STUDY OF HIMACHALPRADESH

VERNACULAR

CONSTRUCTION PRACTISES
Construction practices
FOUNDATION AND PLINTH
Stone plinth is filled up to a meter from the ground level.
The trench is relative to height of structure.
• For a two-storey house, depth is 0.6-1 meter.
• In case of tower temple, its as deep as 3 meters.
WALLS

• The walls are constructed with alternate courses of

dry
masonry & wood without any cement mortar.
• Wall courses:
1. Two wooden wall beams are laid longitudinally
parallel to each
other with a gap in between.
1. The space b/w two members is filled with rubble
stone.
WALL PUNCHERS

• Windows are provided in walls with

solid plank shutters on 4 sides & are
usually very small.
• The same window has floral carvings
on outer face with small opening.
ROOFING

• Roof is constructed out of wooden

beams followed by
purlins & rafters, topped with slates
or wooden shingles.
• Slate stones also weighs down the
structure against
strong winds.
FLOORING

• Ground floor is raised above the

stone plinth & finished with
adobe(clay). It functions as an
insulating at the same time
remains warmer than stone
finished surface
PLANNING

• Ground floor: Cattle shed and storage

area are provided.
• First Floor: Living Area along with
kitchen.
• Low Height of the rooms (2.1 – 2.4
m), keeps interiors warmer from heat
released by individuals, also low
surface to volume ratio reducing heat
loss from surfaces.
• Plinth area is 5m x (13.8+0.45)m
• Inner walls thickness is 4 inch and
outer wall thickness is 9 inch.
WALLS

• Made of alternate courses of dry

stone masonry and wood without any
cementing mortar.
• This Kath-khuni style of layering and
inter locking timber and stone
provides strength, stability and
flexibility (Earthquake resistant).
• These heavy walls allow a very good
thermal insulation by providing high
time-lag of more than 8 hours. This
makes the interior of the house cooler
in summer and warm in winter for
maximum part of the year
WALLS

• Above the plinth walls are strong with alternating stone layer,
as the wall rises up it is only the wood frame that is stacked
above another wood frame. This distributes mass optimally.
• Interiors of wall are finished with mud plaster and lined with
wood on account of its good insulation and binding properties.
• Resist sliding or overturning during land movement.
• Dry masonry construction allow stones to undulate within a
flexible wooden frame work to allow energy of earthquake to
disperse.
• Tapering in buildings as they rise which prevents toppling
during earthquake
FLOORING
• In the ground level mud & cow-dung were
used for flooring above the plinth made of
random rubble masonry. The upper floors are
made of timber planks and timber-joists.

ROOFING
• Pitched roof with locally available timber.
Slate used for roof covering. Below the roof
a ceiling is constructed with timber. This attic
is used as a storage space and abode of the
god.
• The light-weight roof construction and the air
between the roofing and attic-floor provided
a very good thermal insulation against the
passage of heat.
• Low pitched roof provides a good solution to
drain off the rain-water from the dwellings
BALCONY

• It provide a good sun-space or

solarium.
• Sunny courtyard to perform
various activities during day
time.
• Kitchen made of mud, placed
at center which helps in
keeping the indoor warm.