VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF JAMMU AND

KASHMIR
ASSIGNMENT-03

SUB-VERNACULAR ARCHTECTURE

SUBMITTED BY-
MUKUL SHARMA
PINTOO YADAV
AMIT KUMAR
 LOCATION-
Jammu and Kashmir covers the northern most extremity of india and
lies between latitudes 32° to 36 ° north and longitude 73 ° to 80 ° east.
➢Kashmir, also known as the paradise on land and is famous
for its hillsides, excellent water bodies , its rich culture,
Mughal gardens, Shikaras, House boats, Handloom Industry,
its mouth watering cuisine.

➢ J&K is the top most state of India.

➢ It is surrounded by Himalayas, with China on one side &

Pakistan &POK On the other.

➢ It basically comprises of three district :

➢ Jammu: mainly a plain area.

Kashmir: mainly a valley area.
Ladakh: mainly a hilly area (hill desert).
CLIMATE
➢ Srinagar has a humid subtropical climate.
➢ It is much cooler than what is found in much of the rest of India, due to its moderately high elevation
and northerly position.
➢ Winters are cool, with a January daily mean of 10.0 °C, and temperature remains below freezing at
night.
➢ Moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in winters.
➢ Summers are warm with a July daily mean of 30.1 °C.
➢ The average annual rainfall is around 710 millimetres.
➢ Spring is the wettest season while autumn is the driest.
➢ Highest temperature: 37 °C
➢ Lowest:14 °C

According to Seismic Zoning Map of India there are the following seismic zones in Jammu & Kashmir:
Zone V : MSK Intensity IX or higher is probable to occur.
Zone IV : MSK Intensity VIII is probable here
The Himalayas divide the Kashmir valley from Ladakh while the Pir Panjal range,which encloses
the valley from the west and the south, separates it from the Great Plains of northern India.

TERRAIN MAP
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

➢The oldest surviving examples of traditional vernacular architecture in the city of

KASHMIR dates back to early 19th Century.
➢This architectural style is solely represented by the residences of the city and broadly
falls into two distinct categories; based on the structural system involved. These two
systems are:

➢ • Taq Construction
➢ • Dhajji-Dewari or Timber Braced (patch-quilt) System
TAQ CONSTRUCTION
➢ In this system of construction 2-3 ft. thick brick
masonry piers supporting wooden floor beams
formed the basic structural system of the building.
➢The distance between two brick piers used to be
normally around 3-4 ft and was known as a TAQ.
➢The gap in between each TAQ would be filled in
with either a window opening or brick masonry.
➢ The roof comprised a layer of earth covering over
birch bark and wooden planks resting on wooden
rafters.
DHAJJI-DEWARI CONSTRUCTION
➢ The dhajji-dewari construction is based on a braced
timber framed structural system, in which normally
4-9 inch thick brick or stone masonry is used to infill
the gaps.
➢ Normally this system is limited to upper floor levels or
attics ( kani ) of the building

➢Walls are plastered in mud mortar.

➢Dhajji buildings are typically 1-4 storeys tall and the roof may be a flat Timber bracings
timber and mud roof, or a pitched roof with timber/metal sheeting. used in upper
floors , ground
➢The floors of these houses are made with timber beams that span floor is made of
between walls. just stone
masonary.
➢Timber floor boards, which span over the floor beams, would
traditionally be overlain by a layer of clay (or mud).
 TYPICAL DWELLING

➢The buildings were generally three to four storey high, with basements contained within the retaining
walls along the river side.

➢The plans were generally square so that a minimum of external walls were exposed and heat was
conserved in the cold winter.

➢Bay windows(dub) are present overlooking the river or main street.The dub is generally located on the
southern side so that the sun was available in winter.
ROOF AND FLOOR TYPES

➢The main type of roof and floors adopted in houses using stone masonry in Jammu & Kashmir are:
❖Wood logs supporting wooden planks.
❖Sawn wood rafters or trusses with sawn wood purlins covered with CGIsheets.
➢There is a tradition of using sloping roofs with light covering of corrugated galvanized sheet.
➢The roof should have adequate slope to deal with snow & rain.

SPATIAL ORGANISATION AND PLANNING

Most of the buildings constructed on the above mentioned structural systems show a common spatial
arrangement and decorative elements. The buildings can thus be subdivided into two categories on
the basis of plan form:

• Square Plan

• Linear Plan
 SPATIAL ORGANISATION AND PLANNING
➢ Many of the traditional buildings are based on a square
plan with the main entrance opening into a centrally
located staircase lobby.

➢ The lobby is flanked by one or two rooms on either side,

in ground as well as first floor.

➢ The space above entrance in first floor in some cases

also encloses a projecting wooden bay window (dub).

➢ The second floor (kani) normally comprises a single

large hall which can be subdivided into three smaller rooms
whenever required with the help of partition screens.
➢ The entrance to these buildings was from a staircase lobby
located near one of the corners of the house.
➢ Many of the larger and more aristocratic houses, also known as
havelis comprise a linear, two or in certain cases three storey
buildings.
➢ Lattice work screens and window shutters, profusely carved wooden
brackets, eaves board (morakh patt), pendants (dour) are some of
the main architectural elements associated with them.
ROOF
The second floor is surmounted by a cruciform shaped attic
space.
 CGI roofing on timber with walls of wood planks and logs
Evolution of Constructions in Rural Kashmir-

Rural buildings constructed in a traditional way by the people (often referred to as vernacular
buildings) become an integral part of the local cultural heritage. These buildings often reflect
the strength of the community to house itself independent of any outside intervention. They are
a manifestation of architectural systems optimized over time for a particular context with regard
to climate, soil or the threat of natural disasters. Constructed from local materials with local
skills and a deep understanding of local social and economic constraints, traditional
architecture is in many aspects sustainable architecture.
architecture in many places continues to evolve, and Kashmiri
rural architecture is no exception. A number of building
systems in various parts of Kashmir have developed over time to
accommodate local natural and cultural factors, including the
impact of earthquakes. These systems are not only part of the
cultural heritage of Kashmir but also add to its beautiful
landscape. Historically, the buildings have depended completely
Traditional flat mud roof on timber understructure with stone masonry walls
upon stone, mud, bricks and wood for roofing as well as
walling. Until very recently, non-local materials did not
represent a valid option for local constructions. They were
expensive, and their use added logistical complications to the
construction process. However, in recent times new materials
have made their way into the valleys of Kashmir on account of
their favorable economics as well as people’s aspiration to
modernity.
 Thatch roofing on timber and burnt brick masonry wall

Until the 1970s the most common building systems in

Kashmir were brick or stone walls. Some of them timber
framed, with timber and mud roofs. But as durable wood
like Deodar became very expensive, corrugated galvanized
iron (CGI) sheets came to replace wood planks and shingles.
In areas where it is easy to transport these sheets, the change
has been so far-reaching that CGI sheeting now constitutes
the most common form of roofing in the region. Even in
areas where just twenty years ago houses were mainly built
with flat mud roofs, CGI sheets have become the
predominant roofing material. Apart from this, the
reinforced concrete (RC) slab is gradually replacing the
timber floor and load bearing masonry walls are replacing
the timber framing. Again, changing economic forces as
well as people’s aspirations to a more contemporary lifestyle CGI sheet roofing on stone masonry and timber wall

are encouraging such changes.

 CGI sheet roofing on stone masonry and timber wall

Architecture constantly adapts to suit the changing

context so that it can best meet the common person’s needs.
There is, however, a risk that new materials and construction
methods imported from outside may be introduced at a speed
that does not allow for the traditional way of testing novelties
over time and adapting them to the local situation.
Furthermore, the social, climatic, economic and technical
impacts of new interventions are often not fully understood,
and this may have negative effects on people’s lives. These
impacts include the reaction of buildings to earthquakes and
other natural disasters. RC, for example, is a material that
requires a high level of engineering, but the people who use
this material often know little about this. This is why, in many
cases, new materials and techniques applied in an
unprofessional way will threaten the safety of buildings and the
CGI sheet roofing on stone masonry and timber wall
people who live in them.
Aspects of Rural Architecture
Factors governing the popularity of construction methods and materials are
(a) economics in relation to people’s spending capacity,
(b) easy maintenance by the common person and
(c) effective response to local natural conditions such as
extreme cold, strong winds or high earthquake risk.

Economics-
This is demonstrated most clearly by the use of brick for construction, which is most economical in the plains of the Kashmir Valley, and
the use of stone, which is most economical in the hills, on account of their easy availability in the respective areas. The valley has soil that
is most suitable to make bricks, baked or unbaked. The mountains, on the other hand, offer very little soil but have lots of stone and rock.
When people in the hills consider switching from stone to brick, these economic factors become very relevant. The cost per brick, which is
Rs.1-2 in Baramulla town (in the valley), can be Rs.3-4 at a roadside village 60 km away, or even as high as Rs.5-6 in a village a mere 2 km
away from the road side where it has to be transported on mule back. Where roofing is concerned, even today CGI sheets have made
no inroads where timber is cheaply available and where access to the area is only by foot over long distances and steep terrain. In other
areas, cheaper timber varieties with shorter life are gaining acceptability, since the CGI roofing protects such timber from the natural
 The Valley of Kashmir - Rural
The most common wall types are load bearing:
The major factors that dictate the local
architecture are (a) baked brick (external wall) masonry with mud or cement mortar, with or without plaster,
(a) easy access to good soil for brick-making, (b) unbaked brick (internal wall) with mud mortar and mud plaster, or
and to water and timber,
(c) unbaked brick with baked brick veneer (external wall) masonry with mud mortar, with or
(b) snow in winter, and
(c) possibility of earthquakes. As a result, walls without plaster, or
are made mainly out of timber and bricks, baked (d) Dhajji timber framed constructions with infill of baked brick in cement mortar or
or unbaked.
unbaked brick masonry in mud mortar, both 4" thick with timber frame. Many structures
Roofs slope steeply in two directions. Although planks or
which are typically single- and double-storey have Dhajji walls in the upper storey and the
shingles of hardwood like Deodar were formerly the main
roofing materials, today CGI sheets on timber supports have gables.
become the most common type of roofing.

Burnt and unburnt brick masonry walls with CGI roofing

CGI sheet roofing dots the scene Dhajji wall with baked bricks
on timber
The Valley of Kashmir - Urban Structures with Dhajji walls, as well as those with the
Taaq system of construction, are known to resist
The urban areas of the Valley have architecture that is distinct earthquake forces effectively. Hence, old structures that
from all other areas. The main factor determining this have withstood many quakes are still standing.
architecture is the high density of development. This calls for
pitched. The wood shingle roofing that was once
vertical growth, resulting into three to four-storey structures.
used in most structures has been replaced by the
The two most common walling systems observed are
CGI sheeting on account of economics and
(i) Dhajji type, with timber frame and infill consisting of availability.
Four sided CGI roof on un-plastered Dhajji walls
baked or unbaked bricks, and
(ii) Taaq type, consisting of brick masonry interlaced with
heavy timber bands supported on large masonry piers
made of baked bricks. The timber frames in the Dhajji
walls are generally well laid out with a system of diagonal
bracings that provide a distinct path to the ground for the
stresses caused by lateral seismic forces. In addition, the
walls are lightweight and hence have less mass and less
lateral seismic loads. Thus this type of wall is able to
withstand ground settlement and major earthquakes
without suffering much damage. The Taaq type of
construction has a large number of windows (“Taaq”
means window), one in each gap between the piers. The
roofs are two- and four-sided Taaq type construction
High-Elevation Hilly Regions Surrounding the Valley
The major factors that dictate the local architecture in this zone are -
(a) easy access to building-quality stone,
(b) limited availability of topsoil,
(c) varying availability of water, ranging from abundant to very little,
(d) better availability of timber than in other zones due to lesser deforestation,
(e) difficulty in carting non-local materials,
(f) heavy snow in winter, and
(g) possibility of earthquakes.
The most common wall types are- Four sided CGI roof on random rubble walls
(a) coursed random rubble masonry with or without mud mortar, with or without mud plaster, and
(b) Dhajji wall made of timber frame with small stones and plenty of mud mortar as infill, mainly
for the interior walls. The roof can be sloping or flat. The flat roof, as shown earlier, made with timber
understructure supporting the mud and vegetal roofing is often used for summer dwellings in high
altitude pastures. It is also used in animal shelters in this region on account of the warmth that it can
provide. This type of roofing requires extraordinarily heavy roofing elements on account of heavy snow
buildup in winter. More commonly, roofing consists of pitched CGI sheet roof on timber supports, since it
encloses a large volume which provides insulation in the cold winters on account of the attic floor.
Low-Elevation Hilly Regions (Surrounding the Valley and Other Parts of the State)
The main factors that dictate the local architecture in this zone are
(a) easy access to building quality stone,
(b) limited availability of topsoil,
(c) greatly varying availability of water,
(d) varying availability of timber,
(e) little snow in winter, and
(g) possibility of earthquakes.
The most common wall types are
(a) coursed random rubble masonry with or without mud mortar,
with or without mud plaster, since availability of mud and water vary
greatly. Historically, the flat roof has been the most popular on account
of low snowfall. Even today, this type of roof is visible in plenty along the
Jammu-Srinagar route as well as in many parts of Poonch area. However,
the escalating cost of timber along with the easy availability of CGI
sheeting has made the latter the most popular roof type in this region
also.
Typical Kashmir House in Rural Areas
A typical rural Kashmiri house today is a large two- storey
structure, with an aspect ratio generally not exceeding 1.2 to 1.3,
with walls that are not plastered from outside and a shining CGI
roof that is pitched, with one or more projections. In the ground
storey it has approximately four rooms including a kitchen and a
front verandah, with a central corridor stretching from the main
entrance in front to a large bathroom- cum-toilet in the rear. The
stairs lead from the front end of the corridor to the upper storey.
The upper storey has a similar arrangement of rooms and passage as
found on the ground floor, and also has stairs that lead to the attic.
The number of storeys depends on the resources at the disposal of
the owner. Unlike in other parts of the country, where rooms are
gradually added as and when the need arises, here the basic
structure is built in one go. But the upper storeys are enclosed and
finished at a later date.
 The ground-storey rooms are used as a sitting area, bedrooms, and
kitchen. The upper storey rooms may be used as for storage as well as
bedrooms. On account of the joint-family system with several families
living under one roof, there is often more than one kitchen in the house.
The attic area is invariably used for storage, since the people are
predominantly agriculturists. In the case of single-storey houses, the
attic space is often divided with lightweight internal walls to create more
utilizable spaces.
For space heating, traditionally the houses had
fireplaces. But today, the simple wood-burning space
heating stoves called Bukhari, made out of galvanized iron
sheets, have become very popular since they do not involve
additional expense in construction.

Traditionally, timber has been the most used domestic fuel in the
region. Wood-burning stoves are made from mud by the lady of the
house. An ingeniously efficient water heating system used to be
incorporated in the construction of the kitchen wall just to one side of
the stove. The system consisted of a copper vessel embedded in the masonry
wall with openings for a water inlet and outlet. A cavity is made in the
wall such that the hot gases from the stove go round the tank and heat its
content. While cooking is in progress the water is heated continuously. In
recent years, however, with cooking gas slowly replacing wood, people
have been heating water on a gas stove. Electric water heaters have begun
to come in, too.