The state got an urgent wake-up call this summer when torrential rains and landslides devastated the infrastructure. Now, architects are moving toward hemp, limestone, wood and stone.
Himachal Pradesh got an urgent wake-up call this summer when torrential rains and landslides devastated the state’s infrastructure. Situated above the Shivalik Hills and extending into the middle of the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh is burdened with thousands of homes completely destroyed or that have developed cracks over the past month. Residents are falling victim to the cracking concrete structures devised to protect them.
It’s about building anew, say architects. From using hemp and limestone to reverting to wood and stone, a new school of Himalayan architecture is taking shape.
“With the climate crisis unfolding, the need of the hour is to bring back the balance. These techniques have a strong structural framework indigenous to the Himalayas. They are climate-responsive and environment-friendly,” says Bhushan, founder of North, a builder company.
Vernacular styles of architecture vary across Himalayan states. Even within a particular state, styles change depending on a slew of reasons such as the altitude or the local context.
In Uttarkashi, the koti banal style of architecture has existed for 900 years. Homes in Srinagar use a combination of taq, which means window, and dhajji, a more fuss-free version of kath-kuni. The architecture of Ladakh is inspired by Buddhist monasteries with their layers of sun-dried bricks and stone. Yet, in mountain cities, homes based on local styles are being replaced by cement and concrete structures.
Kath-kuni stands in sharp contrast to modern techniques. The materials used are wood, stone and its variants, all of which are locally sourced. It calls for digging into the soil for about three feet, substantially reducing the load borne by the soil — unlike concrete structures that require labourers to dig six feet.
The wooden beams, carved of deodar trees, are interlocked and work to ensconce the layers of stone – allowing a foundation that is earthquake-proof and insulated against the barrage of disasters that are plaguing the Himalayas today.
A kath-kuni building can survive over 500 years, says Bhushan. One of North’s flagship projects has been the restoration of the Naggar Castle, which was built in 1460 AD and embodies the kath-kuni style.