Relevance of vernacular architecture of hilly regions in present times: A case of Uttarakhand

Relevance of vernacular architecture of hilly regions in present times: A case of Uttarakhand

Tanya Rawat1 andNaveenaVerma2

1B.archstudent,LovelySchoolofArchitecture andDesign,Lovely ProfessionalUniversity,Phagwara,India

2AssistantProfessor,LovelySchoolofArchitectureandDesign,LovelyProfessionalUniversity,Phagwara,India

Urban centers are changing today, but historic neighborhoods and regional architectural structures that still exist in outlying sections of the city have the ability to challenge modern architectural structures because of their real cultural heritage worth and the ability to contribute towardssustainability.Inthepresenttimestheinclinationtowardsadoptingmodernwaysofliving and use of emerging new technologies have led to the abandoning of traditional architectural elements and techniques brought from the past which symbolizes the tangible and intangible cultural heritage values of local architecture of any particular region. The spatial preferences of tangible and intangible cultural worth, as well as the propensity to give up traditional residential buildings, have been made clear by these societal changes and transformations.

The vernacular architectural structures that adorn these traditional residential areas have achieved a high level of success in terms of meeting daily life needs and requirements in spatial, social, and cultural terms with their environmentally friendly and nature-friendly architectural construction/manufacturing techniques.

The state of Uttarakhand has been known for its sustainable and climate responsive vernacular practices, but with the rapid urbanization, the need for adapting new technologies and materials have increased, leading to minimal use of the region’s vernacular elements and construction techniques. This paper investigates Uttarakhand’s vernacular practices, focusing on traditional material knowledge, construction techniques along with cultural and communityinvolvement. The structural detailing and materials used in Koti Banal, Kath-Kuni, Mud Wall Structures, and dryStoneStructuresaresignificantfeaturesintheseregionswhicharehenceconsideredforthisstudy. Traditional residential areas’ cultural, economic and spatial contributions have been demonstrated, as they have begun to be integrated into urban textures using modern urban planningtechniques.Through acasestudyoftheKumaonregionof Uttarakhand,thepaper draws an inference on the existing vernacular practices and modifications required for better planning and designing of housing facilities that will promote vernacular practices and environmentally friendly development of ecologically fragile hill tracts.

Keywords: Vernacular, sustainable, cultural environment, housing

1.INTRODUCTION

India has a plethora of vernacular traditions. Indian architecture encompasses a diverse range of vernacularstyles.TheIndianvernacularstylecanbeseeninvariousruralareasofthenationwhere structures are built with indigenous materials to cater to the requirements of the locals. It has progressivelymorphedovertimewiththeassistanceofskilledcraftsmanship.Itisconsideredone of the most beautiful architectural styles. India consists of various prevailing vernacular architectural styles from all the regions from north to south and east to west.India is divided into five climatic zones, each zone has its own architectural style, inspired by the region’s local traditionsandcultureandgeographicalpatternsthearchitecturalstyleshavedevelopedovertime.

FollowingarethemajorclimaticzonesthatIndiaisdividedinto:

Hotanddry

Warmandhumid

Temperate

Cold

Composite

Figure1VernaculararchitectureofdifferentclimaticzonesofIndia

UttarakhandisastateinnorthernIndiawithatotallandareaof51,125squarekilometers.Itisone of India's most beautiful and religious places with ideal vernacular architecture style. Its coordinates are 28°C 43' N to 31°C 27' N (latitude) and 77°C 34' E to 81°C 02' E (longitude). Mountains cover nearly the entire region of Uttaranchal (approximately 93%), with forests appearingonapproximately64%ofthemountains. Kumaon is one of two regions in the state of Uttarakhand and contains five districts: Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, and Pithoragarh. The Kumaon region, which includes the HimalayanMountainrange,isoneofIndia'smostremote,sparselypopulated,andunderdeveloped regions.

Inordertoaccommodatetheneedsofthelocalpopulation,avarietyofvernaculartechniquesand architectural styles have been established for designing settlements and specification for the constructionintheHimalayanregionofnorthIndia(Uttarakhand)overtheyears. Withoutspecializedorformalexpertise,thesevernacularpractisesareinventedbypeople,forthe people,withtheuseoflocallysourced,ecologicallysustainablebuildingmaterialsandindigenous methods of construction that users have long since learnt, established, and honed. These local conventions and styles were established with the goal of ensuring adequate resistance against weather extremes as well as other natural catastrophes. These age-old conventions provide the mostpracticalanswersforutilitarianvalueandcomfort.Thestructure,scale,size,color,materials, andexteriorof vernacular buildingstypicallysymbolizeculturalvalues,traditions, social system, vocation, economic wellbeing, and lifestyle. Vernacular strategies have little carbon footprint in andaroundcliffsidesettlements,andseveralprominentcharacteristicsofvernacularpractisesthat developed there, such as the adoption of regional materials, comfort conditions, environmentally sustainable design, small environmental carbon footprint, and contextually appropriate development, are also regarded as fundamental prerequisites for sustainable growth. In addition, growing urbanization, the requirement for enhanced mobility along with demand formulti-story structureshasenhancedtheuseofmodernmaterialsandtechniquesinhilltowns.Asaresultthese developmentshavemajorimpactsontheuseofvernacularmethodsofconstruction,leadingtoits decline. Massive constructionusing technological devices creates contamination,a diminutionin vegetation,andariseinsoilerosion,ariseinsurfacerunoff, andadecreaseinwatertable,ashift inthemicroenvironment,andariseininstancesofturbulencethatseriouslyharmHillsettlement’s surrounding and its sensitive environment. To lessen the various negative effects of recent and significant development within and around a hill's natural environment settlements, as well as preserving environmental quality, building rules are upheld, but issues with Environmental degradation continues and gets worse in settlements on hills. Thus, emphasizing the necessity of learningfromsustainablevernacularmethodswhencreatingbuildingstandardsanddesignofnew structures in North Indian hill communities. In this paper various vernacular construction techniquesandmethodsprevalentinKumaonregionofUttarakhandwillbestudiedandinferences andstrategieswillbederivedonhowthesevernaculararchitecturalpatternscanbeintegratedwith thecontemporarydesignpatternstopromotesustainabledesignsolutionsinhillyterrains.

1.1AIM:

To establish an interrelationship between vernacular architecture of Uttarakhand with the contemporary style architecture and its contribution towards the sustainable development of the hillyregionofUttarakhand.

1.2OBJECTIVES:

1.Tostudyaboutvernaculararchitecture,itscharacteristicsanditsimportance.

2.Tostudythevernacularandcontemporarydesignelementsthosecanwithstandtheclimate andtopographyofUttarakhand(Kumaonregion).

3.Tostudyvernacular/traditionalconstructiontechniquesthosehavebeenusedsincepastperiods inthehillstoresistseismicwaves.

4.Tostudyandenlistthetraditionalmaterialsthosearesustainableincontextwiththehilly region.

1.3METHODOLOGY

Followingistheprocedurefollowedduringtheresearch:

•Collectdataandacquireknowledgeaboutassortedvernacularpractises,suchasKotiBanal, Kath-Kuni,MudWallStructures,andDry-StoneStructures.

Figure2FlowchartofMethodology

•Aconceptualframeworkwillemphasizetheinterdependenceofvernacularstyle,Localmaterials knowledge,buildingtechniques,communityengagement,andplanningofsettlements,aswellas thestudyofalternativesincontemporarysense.

•Investigateonthesignificanceofvernaculararchitectureintermsofsustainability.

•AlivecasestudyconductedinthevillagesofKumaonregionofUttarakhandwillbediscussed alongwiththedesktopcasestudiesdonebypreviousresearchers.

Indigenousmaterialknowledgecontributestotheformationofadistinctidentity.Oneimportant aspectwillbeanalyzingtheimportanceofmaterialsandthescienceofbuilding.Thevernacular essenceofconstructionandthetechniquesusedarecrucialindeterminingthestyle'scorrelation withboththeregionanditssurroundings.

2.LITERATUREREVIEW

2.1VERNACULARARCHITECTUREANDITSCHARACTERSTICS.

TheWorldEncyclopediaofVernacularArchitecturedescribesvernaculararchitectureas dwellingsandallotherbuildings.Thishastodowiththeirnaturalsettingsandresource availability.Theymakeuseofconventionaltechniques.

Vernaculararchitectureiscreatedtosatisfyparticularnecessitieswhileembracingthecultures' attributes,economicrelations,aswellaslivingstyles.VernaculararchitectureisdefinedbyFrank LloydWrightas"folkbuildinggrowinginresponsetoactualneeds,fittedintoanenvironmentby peoplewhoknewnobetterthantofitthemwithnativefeeling."

Vernaculararchitecturereferstoaformofregionalconstructionthatmakesuseoftraditionaltools andmaterialsfromtheareainwhichthebuildingislocated.Asaresult,thisconfigurationishighly correlatedtoitsenvironsandiscognizantoftheparticulargeologicalfeaturesandindigenous culturesofitssurroundings,whichhaveapowerfulinfluenceonit.Asaresult,theyaredistinctive tovariouspartsoftheworldandhaveevenbecomeameansofreestablishingone'sidentity.Human behaviorandtheenvironmenthaveanimpactonit.Architectshavebeenresearchingclimateresilientmethodsthatcanbeusedinmodernconstruction.Itistheresultoffourfundamental factors,namely:Site,climate,materialandskill.Themacroclimateoftheareaservesasoneofthe greatestinfluenceonvernaculararchitecture.Thearchitecturalstyledevelopsovertimein responsetothesettinginwhichthebuildingpersists,inadditiontovariousfactorssuchas:

•Resourcesavailable

•Skilledlabors/workforce

•Climateandgeology

Table1Literaturereviewtable

•Historicalsignificance

•Localcultureandtheenvironment

•Naturalandregionalabilities

•Localmaterialsandtechnology

Usersinvernaculararchitecturecreateandconstructstructureswithinthesamelocation.Asa result,vernaculardwellingsarelessexpensivethanmodernandcontemporarydwellings.To reducebothcostsandenvironmentalimpacts,anaffordablypriceddesignmethodologyisused. Buildingsmadethroughvernaculartechniquesandmaterialsareexcellentexamplesoflong-term alternativestobuildingchallenges.Becauseoftheuseoflocalmaterialsandbuildingtechnology, thebuildingshavealwaysbeenenergy-efficientandextremelysustainable.Vernacular architectureisalwaysinperfectharmonywiththesurroundingenvironmentandhasalow environmentalimpactbecausethemostcommonlyusedbuildingmaterialsaremudandearth, whichimprovedthebuilding'sthermalandauditoryperformanceandenhancesitseconomic viability.Thebuildingisbuiltonsustainabilitypractices,withlocalmaterialsandtechnology, integratingthephysicalenvironmentwithcultural,social,andmysticalvaluesthatcanprovide realisticsolutionstowardsthesevereclimaticconditionsandhumannecessitates.

Thefollowingaresomeofthecommoncharacteristicsofvernaculararchitecture:

•Orientation:Differingorientationsproducedesirablethermalenvironmentinthebuilding. Vernaculararchitecturebasicallytendstomakeuseofsimplegeometricalformsinorder tomakemaximumuseofnaturaldaylightandexistingwindsthroughsimplerandless complexforms.

Figure3Solarorientationonsiteduringwintersandsummers.

•Shading:Itoccurswhenastructure,includingitsexteriorwallsandopenings,isexposed todirectsunlightandwater.Cantileveredoverhangsinvernaculararchitecturealleviate thisbyofferingprotection.

•Ventilation:Cross-ventilationservestomonitorandcontrolthehumiditylevelsofthe building.Thisishighlyrelevantforhutsthroughouthotandhumidenvironments.Structure andmassing,spatialconfiguration,andexpansiveandbuiltdistributionaresomeofthe factorsthataidtoregulatetheoverallperformanceofthebuilding.

Figure4Useofoverhangsandnaturalvegetationplaysavitalroleinprovidingshadetothebuilding premises.

Figure5Waysofnaturalventilationinbuildingswithflatroofsandslopedroofsprevalentinvernacular architecture

• Climate Responsive: Vernaculararchitectureincorporatestraditionaldesignelementsthat are both climatically adaptive and visually appealing and help to reduce environmental impact and thus energy consumption. The vernacular designs vary from region to region whileadaptingtodifferentclimaticconditions.

Nowadays Steel and glass infrastructure built all across the world disregards the climate patterns. In contrast to the natural cooling offerings used among vernacular buildings, which consumesless energy, thebuildings are fully air-conditionedand entail year-round air conditioning. These structures are wasteful because the glass exterior traps the sun's raysduringthesummerandlosesheatduringthewinter.Henceitisamajorneedintoday’s society to make use of the vernacular architectural styles to the fullest and contribute towardsthesustainabledevelopmentofthesociety.

TypicalFeaturesofvernacularcharacteristicscomprisethefollowing:

• Plinth:Theplinthisthebottomofthetraditionalhomes.

• Walls: The majority of the walls utilized are load-bearing structures. They may be made ofstoneoradobe.Rocks,etc.

• Openings:openingsareofferedinordertomaintainthethermalequilibriumoftraditional homes.

• Roofs:Theydon't touch thewallattheend,butprojectoutward,resultinginasignificant overhangwhichactsasashieldforthewallinordertopreventitfromdirectsunshineand rain.Theroofstypicallyhaveaslopingform,theirpitchfluctuateswiththewind'sstrength. thatregion.

• Loft: It is abuilt-in overhead storage area structure. This loft area divides the top hot zonefloorfromlower coolzonefloor.

Severalprevalentvernacularcomponentscomprisethefollowing:

• Water: The most valuable resource is water. It needs to be used with caution. A number oftechniqueslikewaterrecyclingandwaterharvestingmustbeembraced.

• StructuralDurability:Thetypeofmaterialusedinthestructuredeterminesitslife span. The materials using excess energy and resources should be used as per their recycling potential. Waste materials that are profusely available in the local proximity can be used aspertheirlifeanddurability.

•LightingandVentilation:Structuresthatareadaptivetotheclimaticconditionsreduce thefutileuseofartificiallightingandairconditioningsystems.Thestructuresthat incorporatevernacularcharacteristicsensuremaximumuseofnaturallightandnaturalair.

2.2THESTATEOFUTTARKHAND

Withsnow-coveredpeaks,glaciers,deepvalleys,rushingstreams,magnificentlakes,Uttarakhand boastsaterrainthatisextremelydiverse.Uttarakhandishometosomeoftheworld'stallest mountains.ThetemperateclimateofUttarakhandischaracterizedbyseasonaltemperature changesbutisalsoalteredbytropicalmonsoons.Januaryisthecoldestmonth,withhigh temperaturestypicallyrangingfromabout70°F(21°C)inthesoutheasttobelowfreezinginthe north.ThehottestmonthisJuly,withdailyaveragetemperaturessoaringfromthemid-40sF (about7°C)toabout70°F.Mayisthewarmestmonthinthesoutheast,withestimatedaverage temperaturesrisingtothemid-100sF(approximately38°C)fromalowof80°F(27°C).The southwestmonsoon,whichblowsfromJulytoSeptember,isresponsibleformostofthestate's annualprecipitationofabout60inches(1,500mm).

Figure6MapofIndiashowingthestateofUttarakhandanditsdivisions

Floods and landslides are problems during the rainy season in the lower stretches of the valleys. In the northern parts of the state, 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meters) of snowfall is common between December and March.Uttarakhand has a small population that is dispersed unevenly across the state. The majority of people reside in unplanned settlements, which are often comprised of tiny sequentialvillagesplacedbesidepathwaysorroads.Aportionofthelowestfloorofatypicalrural home'stwolevelsisreservedforhousinganimals.Mostofthemusemudasmortarandlocalstone forconstruction.Typically,slatetilesorcorrugatedironsheetsalongwithwoodortimberareused to construct roofs. The ever-growing network of paved roads, as well as the accessibility of electricityandconsumergoods,suchasradiosandtelevisions,havedrawnmuchofUttarakhand's rural population into the mainstream of the state and national society, despite the fact that such homesmayhavefewamenitiescomparedtotheirurbancounterparts.

2.2.1VERNACULARARCHITECTURALELEMENTSOFUTTARAKHAND

Most of Uttarakhand is a hilly state. Using wood and stone, which are both readily available building materials, it created its own architectural style. The inhabitants of Uttarakhand also attempted to create technologies that were appropriate for their environment and maintained a symbioticrelationshipwithit.Thus,thevernaculararchitectureofUttarakhandoffersahighlevel of comfort for a longer duration of time while possibly lowering energy consumption, i.e., providingeconomical,energy-efficient,pleasant,anddisaster-resistanthomes.

Othercharacteristicsofthisarchitectureincludethefollowing:

I. Tomaximizesolarexposure,settlementsareconstructedinlong,linearpatterns.Buildings arepositioned onthe gradedterracesalong the contourstoaffect thelandscapeaslittleas possible.

II. Stoneisfrequentlyutilizedforwalls,whilewoodisfrequentlyusedforstructuralpurposes and slate is frequently used for roofing. As load-bearing walls, Cob, handmade sun-dried bricks,areemployedinsomelocations.

III. Because of its ability to insulate, clay and manure are frequently employed to keep the roomscoolinthesummerandwarminthewinter.Mudpasteisusedtoplasterwalls,both ontheinsideandtheoutside.

IV. Mostbuildingsinthehillyregionsaredesignedinaslopedmanner.Thebuildings'sloping roofsnaturallydrainrainwater.

V. Chajjaoroverhangsareusedabovewindowstoprovideshadingandweatherprotection.

VI. In order to preserve natural heat, floors are kept low. For the same reason, windows and doors'heightsaremaintainedquitelow.

Figure7TypicalfeaturesandelementsofdwellingsinstateofUttarakhand

2.2.2PREVALENTVERNACULARCONSTRUCTIONTECHNIQUESOF UTTARAKHAND

ThepeopleofUttarakhandforthepastyearshavestrivedtodevelopandcomeupwithvarious constructiontechniqueswhichnotonlycaterthebasichumanneedsbut alsoactasafoundation foradvancedarchitecturaldevelopmentintoday’stime.Variousconstructionpractices prevailingintheregionincludekoti-banalconstruction,kath-kuniconstructionalongwithmudwallandrockmasonryconstructionpractices.Theselocalconstructionpracticesareeconomic, sustainableandresilienttoseismicdisasters.

Thesebuildingshaveahistorydatingbacktoalmost900yearsago. BecauseUttarakhand is a high seismic zone and a high earthquake-prone territory, these were initially constructedbyourpredecessorstoavertearthquakes.KotiBanalisthenameofaYamuna Valley village that contains these incredible buildings that have endured earthquakes for hundredsofyears.Theconventionalknowledgeandconceptofearthquakesisrepresented by this valley. These buildings' structural design is primarily responsible for their longterm survival. This traditional home's primary feature is its ability to withstand earthquakes.A human response to seismic disturbances in nature, the koti Banal style of buildingmakesuseofthepotentialofregionalresourcesandlocalwisdom. TheKotiBanalarchitecturalstyle'sprimarycharacteristicsare:

a) Simplegeometricallayout

b) Elaborate,solid,raisedplatformconstruction

c) Thoughtfuluseoflocallyavailablebuildingmaterials

d) Inclusionofwoodenbeamsspacedregularlythroughoutthebuilding'sheight

e) Smallopenings

f) Useofshearwalls

1. Koti-banalconstruction

Figure8Typicalkoti-banalhousebuiltalmost900yearsback

Salientstructuralfeatures:

a)Thelocationoftheresultingearthquakeforces(duringanearthquake)tendsto correspondwiththepointoftheresultingresistantforcesbecausethemassand stiffnessaredistributedevenlyandsymmetrically.Thus,torsionofthebuildingsis preventedorgreatlydiminished,aidinginshockresistance.

b)After20to30cmofsquareddry-stonemasonryisbroughttocourses,thetimber beamsarehousedinthewallsfacingbothdirectionsofthestructure.Theconnected woodbeamscometogethertocreateasystemofspatialstress.Therigidityofthe beamsisalmostidenticalacrosstheboard,resultinginacoordinatedoverallrigidity anddeformationresistance.

c)Mostofthebuilding'sbeamsarerectangularinnature.Thesebeams'widthtoheight ratiois2:3,makingthemanappropriatesectionforbendingmembers.These woodenbeams'sectionsaregreaterthannecessaryforadequatesafety.The constructionsystemthereforesatisfiestherequirementsforstrengthandspace rigidity.Thisincreasesshockresistanceevenmore.

d)Woodisanelasto-plasticsubstancethatcanwithstandearthquakeforce.The woodencomponentsusedinthesestructuresarejoinedutilizingbothhousingand nailingtechniques.Thereisverylittleangulardisplacementasaresult.Thistype ofwoodenbeamjunctioncombinesthebenefitsofbothboltedconnectionsand rigidconnectors,actingasasemi-rigidjointasanaddedbenefitforshock resistance.

Figure9HousedandnailedjointsusedforfixingthewoodencomponentsofKotiBanalarchitecture.

e)Woodhasahightensilestrengthalongitsgrainbutalowtensilestrengthagainst it.Woodhasextremelyfewstructuralrestrictionswhencorrectlybuiltandused. Comparedtostructuresmadeofsteelandconcrete,woodassemblyhaveahigh strength-to-weightratio.Lowinertialforcesaretheresultduringanearthquake. TheKoti-Banalarchitecturemakesuseofamultitudeofwoodenassembliesthat aidinpreventingthestructurefrombeingdamagedbytheinertialforcesthatcause earthquakes.

f)InKotiBanalbuildings,theuseofwood-frameconstruction,structuralwalls,and floorscoveredwithstructuralwoodpanelsiswellknownforofferingexcellent performanceagainstpowerfulpressuresoriginatingfrombothwindstormsand earthquakes.Whenpushedbeyonditsmaximumstrengthandstiffness,thesewalls andfloorstendtosurrenderonlygraduallywhilestillbeingabletosupportheavy loads.Dueoftheirhighductility,theseassembliescanwithstandalotofenergy beforebreaking.

g)Woodenfloorsandroofingactasflexiblediaphragms.Thesebuildingshavestiff stonemasonrywallsthatmakeupitsverticalelevation,whichissufficientfor givingthestructuretheneededstrengthinbothdirections.

h)Thewoodenbeamsatplinthlevelandtheraisedpedestalonthefoundationlimit theimpactofseismicvibrationonthesuperstructure.Itiswidelyacknowledged thatfirmersoilsencourageefficientisolation.Theelevated,sturdystoneplatforms supportisolationbyaidinginthestabilizationofthesoilatthegroundlevels.

Figure10Typicalfloorlayoutsofkotibanalhouse

Figure11Typicalelevationofafivestoreyedkotibanalhouse

Figure12Sketchesoftypicalkotibanalhouseanditswallconstruction

Figure13Arrangementofwoodenlogsandwell-dressedflatstonesforthewalls.

Figure14Verticalmembers(‘shearkeys’)attachedtotheouterfaçadetopreventout-of-planefailureofthewalls.

Figure15Detailingofthefoundationplatformmadeofdry-packeddressedstones.

2.Kath-Kuniconstruction

TheKath-Kuniarchitecturalstyleisfrequentlyusedinresidentialconstruction.Here, farmerswouldkeeptheirlivestockinthegroundfloor'slowestlevelsothattheheat producedwouldwarmthehome'supperlevels.Thegranaryontheupperlevelofthe dwellingiswherefoodisstoredforthewinter.Thelastseverallevelsareintendedtobe residentialareas,andtheyarecantileveredawayfromthehouse'sexteriorwallsto maximizedaytimelight.Mostoften,hiproofsareused,howevergableroofswithdormer windowscanalsobeused.Inancienttemples,wherethecraftsmanshipisdisplayedinthe formofembellishmentsanddesigndetailing,goodexamplesofKath-Kuniarchitecture canbeseen.Theconstructionprocessnormallyentailsputtingdowncourseswhoseouter layerismadeupofalternatinglayersofrandombrickworkandwooddebris.Thewalls functionasahollowwallandarealmosttwofeetthickindimension.Theloneoutercourse ofwood,whichislinkedbyrandomdovetailintermediatejointstoholdthewooden elementsinplace,isplacedafteronecourseofrandomdebris.Upuntilaceilingheightis reached,thecoursesarealternated.Eachoutercourseofwoodorstonehasahollowwall thatisfilledwithsmallerstones.Theyserveasfillersforinsulationbetweentheouter layers.Followingarefewadvantagesofthistypeofconstructionstyle:

a)Locallyaccessiblematerialsareused

b)sustainabledesign

c)suitableforseismiczones

d)providesinsulationundersevereweather

e)energyefficient

f)supportsthelivelihoodofthosewhoareprimarilyfarmersorcraftspeople.

g)employsunskilledlabor

Figure16examplesofkath-kuniconstruction

Salientstructuralfeatures

a)Whenitcomestotowertemples,thestoneplinthisfilleduptoameterabovetheground. Thestructure'sheightandthetrench'sdeptharerelated.Thedepthisbetween0.6and1 metersforatwo-storydwelling,anditcanreach3metersfortowertemples.

b)Withoutusingcementingmortar,thewallsarebuiltusingalternatecoursesofdry brickworkandwood.Twowoodenwallbeamsarelaidlongitudinallyparalleltoone anotherwithaspaceinbetweenforthisstyleofwallbuilding.Stonerubbleisusedtofill theareabetweenthetwomembers,andkadil(woodennail)isusedtosecuretheedge.

Figure17detailoffoundationandplinthinKathKuniconstruction

Figure18Typicalwallconstructionofalternatestoneandwoodlayers

Figure19TypicalKath-kuniwalljunction

Figure20Atypicalwallstorageunitfixedintheperipheralwall

c)Thetopfloorofatypicaltwo-storyhousehasacantileveredbalcony.Thewoodenpillarsholding upthebalconyaresupportedbythewall.Thehorizontalelementontop,wheretheperpendicular membersareseatedandjoinedwithalapjoint,connectsalltheverticalposts.Thebalconyfacade mayoccasionallybeopenwithaparapetormaybecoveredwithanumberofopeningstocapture asmuchsunwarmthaspossible.

Figure21Projectingwoodenbalconiesanditsdetails

d)Theroofisconstructedusingwoodenbeamsalongwiththepurlinsandrafterwhichis furthercoveredbywoodenshinglesorslate.Theslatestoneshelpinweighingdownthe structurefromstrongwinds.

e)Inthisconstructionstylethefloorbeamandwalllogsareshearpinned.

Figure22Detailsofroofsinkath-kuniconstruction

Figure23Detailoffloorbeamandwallconnection

f)Woodenjointsaremostlikelyheldtogethertightlywithouttheuseofnailsandonlyflex littlewhenanearthquakeoccurs.Lapjointsatbalconyintersections,extensionjointsin wallbeams,"Z"jointsinfloorboards,maanvi(doubledovetailedconnection)inthewall, andsplicejointwithwedgeinstructuralwallsaresomeofthedifferenttypesofjoints thatcanbeseen.

ThekotibanalstyleandKathKunistyleofconstructionthatcanbeprimarilyseenintheresidential andfewancientheritagebuildingsarequitesimilarinmanyaspects.Thematerialsusedinboth constructiontechniquesarelocallyextractedandimplementedduringtheconstructionofvarious componentsofthebuilding.Igneousstone,timber,andslateareusedasthemainbuilding materialsintheconstruction.Forfoundationalpurposes,stone,typicallygranite,whichreallyis excellentincompression,isemployed.Stoneandwoodareusedtoconstructthewalls,whichare alternatelybuiltontopofoneanother.Inthecorners,otherwoodenelementsareconnectedusing woodthatisstrongincompressionandtension.Deodar/Kaliwood,whichiswidelyaccessible,is utilizedasframingforwalls,floors,androofs.Slateisutilizedasawater-resistantroofingmaterial toshieldthestructurefromsnowfallandtorrentialrain.Thematerialsmayallbesimplypurchased locallyandarereadilyavailable.Boththeconstructiontechniquesareresistanttoearthquakeand havelonglifespan.Theuseoftheseconstructiontechniquescontributestowardsthesustainable developmentandprovidewithcomfortableenvironmentforliving.Theuseofthesetechniques hasbeenHighlyappreciatedandsamecanbeusedintoday’scontemporarycontextforproviding theuserswithabetterfacilitytoresideinwhilesimultaneouslycontributingtowardssustainable designingandlifeenhancingpatterns.

Figure24Detailsofwoodenjoineryusedindoorsandwindows

2.2.3VERNACULARMATERIALSOFUTTARAKHAND

The utilization of regional resources and methods is one of the key characteristics of vernacular architecture, which embodies a variety of restrictions from the locations where it belongs. Vernacular building materials are an alternative for sustainable construction because they have lessofanimpactontheenvironmentthanmaterialsproducedindustrially.Stone,wood,mud,slate and rocks are major materials that are being used in building construction in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. These building materials are resilient to earthquakes and offer less damage during disasters.

Following are the construction materials studied in the koti banal and Kath Kuni style of architecturethathasbeenprevalentintheUttarakhandregion:

S.no Buildingmaterial Sample Characteristics

Localavailability

Strength

Cost

Earthquakeresistance

Easilyavailable

Highstrength

Costhigherthanothermaterials.

Highlyresistanttoseismicwaves.

Localavailability Easilyavailable

Strength

Cost

Earthquakeresistance

Highstrength

Lowcost

Averageresistancetoseismic waves.

Localavailability Easilyavailable

Strength

Strengthlowerthangranite.

Cost

Earthquakeresistance

Lowcost

Lessresilientthangraniteand timber.

Localavailability Easilyavailable

Strength

Cost

Earthquakeresistance

Offersgoodstrength

Lowcost

Showsgoodresiliencetowards seismicwaves.

1. Timber

2. Granite

3. Slate

4. Mud

Table2 vernacularbuildingmaterialsusedinkotibanalandKathKunistyle

3.CASESTUDIES

Following are the case studies done through live study and desktop study. The first case study is ofMajheravillagelocatedinUttarakhand,thiscasestudyfocussesonstudyingdifferentdwelling typologies which were built using vernacular architectural style. The second case study focusses on BASA earthquake resistant tourism center by eight architect-led Compartment S4 in Khirsu, Uttarakhand,isacontemporaryprototypeinspiredfromvernacular architectureofUttarakhand.

3.1 STUDY OF HOUSING TYPOLOGIES OF MAJHERA VILLAGE, UTTARAKHAND

Majhera Villageis located in theNainital District oftheKumaon Division, which is in the lesser HimalayanzoneandfallsinthedirectionofUttarakhand'ssoutheast.Ithasanaverageslopeof43 degreesandissituatedat29029'56.40"Nand79028'33.87"E,withelevationsrangingfrom1113M to 1087M.Zone IV seismicity surrounds it. Majhera is tilted 150 degrees from the west along a WNWtoESEaxis.TheBhowali-Ranikhetroadleadstothevillage.Thecommunityislocatedon the ridge of a hill that is situated next to the Khairna River. The village has a 2-kilometer radius around it. The location additionally experiences chilly northerly winds in the winter and humid summers.

Themajorityofthehouseshavesouth-eastfacingdirections.Everyhousingdevelopmentincludes a livestock house, which can be erected internally or outside and has two stories. A low-height boundary wall that is roughly 1'6" to 2' broad and largely utilized for seating separates the residences.The anganis apublicgatheringplace wheretheladies carry outtheir dailytasks.The homesarebuiltusingnaturalresourcessuchasriverstone,slate,pebbles,locallumber,cowdung, mud, or black lantels (as a binding material). Timber was employed in construction projects, includingdeodar,pine,sal,toona,andchid(pine).Mostofthedoorsandwindowsfeaturedlovely elaboratecarvingsandweremadeofkedar(deodar),sal,androsewood.Thekitchenandbedrooms areretained on the back side because theyareused at night. The front oftheliving room (chakh) isdecoratedwithchajjwindows.Thisguaranteesadequatedaytimelighting.Tokeepitcoolduring thesummer,thewallsandflooringareplasteredwithamixtureofbmudandcowdung,whilethe slate-tiledroofislowtoretainheatduringthewinter.

Followingisthedatacollectedonthebuildingstructureandtheircharacteristics:

a) Siteselection

Thelocationis chosen onaridgesothattheownercanviewhis or her agriculturalfields. Thelandparcelchosenforconstructionisunsuitableforfarming.

b) Walls

Duetothelackofhugeriverstones,wallsaretypicallybuiltusingrandomrubblemasonry andslatestones.Thehomes'exteriorwallsrangeinwidthfrom18to16inches.

Theyareplasteredwithapastemadeofhalfanincheachofcowdung,mud,andreed.The stoneworkisoccasionallyleftuncovered.Lowerheightwoodpartitionisusedtocreatethe interiorwalls.

c) Foundation

The foundation is built at a depth of two to four feet and at a width of two feet. And the plinth is raised to a height of one foot, sometimes even two feet. Large undressed stones anddressedstonesareusedinordertobuildthefoundation.

d) Floors

Thehouseshave abasement,afirstfloor,andanattic.Theflooriskeptataheightof7to 8 feet. The cow room, the gothic granary, and the semi-open daan are all located on the ground floor. In the summer, daan is utilized for daily activities, rituals, and ceremonies. Thisareaadditionallyservestostoreanimalfeedandamortar(okhli).Thelivingroom,or chakh,thebedroom,orbhiter,andthekitchen,orrashya,arealllocatedontheupperstory. The main door, called "daroj," divides the entire house into two sections. The entrance is keptbetween2'4"and6'andthedarojis4feetbroad.Daroj'slandingisreferredtoaskhoi. Thedoorisretainedatroughly4'6"highand2'4"wide.

e) Roofs

Balli,orpinewoodbattens,areusedtobuildroofs.Theseballiareutilizedasanornamental feature that extends outward. The balli’s are supported by "moori" corbels, which have a peakockshapeandareoftenspacedonetotwofeetapartinthemiddle.Slatestonesknown as "Pather"roofs cover the tops ofthe balli’s.Anothertiny slate stone known as"tope" is usedtoconcealtheseamswherethetwoslatesmeet.Theslopehasa17-degreeinclination toit.

f) Openings

Thedoorsaremaintainedmodest(2'-0"x5'-0")sothatwhensomeoneenterstheroom,they naturally bow the house. Although the window openings are modest, the window frames aremadetobelargetoprotectagainststrongwinds.Thewindowisreferredtoasa"chajj." It has a parapet that is two feet high. During the day, this sort of window doubles as a balcony. The solar rays enter the room deeply through the chajj. The "chaak," or living room, areanext tothesewindowsisheatedduringthedayandservesasa thermalstorage space at night. Womeninthehomeusedthesewindowsforindoor activitiesandplayeda significantroleincommunitycohesion.

g) Seismicconsideration

The bottom structure is built with thick stone walls on the inside and outside to make the buildingseismicresponsive.Additionally,thetopflooriskeptlighter.

Firststoryinteriorwallsaremadeofwoodenpartitions,whichlowersthebuilding'sdead load.Theheavywoodenwindowframesfurtherreducethefirstfloor'sdeadload.

h)Environmentconsiderations

Theplacehasasubtropicalclimatewithhardsummersandverycoldwinters.Local buildingstherearebuiltwiththickstonewalls.Thismaintainstheinterior'scomfortinboth thesummerandthewinter.Theslopedroofwasbuiltbecausetheareagetsconsiderable rainfallaswell.

i)Designfeatures

Featuresofthedesignincludeharmony,symmetry,contrastingcolorsforthedoorand windows,andlighthuesforthewalls.

3.1.1ANALYSISOFDWELLINGUNITS

Thesamplevillage'shousingtypologiesrangeinagefrom200to60years.Everytypology displayspossessspecificassetsandideas.Thefollowingaresometypologies:

Table3analysisofhousingunitsinMajheravillage,Uttarakhand

3.2STUDYOFBASAEARTHQUAKERESISTANTTOURISMCENTER

TheBASAtourismcentreinKhirsu,India,isastructureconstructedbyCompartmentS4to provideassistancetotheruralcommunity.Itissituatedataheightof1700meters.Thedesign providesstructuralresiliencyagainstseismiceventsandlandslideswhiletakingintoaccountthe site'sremotenessandthecold,temperateenvironmentoftheHimalayanMountains.Thebuilding hasalightwoodenframeworkontopcoveredinwattleanddaubpanelsasaninfillmaterial,with heftystone-filledgabionretainingwallsatthebottom.Thegabionwallsareconstructedfrom undressedstone.

3.2.1ANALYSISOFTHESTRUCTURE

I.Planning

Figure25Siteplanofthetourismcenter

II.Sectionaldetails

Thebuildingisplannedinsuchawaythatitmakesmaximumuseofdaylight.Theroofsare slantingwhichareinspiredfromthevernacularroofsofthehousingstructuresinUttarakhand Smallverticalopeninghasbeenprovidedtoavoidunwantedsunlight.Materialslikestone,mud areusedwhicharealsoinfluencedbythevernacularmaterialusageinkoti-banalandkath0kuni stylearchitectureofUttarakhand.

Figure26Floorplansofthetourismcenter

Figure27Sectionsofthebuilding

3.2.2EARTHQUAKERESILIENTTECHNIQUESINCORPORATEDINTHE BUILDING

Uttarakhandliesinseismiczone4,henceitwascrucialtomakeadesignwhichincorporated earthquakeresistanttechniques.Thefollowingtableenlistthemeasurestakentomakethebuilding earthquakeresistant.

Measurestaken Visuals Application Shape

Theshapeisderivedfromtheratio 1:2tomakethebuildingprofile strong.

Lightwoodenstructure

Portalframe

Heavyloadbearingwallsandlight woodenstructureontopadds flexibilitytotheentirestructure incaseofanyseismicactivity.

Theroofiskepttightlytogetherby aportalframesystem,whichonly permitslateralflexibilityfrom jointsattheground.

Hippedroofs

Gabionwalls

Insteadofagablewall,ahiproof preventswallcracksduring earthquakes.

Gabionwallshavebeenusedwhich areflexibleandpreventsthewalls fromcollapsing.

Table4Earthquakeresistantmeasurestakeninthebuilding

4.INFERENCESANDSTRATEGIESDERIVED

Withthehelpofthestudyofvariousconstructiontechniqueslikekoti-banalandKathKunialong withthestudyofvernacularmaterialsandthestrategiesusedinthecasestudies,inferencesand strategieshavebeenderivedwhichcanfurtherbeimplementedintoday’scontemporaryworld wherethereisaneedofnetzerobuildingsandsustainablemeasureswhichcanbeincorporatedin thebuildingtomakeitenvironmentallyfriendlyanddisasterresistant.

a)Makeuseofpuregeometricalformslikesquareandrectangle.Suchformsarefeasibleand durableandarehighlyresilienttoseismicactivities.

b)Localmaterialsarethoughttobemoreeffectiveatpassiveenergysaving,whichlowers overallcarbonemissions.Hencecontemporarybuildingscanmakeuseofvernacular materials.

c)Thebuildingshouldbemadewithrespecttothesite’stopographyandsitecontext. Whileconstructingoncontouredsitesitisadvisedtobuildalongthecontoursandavoid cutandfill,inspirationcanbetakenfromtheconstructiondoneinthehillyregionsof northernIndia.

d)Theroofoverhangscanbeoneoftheelementsofvernaculardesignwhichcanbe incorporatedinthemodern-daydesignstoprovideshadingandlimittheamountofharsh sunlightenteringinthebuildingpremises.

e)Makeuseofearthconstruction.Itisinexpensiveanddoesn’tpollutetheenvironment. Similarlyothercontemporarymaterialslikesteel,glasscanbereplacedbymaterialslike stones,rocksandmudwhichareeasilyavailableandenvironmentallyfriendly.

f)Alternatecoarseofdrybrickandwoocanbeusedtomakewallsofthestructuresintodays time,implementingthesewillmakethebuildingearthquakeresistantandenvironment friendlywhichfurthermakesitsustainable.

g)Contemporarybuildingscanusetheirformsasaestheticalelementwhilesimultaneously incorporatingthevernacularelementstomakethebuildingfittothesurroundingandhence contributingtowardsthefunctionalityofthebuilding,thereforemakingitsustainable.

4.CONCLUSION

Nowadays,citiesareteemingwithcivicunitydisplaysduetoincreasedurbanization.Thereare manyallegationsthatcurrentarchitectureisbuiltinapiecemealmanner,payinglittleattentionto howacommunityisconnectedoverall.Forsomereason,theanthropologicalaspectsofmaking spacehavebeenneatlydisregarded.Itisvitaltoanalyzeethos,forthisreasonvernacular architectureisestablishedontoitcreatingaspecialbondwiththewelfareofitsinhabitants.

Thestudy'sintriguingconclusionisthatdiverseformscanevolveinthesameclimatewhiletaking terrainandclimaticfactorsintoaccount.Theideaistogetthemostsolarradiationandtheleast amountofwindinfluence.Thestudydemonstratesthatevenwiththerestrictedresourcesavailable, thevernaculararchitecture'suniquenesscanbepreserved.Theoutcomesalsodemonstratethat builtformsmustadheretothelowsurface-to-volumeratio.ThetraditionalChajjwindow,pitched roofcanbeincorporatedintomodernarchitecture.Thiswillmakeiteasierforthearchitectsto includeelementsofhillarchitectureintotheirprojects.Forenhancedlighting,modernbuildings mightalsousetraditionalwindow-to-floorratios.Useofreadilyavailablelocalmaterialswhich arelowoncarbonemissionandarehighlysustainablecanbeusedinthecontemporarybuildings toprovideabetterwayofliving.

Herebyitsfinallyconcludedthatitiscrucialtopracticecreatingatypologythattakesintoaccount bothtraditionalandmodernarchitecturalstyles.Peopleshouldbecomeawareofabuilding's functionalityandgenuinepurposeratherthanblindlyfollowingtrends.

Figure28Diagramshowingtheamalgamationofvernaculartraitsandcontemporarytraitsofbuildinginorderto achieveasustainabledesign.