ARCHITECTURE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH: INTRODUCTION TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE TOPOGRAPHY CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

LUENCE VARIOUS PROCESS N SITE PLANNING INTRODUCTION Himachal Pradesh which is known as dev bhumi currently has the status of full fledged state union of India. Himachal literally means the land of snow. The whole area abound in valleys covered by major riversthe Satluj, Ravi and Beas with slope envelop by pine and typical temperate mountain flora and herb varities. The valleys in high mountain ranges like Lahaul Spiti & also exposed to cold winds & snow stroms of central asia. Geographical area-55673 sq.km. Altitude-350 to 7000m. Location- latitude 3022-3312 Longitude-7547-7904 Temperature varies according to altitude of the regions. It touches 40 in lower altitudes in summer and in some case temperature may go below -40c in winter. Like true folk architecture all over the world, Himachal's indigenous architecture 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 highly evolved and functional. Over the centuries, building methods had successfully discharged domestic, temporal and religious requirements. Today,changes are there, but the tradition and skills remain as strong as ever.

The presence of deodar forests has played a major role in the evolution and development of various architectural forms. Its strength has enabled the construction of wooden structures that are several stores high. This wood 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 been identified in religious and secular buildings. Architecture in secular buildings gives the introduction of the Himachal 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 village community life and all types of community activitiesreligious, social, cultural, and even politicalcame 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 village comprises of a compact group of houses arranged along the contours of preferably south facing slope. The focal points of villages were religious centers- a pipal tree on a platform or a mandir. This focal point was usually 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. They are situated in valleys or on hilltop preferably near source of water. The houses are generally square or rectangular in shape facing east or west with slates or shingles as roof covering. The lower stories are called obras for cattles , the middle storey as store house and sleeping room in extreme 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 one metre height. Another common mud construction is consist of sun dried earthen bricks mixed with straw chippings to decrease shrinkage cracks. Surface of 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 any binder.
WOODEN CONSTRUCTION

The walls of wooden structures are fabricated mostly from a number of logs, laid horizontally parallel to each other to define its width. Over them, another course of logs, cut to a length equal to the width of the wall are laid cross wise to cover the entire length of the wall. In another method, the wooden logs are neatly squared and the space between each course filled with brick work and glazed tiles.

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

The 'Kathkuni' or 'Kathkundi' style of building is something unique to this part of the world. A mesh of interlocking horizontal cedar (locally,deodar) sleepers is created - and in this dressed or raw stone is packed. A singular characteristic is the absence of vertical members. The most common type of kathkuni wall is made by laying apart two square section wooden wall beams longitudinally parallel to each other to define the 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 been instances when tremors have dislodged the stones from the frame, and later, have been hammered back into the intact mesh of wood houses and 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 small boulders soling and then finished by mud layer. Upper floors are made of wooden panels supported on wooden beams which is again finished in mud and given a cow-dung wash to resist abrasion while walking. Some times instead of wooden panels split bamboos is used topped by special kind of leaves to prevent the dust failing to lower floors while walking on upper floors.
ROOFS:-

Roofs are generally inclined to throw off monsoon rains and are supported on wooden or bamboo trusses. Roofs are tiled by slates cut into an orderly fashion. COLD AND DRY REGIONS:
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL: Because of dry and cold climatic conditions, there is total

absence 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 bricks and clay. The limited choices of building construction material and the prevailing geo-climatic conditions have been the governing factor in the type of monastic architecture that developed in the western Himalayan region. Mud could be used as the bonding and building construction material right from the erection of wall to the covering of roof . In chamba, lahaul and lower part of kinnaur the local houses and the non-lamaistic temples are largely wood based, but the monasteries are mud and stone based box like structure, because of entirely different geoclimatic conditions and non availability of good quality of stone. The planks made of basket woven twigs are used as shuttering for the erection of mud wall. In the absence of structural stone the only convenient material available 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- and molded into bricks of about 15x22x30 cm. in size. This bricks are used undried and are called peu.It is therefore, usually to raise wall by ram-filling well-kneeded mud between two shuttering planks placed wide aparts along its length. Such mud walls are called gyank. The rough surfaces of the wall are made smooth with finishing coat of mud plaster (a special variety 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 the top.

LOCAL COSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE:

 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 wall over which planks available is placed. Due to scarcity of wood, it is common to lay poplar or willow sticks and knitted twigs closed to each other as substitute for the planks over it rammed earth is spread to 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 during the winter that they remove the snow regularly with wooden spades from the roof top. TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE The temple built in the heart of village, became the hub of the village community life and all types of community activitiesreligious, 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 on geographical distribution, but on their peculiar shapes. They are: Wooden temple:- Early wooden temples in the state have similarity with gupta style. The structural features of many early buildings in stone are taken from wooden models. Wooden temple building in Himachal Pradesh was inspired by similar temples in Kashmir valley. Eg. Wooden temples of bharmaur chatrari and udaipur.
TEMPLE AT BHARMAUR

Shikhara style:-These temples are cone shaped erected on rectangular base with single cellar in which image is placed. They possessed no mandapas & ante rooms Some

temples are covered with kiosk &. umbrella shaped made slates and wooden plates. Eg. Temple in chamba, bharmour, baijnath ect
LAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE-CHAMBA

Domes shaped temples:These temples are dome like structures belonging comparatively to later periods. Muslim influence, as use of bricks and lime mortar as compared to stone or wood. Eg. Temple of bilaspur-naina devi

Pent-roof or chalate style:Rectangular and square in plan made up of wood and stone mounted with pent roof. They vary in the construction of their verandas and the quality of carved work .Large and excellent stone which are finely-cut , constitute their base .The buildings are entirely made up of wood and stone which are locally available material. The roofs are gabled. Eg. Lakshana devi temple at bharmaur.

LAKSHANA DEVI TEMPLE

Tower style:-When the pent roof structure is raised to 3 or more storeys height so that projected veranda beyond the walls to form a cantilever structures. It looks like a tower as a chalet placed on high pedestal, such buildings are kot or koti temple. These temples are built on a square plinth. The walls are raised to the desired height. Projected beams support the cantilever veranda. These floors can be reached by a step ladder which is connected by a notched

tree trunk. The horizontal timbers are laid at wide intervals and distribute the pressure walls below them. BHIMAKALI TEMPLE Eg. Temple-cum-castle of bhima kali. Pyramidal style:-In himachal Pradesh the pyramidal like roof 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 meant a building with a succession of super-imposed pent roof, each one a little smaller than the below it. Bottom storey is usually made up of a timber-bonded stone. The building may be entirely of wood and stone. Built on square plan, with roofing provided in successive narrowing tiers rising upward to form canopy at the top. Eg. Hidimba devi temple at dungri at manali.

Rock cut cave temples :-In himachal pradesh rock cut temples are at masrur and caves are situated in remote areas have shivalinga enshrine in them. Eg. Temple at shashan in jubbal. Buddhist style:- Buddhist temple and monestries have their own importance 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 bank of spiti river built in 9th century.

TOPOGRAPHY: An essential difference between Hills and Plains is the

Presence of undulating topography altering the line of vision at every 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 and planning. Not to say of typical structure systems and materials necessary for construction. CLIMATIC INFLUENCE The hills which serve as summer-holiday spots due to pleasant temperature 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 generating warmth. Rain water disposal. CLIMATIC ADVANTAGES IN HILLS: The climate though posses problems, can be made best friend by adequate planning and right choice of materials. Climatic advantages in hills are of receiving sun to a greater extent due to slopes. Even the general shape of ground allows self-disposal of water provided there 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 view blockage from other houses. Buildings on south facing slopes not only remain warm and receive more solar radiation but also protected from N W cold waves of 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 PLANNING Combination of slope, soil, hydrology, vegetation aspect determines physical constraints and opportunity for development. Construction on hilly slope is expensive because of the additional cost of the building Another factor is the lower density of hill side development as compared with the flat sites. Slopes with irregular inclination rather than single grade across entire 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 site and 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 the site By increasing the slope grade By changing surface drainage route.

PROTECTION AGAINST FAILURE OF THE SLOPE In the hilly regions landslide is very common factor for collapsing of any building. If some care is taken collapsing of any building due to landslide can be avoided. Retaining walls are often designed to resist the failure of the slope and are designed with a batter. All retaining walls should extend a minimum of 2 below grade. Foundation of the column at the the rear side of the building should be heavy and deep so that after landslide building remains stand as a cantilever. Minimum cutting and filling should be done and can be achieved by using stepped construction which further strengthens the structural part of the building facing along the slope.