BUILDING MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION-VI

Case study of Bhutan’s traditional practice in architecture and understanding its issue in context of climate, topography,

building materials and construction system.

INDUBHAI PAREKH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, RAJKOT

FACULTY:

Rupesh PatelDarshan AjudiaKandarp Sapariya

Aayushi Rathi- A 0112 Harsh Mehta- A 1112

Tejas Rupapara- A 2612Divyang Sharma- A 2712Anubhav Anurag- B 3112Samarth Patel- B 5212

Nimesh Vekariya- B 6011Nimesh Vekariya- B 6011

Group

Sheet No. 01/06

BMC VI Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot

2 0 1 5COLD HUMID WINTER- BHUTAN

BHUTAN

Bhutan is divided into three zones climatically:

1. North alpine region Climate- Here the climate is cold and dry with year round snow on the main himalayan summits. Land form- Mountains (higher than 3000mt above sea levels.)

2. Inner Himalayas2. Inner Himalayas Climate- Temperate, most of the central portion of the country experiences a cool temprate climate year round. Land form- Valleys (between 2000-3000mt above sea levels.)

3. Southern tropical belt Climate- Warm and humid climate throughout the year with 5000 mm of yearly rainfall. Land form- Slopes and low land (between 100-200mt above sea levels.) Land form- Slopes and low land (between 100-200mt above sea levels.)

Capital: Thimpu

Population: 7.5 million

Religion: Buddhism

Bhutan is located on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalaya.

Group

Sheet No.02/06

BMC VI Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot

2 0 1 5COLD HUMID WINTER- BHUTAN

The house in this particular region are without exception built with stone masonry and a timber/ekra upper facade.

Since the terrain here is flat, the house is raised on stilts and the lower semi-covered space is used for cattle and storage of livestok.

Houses are made of stone structures or even yak-hair tents. The external timber/ekra wall does not project beyond the walls of the lower floor. The wall thickness can reach upto 80cm and it has smaller openings.

The locally available materials are mainly stone and timber. Because of the terrain locally availabe materials are used for construction mainly.

Walls are 80-100cm thick, and are made of compacted mud, which provides a strong and durable structure.

Since the terrain here is flat, the house is raised on stilts and the lower semi-covered space is used for cattle and storage of livestok.

Houses are made of rammed mud and timber structure. The ground floor serves as the storage space and the first floor accommodates the liveable spaces.

The stone foundation raises the mud wall preventing dampnessto rise and also protects the lower to rise and also protects the lower parts of the walls from rainwater which falls from mud and timber. The rammed earth walls act as shear walls which helps sustain the superstructure during seismic load.

Eastern Bhutan Western BhutanInner Himalayan(central)Northern Bhutan

Group

Sheet No.03/06

The walls are made of compacted mud pounded by wooden poles. This results in very rigid walls. The pounders are usually women who sang and

dance as they beat the walls. Once the mud wall is finished, it is left in its natural colour or white washed. Following the traditional and also the structural logic, the windows on lower floor are small, larger windows are built on the upper floor. small, larger windows are built on the upper floor. Traditonal roofs are pitched and covered with wooden shingles, Traditional roof shingles are

replaced frequently and many people now have resorted to corrugated metal sheet for the roofs.

BMC VI Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot

2 0 1 52 0 1 5COLD HUMID WINTER- BHUTAN

Wooden shingles placed on the roof

Wooden battens supporting the shingles

Vertical wooden posts supporting the roof structure

Wooden rafters with a low pitch

Wooden truss to carry the roof

Collar beam

Balcony with wooden railings

Group

Sheet No.04/06

BMC VI Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot

2 0 1 5COLD HUMID WINTER- BHUTAN

The wooden lintels of doors and windows are placed in their exact position, well

interlocked with the frames.

The load bearing walls in rammed earth are continued for the rear part of the house.

The ceiling joists placed below the first floor wooden members.

The extensions of the walls are always superimposed with alternate layers.

To ensure prorer insulationthe floor joists are providedwith tongue and groove joints.

Sequence of construction

Group

Sheet No.05/06

BMC VI Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot

2 0 1 5COLD HUMID WINTER- BHUTAN

Group

Sheet No.06/06

BMC VI Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot

2 0 1 5COLD HUMID WINTER- BHUTAN