Seminar Hill

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ARCHITECTURE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH:

• INTRODUCTION

• TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF HIMACHALPRADESH

•CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE

• TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

• TOPOGRAPHY

• CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

• VARIOUS PROCESS N SITE PLANNING

INTRODUCTION

• Himachal Pradesh which is known as dev bhumi currently hasthe status of full fledged state union of India.•

Himachal literally means “the land of snow” . The whole areaabound in valleys covered by major rivers—the Satluj, Ravi and Beaswith slope envelop by pine and typical temperate mountain flora andherb varities.

• The valleys in high mountain ranges like Lahaul Spiti & alsoexposed to cold winds & snow stroms of central asia.• Geographical area-55673 sq.km.• Altitude-350 to 7000m.• Location- latitude 30°22’-33°12’Longitude-75°47’-79°04’• Temperature varies according toaltitude of the regions. It touches 40° inlower altitudes in summer and in somecase temperature may go below -40°cin winter.• Like true folk architecture all over the world, Himachal's indigenousarchitecture once seemed quite unchangeable.

• It had grown out of the land, fulfilled local needs, used local

materials, drew on local culture and within its own frame, was highlyevolved and functional.• Over the centuries, building methods had successfully dischargeddomestic, temporal and religious requirements.• Today,changes are there, but the tradition and skills remain asstrong as ever.

http://himachal.indiantravelportal.com/

http://himachal.indiantravelportal.com/



The presence of deodar forests has played a major role in the evolutionand development of various architectural forms. Its strength has enabled the construction of wooden structures that are several stores high. Thiswood is insect and termite resistant and even when untreated, can

withstand long periods of weather corrosion.

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

The architectural styles found in Himachal Pradesh have beenidentified in religious and secular buildings.

Architecture in secular buildings gives the introduction of theHimachal Pradesh architecture and religious buildings give the brief of the same.

Art of himachal Pradesh preserved in temples, fort, rock cut caves &monasteries.

The temple built in the heart of village, became the hub of the villagecommunity life and all types of community activities—religious, social,cultural, and even political—came to be performed in the temple yard.

They brought their own stone or wood for constructing temples &sculptures.

Carvings are inspired by god & goddess. Supporting columns of structure inside temples has only decorative or ornamental purpose.

TRADITIONAL HOUSES:- • Settlements started near the resources like farming land, water etc. In this case Terrain and Climate is more important. • A typical mountain villagecomprises of a compact groupof houses arranged along thecontours of preferably southfacing slope.

• The focal points of villages

were religious centers- a pipal tree on a platform or amandir. This focal point wasusually at highest point.The traditional villages were made up of Mud, Stone, and Timber.



VILLAGE ARCHITECTURE:-The villages are found where ever an area of cultivable land exists. Theyare situated in valleys or on hilltop preferably near source of water. The

houses are generally square or rectangular in shape facing east or westwith slates or shingles as roof covering. The lower stories are calledobras for cattles , the middle storey as store house and sleeping room inextreme cold and third storey is used for general living place.

BUILDING PARTS:-• Foundation: - Stone foundation, R.C.C Foundation.• Flooring: - Mud flooring, Cement concrete flooring.• Walls: - Mud walls, Stone walls.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE:

RAMMED EARTH CONSTRTUCTION:-

• In this type earth is filled in-situ into vertical mounds in layers of onemetre height.• Another common mud construction is consist of sun dried earthenbricks mixed with straw chippings to decrease shrinkage cracks. Surfaceof these walls are leveled by mud plaster which gives it property of proneness to cracking and washing during rains.

SAND STONE:-

• These are easily available near river beds or quarries near by.They are dressed and placed in such a way that they do not need anybinder.

WOODEN CONSTRUCTION

• The walls of wooden structures are fabricated mostly from anumber of logs, laid horizontally parallel to each other to define itswidth.

•

Over them, another course of logs, cut to a length equal to thewidth of the wall are laid cross wise to cover the entire length of thewall.

In another method, the wooden logs are neatly squared and the spacebetween each course filled with brick work and glazed tiles.



The positive points of both the early methods were incorporated so thatthe wall built in wood-n-stone technique had solidity, gravitationalstability and lateral rigidity.KATHKUNI OR KATHKUNDI STYLE

The 'Kathkuni' or 'Kathkundi' style of building is something unique to thispart of the world. A mesh of interlocking horizontal cedar (locally,deodar)sleepers is created - and in this dressed or raw stone is packed. Asingular characteristic is the absence of vertical members. The mostcommon type of kathkuni wall is made by laying apart two squaresection wooden wall beams longitudinally parallel to each other to definethe width of the wall. These are lap-jointed or nailed by the cross joist.The whole frame work done is known as cheol.With inherent elasticity,

the design has an enormous seismic response - there have beeninstances when tremors have dislodged the stones from the frame, andlater, have been hammered back into the intact mesh of wood housesand temples in the style are present in the districts of Shimla , Kinnaur and Kullu.

FLOORS:-

• Floors are made over rammed earth toped by layer of smallboulders soling and then finished by mud layer.• Upper floors are made of wooden panels supported on woodenbeams which is again finished in mud and given a cow-dung wash toresist abrasion while walking.

• Some times instead of wooden panels split bamboos is usedtopped by special kind of leaves to prevent the dust failing to lower floors while walking on upper floors.

ROOFS:-

http://www.indiantravelportal.com/shimla/

http://himachal.indiantravelportal.com/kinnaur/

http://www.indiantravelportal.com/kullu/

http://www.indiantravelportal.com/shimla/

http://himachal.indiantravelportal.com/kinnaur/

http://www.indiantravelportal.com/kullu/



Roofs are generally inclined to throw off monsoon rains and aresupported on wooden or bamboo trusses. Roofs are tiled by slates cutinto an orderly fashion.

COLD AND DRY REGIONS:BUILDING CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL:

• Because of dry and cold climatic conditions, there is totalabsence of any type of cognizable vegetation in Lahaul, spiti,upper kinaur. Therefore the building construction material popular in that region is roughly dressed stones, sun baked mud bricksand clay. The limited choices of building construction material andthe prevailing geo-climatic conditions have been the governingfactor in the type of monastic architecture that developed in thewestern Himalayan region.

• Mud could be used as the bonding and building constructionmaterial right from the erection of wall to the covering of roof .• In chamba, lahaul and lower part of kinnaur the local housesand the non-lamaistic temples are largely wood based, but themonasteries are mud and stone based box like structure, becauseof entirely different geoclimatic conditions and non availability of good quality of stone.

LOCAL COSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE:

• The planks made of basket woven twigs are used as shutteringfor the erection of mud wall.

• In the absence of structural stone the only convenient materialavailable for building construction is earth (mud).• Earth is kneeded into thick dough wit appropriate dose of binding material-husk or chaff, pine needles or dung etc- andmolded into bricks of about 15x22x30 cm. in size. This bricks areused undried and are called peu.It is therefore, usually to raisewall by ram-filling well-kneeded mud between two shutteringplanks placed wide aparts along its length.

• Such mud walls are called gyank . The rough surfaces of thewall are made smooth with finishing coat of mud plaster (a specialvariety of mud clay known as markula).This clay has water resistant quality.

• To provide stability against the howling winds and snow storms,the base of the wall of the tall structure is given thicker than thetop.



• The openings on the external wall are kept to minimum and of very small size to provide insulation from the outside courts.

Flat Roof –Rough and unhewn logs are spanned across the room of the wallover which planks available is placed. Due to scarcity of wood, it iscommon to lay poplar or willow sticks and knitted twigs closed toeach other as substitute for the planks over it rammed earth is spreadto complete the roofing.The roof of all houses and monasteries in these remote regions are,as a rule flat. For the people it is essential part of their chores duringthe winter that they remove the snow regularly with wooden spadesfrom the roof top.

TEMPLE ARCHITECTUREThe temple built in the heart of village, became the hub of the villagecommunity life and all types of community activities—religious, social,cultural, and even political came to be performed in the temple yard.Temples of Himachal Pradesh have principal styles which are neither defined on the basis of deity to whom they are dedicated nor ongeographical distribution, but on their peculiar shapes. They are:

Wooden temple:- Early wooden

temples in the state have similaritywith gupta style. The structuralfeatures of many early buildings instone are taken from woodenmodels. Wooden temple building inHimachal Pradesh was inspired bysimilar temples in Kashmir valley.

Eg. Wooden temples of bharmaur chatrari and udaipur.TEMPLE AT BHARMAUR

Shikhara style:-These temples arecone shaped erected on rectangular base with single cellar in whichimage is placed. They possessedno mandapas & ante rooms Some



temples are covered with kiosk &. umbrella shaped made slates andwooden plates.Eg. Temple in chamba, bharmour, baijnath ectLAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE-CHAMBA

• Domes shaped temples:-These temples are dome likestructures belonging comparatively tolater periods. Muslim influence, as useof bricks and lime mortar as comparedto stone or wood.Eg. Temple of bilaspur-naina devi

• Pent -roof or chalate style:-

Rectangular and square in plan madeup of wood and stone mounted withpent roof. They vary in the constructionof their verandas and the quality of carved work .Large and excellent stonewhich are finely-cut , constitute their base .The buildings are entirely madeup of wood and stone which are locallyavailable material. The roofs are gabled. LAKSHANA DEVI TEMPLE

Eg. Lakshana devi temple at bharmaur.

• Tower style:-When thepent roof structure is raised to 3 or more storeys height so thatprojected veranda beyond the wallsto form a cantilever structures. Itlooks like a tower as a chalet placedon high pedestal, such buildings arekot or koti temple. These temples

are built on a square plinth. Thewalls are raised to the desiredheight. Projected beams support thecantilever veranda. These floorscan be reached by a step ladder which is connected by a notched



tree trunk. The horizontal timbers are laid at wide intervals anddistributethe pressure walls below them. BHIMAKALI TEMPLE

Eg. Temple-cum-castle of bhima kali.

• Pyramidal style:-In himachal Pradesh the pyramidal likeroof temples are found. Built on square plinth. pyramidal like roof mounted by chatri or kalash on the top .Eg. Himgiri wooden temple & jalpa devi temple at mekhla in chamba.

• Pagoda style:- Term pagoda is meanta building with a succession of super-imposedpent roof, each one a little smaller than thebelow it. Bottom storey is usually made up of a

timber-bonded stone. The building may beentirely of wood and stone. Built on squareplan, with roofing provided in successivenarrowing tiers rising upward to form canopy atthe top.Eg. Hidimba devi temple at dungri at manali.

• Rock cut cave temples :-Inhimachal pradesh rock cut temples

are at masrur and caves are situatedin remote areas have shivalingaenshrine in them. Eg. Temple at shashan in jubbal.

• Buddhist style:- Buddhisttemple and monestries have their ownimportance in the field of architecture.These consist of single hall or group of halls surrounding by walls.Most of the

doors open to the east.Eg. Monestries at TABO on the left bankof spiti river built in 9th century.

TOPOGRAPHY:-• An essential differencebetween Hills and Plains is the



Presence of undulating topography altering the line of vision atevery point of ground. This makes the visual appearance of building very important from all distances.• The changing terrain opens up unlimited possibilities of viewing

and utilizing land at various levels.• But this also restricts the freedom in the development andplanning. Not to say of typical structure systems and materialsnecessary for construction.

CLIMATIC INFLUENCEThe hills which serve as summer-holiday spots due to pleasanttemperature conditions become unbearably cold in winters. Most of the problems related are due to Environmental Climatic Conditions.Living in hills is divided in zones of moderate hot to extreme cold and

heavy monsoon rainfall especially in H. P.

PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS:-• To protect the building from cold and winds in winter.

• Penetration of maximum sunlight in living areas and generatingwarmth.

• Rain water disposal.CLIMATIC ADVANTAGES IN HILLS:-

• The climate though posses

problems, can be made bestfriend by adequate planning andright choice of materials.

• Climatic advantages in hills areof receiving sun to a greater extent due to slopes. Even thegeneral shape of ground allowsself-disposal of water providedthere is no clotting.

ADVANTAGES OF CONSTRUCTION IN HILLS:-• Buildings are more exposed to sunlight and ventilation.

• Private outdoor spaces for more no. of houses, less viewblockage from other houses.

• Buildings on south facing slopes not only remain warm andreceive more solar radiation but also protected from N W cold wavesof winter.



DISADVANTAGES:-• Restriction of plan due to slope.• Difficult to have construction on North Slope.• Vagaries of nature have to be taken care of.• More cost of construction.

•Problems of mass-movement, landslides, earthquakes etc.

VARIOUS PROCESSES IN SITE PLANNINGCombination of slope, soil, hydrology, vegetation aspect determinesphysical constraints and opportunity for development.

• Construction on hilly slope is expensive because of theadditional cost of the building

• Another factor is the lower density of hill side development ascompared with the flat sites.

• Slopes with irregular inclination rather than single grade acrossentire face will appear more natural.

• Slopes that are to be worked should not exceed 3:1 ratio.

• New cut and fill ratio should not be exceeding 2:1.

• New features such as roads and buildings must fit on to the siteand minimize the need for large cut and fills.

• Design should retain original terrain and character of the site.

• Roads should be parallel to the contours as possible.• Building should be located far away from sound source.• Taller beams or changes of grades are useful in sound control.

SLOPE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS:-Overloading slope

• By increasing the fill on slope without adequate drainage on thesite

• By increasing the slope grade

• By changing surface drainage route.



PROTECTION AGAINST FAILURE OF THE SLOPEIn the hilly regions landslide is

very common factor for collapsingof any building. If some care istaken collapsing of any buildingdue to landslide can be avoided.

• Retaining walls are oftendesigned to resist the failure of the slope and are designed witha batter.• All retaining walls shouldextend a minimum of 2’ below grade.• Foundation of the column at the the rear side of the buildingshould be heavy and deep so that after landslide building remainsstand as a cantilever.• Minimum cutting and filling should be done and can beachieved by using stepped construction which further strengthensthe structural part of the building facing along the slope.

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Seminar Hill