been considered a sacred site ever
since and many famous saints have travelled to
meditate in it.
• In order to arrive at the temple visitors must
trek for around 2-3 hours through beautiful,
shady pine forests.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN

Thimphu
The Kingdom’s capital city is home to approximately 100,000 inhabitants including the Royal family. This
bustling little city is the main center of commerce, religion and government in the country.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
Thimphu , con’t
• One of the most curious features of Thimphu
is that it is the only capital city in the world that
does not use traffic lights. Instead a few major
intersections have policemen standing in
elaborately decorated booths (small pavilions),
directing traffic with exaggerated hand
motions.
•The juxtaposition of ancient tradition and
modernity make Thimphu the ideal location for
visitors to break away from their tour itinerary
and just immerse themselves in the lifestyle of
contemporary Bhutanese.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN

Tashichho Dzong
It was first constructed in 1216 A.D. by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa where Dechen
Phodrang now stands above Thimphu
Thimphu..
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
• DZONG ARCHITECTURE
Trongsa Dzong, the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan.
• is a distinctive type of
fortress architecture found
mainly in Bhutan and the
former Tibet. The
architecture is massive in
style with towering exterior
walls surrounding a complex
of courtyards, temples,
administrative offices, and
monks' accommodation.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
• DZONG ARCHITECTURE
Distinctive features include:
•High inward sloping walls of brick and stone painted
white with few or no windows in the lower sections of the
wall
•Use of a surrounding red ochre stripe near the top of the
walls, sometimes punctuated by large gold circles.
•Use of unique style flared roofs atop interior temples.
•Massive entry doors made of wood and iron
•Interior courtyards and temples brightly coloured in
Buddhist-themed art motifs such as
the ashtamangala or swastika, for example.
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE IN BHUTAN
• DZONG
ARCHITECTURE
ASHTAMANGALA
•Sacred suite
of Eight
Auspicious
Signs endemic
to Hinduism,
Jainism,
and Buddhism.
 Assignment
• Due: February 08, 2018
• Draw Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China
• Group Report: KOREAN ARCHITECTURE -
General
• Manual coloured – any media
• Landscape
• Short Bond (Board or any thick paper)
• To be compiled at the end of the term