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Vernacular Architecture Of

Kangra(HP)

SUBMITTED BY-

SAHIL KAUNDAL

11613

B.ARCH. 4th Year,7th Sem.

SUBMITTED TO-

AR. VANDANA SHARMA

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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 ofKangra 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

Verandah

Pitch Roof with Slate Covering

Courtyard

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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!