RESPONSE TO

TOPOGRAPHY
HIMALAYAN
ARCHITECTURE:
A STUDY FROM KATHI-KUNI ARCHITECTURE
OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHADA
ROLL NO: 36
s5
AIM
To understand the impact of mountain terrain and climate in the beauty of Himalayan
architecture with the help of Himachal's kath-khuni architecture. The principles of this
indigenous architecture can be applied to modern context and offer improved adaptation
to a particular climate.

OBJECTIVE
● To identify the sensitivity of kath-khuni architecture to the mountain terrain with
respect to the locally available materials.
● To analyze the passive techniques used for Himachal's extreme climate to conserve
heat and disperse snow
● To study the physical form, structural stability and functions of spaces of kath-khuni
architecture.
● To study its evolution of settlement pattern and identify the present-day scenario.
METHODOLOGY Background studies
through :
DATA COLLECTION - Books
- Articles
- Internet sources

a. Buildings at Himachal Pradesh

i. Villages in zone 3(The higher Himalayan region)
- Chitkul, Kinnaur dist.
- Kalpa, Kinnaur dist.
INFORMATION FROM ii. Villages in zone 2(The middle Himalayan region)
LITERATURE CASE - The grand Darbargadh, Kotkhai, Shimla dist.
STUDY - Aukta house ,old Jubbal, Shimla dist.

b. Kath-kuni Inspired Buildings from modern

context.
i. Leti 360 studio, Mumbai
ANALYSIS THROUGH ● Villages in zone 1(The lower Himalayan region)
LIVE CASE STUDY - 2.1 Dharamsala, Kangra dist.
- 2.2 Palampur, Kangra dist.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF
COLLECTED DATA

INFERENCE

DERIVING AT
CONCLUSION OF THE
STUDY
HYPOTHESIS
In its use of local materials and responsiveness to the climate, the Himalaya's kath-kuni
embodies sustainable architecture.
LIMITATION
The study is limited to the context of himachal pradesh

CONCLUSION
● Kath-khuni construction displays a repetitive system of using local materials tolerant
of size and scale. The plinth of a Kath-khuni house is constructed entirely of stone.
● The base of the structural wall is two parallel layers of stones installed
flat.Depending on the size of the stone, the gap in middle is filled with random
rubble. Larger stones are stacked up on the outer edge and the corners of the wall to
provide stability.
● A greater use of stone at the base of the building creates heavier and more stable
foundations.
● Starting from the stone base, the wall is constructed by layering both wood and
stone.Side-by-side timber beams between layers of stone form a square or
rectangular frame.
● The gap between the timber beams is completed with an infill of rubble to give mass and support
to the frames. Wood frames the stone and anchors the structure to gravitational forces. Framing
results in higher damping and allows dissipation of the energy of the earthquake quickly and
evenly. The timber frame is repeated upward in construction with a stone layer in between.

● Though heavy, the slate shingles are made flexible by fixing them to the wooden framework with
metal nails at a single pivot-point. This allows them to adjust to rain and snow and shed the load of
moisture, preventing it from coming into the building.

● There is rarely any wastage of materials and the means of construction are energy efficient. These
buildings leave a lasting yet small footprint on the environment. These buildings are a living proof
that vernacular built forms respond to the needs of their local users.

● These sustainable building techniques can be adapted to modern context. The Leti360 studio gives
the exact example for that. They constructed the resort in a modern way, which is more attractive.