VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

HIMACHAL PRADESH
What is Vernacular Architecture ?
• Vernacular architecture is a category of architecture based on localized needs
and construction materials, and reflecting local traditions.

• Vernacular architecture is influenced by:

Localized needs
Local construction material
Local traditions
• Hence, varies from area to area.
Factors influencing vernacular architecture
• Climate:
• Season wise - The material should remain hot in winter and cold in summer
• Rainfall-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.
• Culture:
• The kind of families that live there (example: joint family, etc.)
• vegetation of the people living there.
• local traditions ,customs and beliefs , community gatherings etc.
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.
ARCHITECTURE IN HIMACHAL
PRADESH
Why vernacular architecture of Himachal Pradesh?
 Architecture in HP is highly evolved and functional.
 Over the centuries, building methods had successfully discharged domestic, temporal and
religious requirements.
 The most elementary form of hill architecture is still found in the old temples. These
temples are widely scattered everywhere all along the mountain slopes and in the valleys.
 Layout plans and construction of buildings is much more complicated in hills is much more
complicated than in plains.
Challenges and problems faced:
 Frequent and Seismic Tremors.
 Problems of soil erosion and land slides.
 Suitable orientation on the hill slopes.
 Existence of tall shoddy trees and dense forest area, which obstruct the winter
sun required for the buildings.
 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
Seismic Zone

The Himalayan region

falls into a region of high
to very high seismic zone.
From the low lying plains
along the south-west to
the mountains along the
north east, the change in
altitude is a result of
upward thrust by grinding
and collision between
Indian and Eurasian
plates. This drift continues
causing Himalayas to rise
accompanied by seismic
activities.
Physical landscape
The land of himachal
Pradesh rises from the
plains at an altitude
from 350m mean sea
level on the south-west
to an altitude of 6816m
in the east towards the
Tibetan plateau.
 Factors influencing the architecture
• Climate:
- Cold and cloudy climate.
- Southern slopes are preferred for orientation of the houses so as to maximize penetration
of sun rays
- The height of the buildings varies at different altitudes and are designed in accordance
with the sun path
Culture:
- Major occupation is agriculture .
- Houses with many stores for storage of grains.
- Service area forms a separate unit away from the living quarter
- Houses should face east and the rising sun.
Materials:
1. Deodar wood
• Imparts stability to tall
structures.
• Insect and terminate
resistant.
• Even when untreated, can
withstand long periods of
weather corrosion.
• It is used in making posts,
beams, window and door
frames, shutters, roof etc
• 2. Mud
• Good insulator and
binder.
• Either mud id is filled
in to the wooden
forms and rammed.
• Alternatively, sun
dried mud blocks are
used for walls.
• 3.Hard stone
• Used in building foundation
and walls supporting the roof.
4.Slate Tiles
• These have high quartz content , frost resistant.
• Low maintenance.
• Provide a moisture barrier to to the structure.
• Invulnerable to rot and insects.
Construction methods

• Kath khuni style

• Construction method adapted
to mitigate seismic tremors.
• Huge solid plinth made of dry
dressed stone masonry. In
higher levels, wood and stone
cage are constructed with
rubble in between. It is non
rigid and allows the building
to flex with seismic waves.
Advantages Construction
Related Building Construction Methods

Bhatar construction in Pakistan Taq construction in Kashmir Timber braced style in Shimla
Settlement Patterns
Typical village along stepped
contours
Temple is at the heart of most
settlements and usually sited at the
highest spot. The surrounding areas
of the temple is mainly used during
festivals and religious gatherings by
the in habitants of the particular
village.
Houses
A typical house in Himachal Pradesh is two to three stories high.
The lower floor is for cattle and the upper floor are for residing, kitchen and storage.
Low height room to keep interiors warm with the heat of the people in it.
Pitched roof with slate roofing.
Description
Typical components
• It shows a typical
house, with guashala
at the bottom, and
living area on the top
capped off by a pent-
and-gable roof.
Temples
Temples built in Himachal
Pradesh are typically higher
than a house and can go up
to seven stories high.
Temples have the same
elements as a house, but with
different proportions

Typical temples
 Features

Floor and stairs

Projecting wooden balconies Ground floor is finished with adobe. Upper floors are
finished with wood and a cut is made in the ceiling to
connect the floors internally
Features
Roof
The roof structure is constructed
out of wooden beams followed
by purlins, rafters, topped with
slate or wooden shingles. The
slate stones also weighs down
the structure against strong
winds.
Bibliography
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernacular_architecture
• http://cdn.pixpasites.com/downloads/ahtushi_f6e66446f9a091d64028d613ba3
41920.pdf
• www.slideshare.net
• http://www.designboom.com/project/prathaa-kath-khuni-architecture-of-
himachal-pradesh/