Vernacular architecture in jammu and kashmir

8/13/2019 Vernacular architecture in jammu and kashmir

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STATE:

JAMMU AND KASHMIR


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INTRODUCTION

Kashmir, also known as the paradise on landand 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 onone 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).


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The spatial structure of the city

has evolved in harmony with thewater bodies and the topography.

The rivers edge is defined by the

buildings standing on retaining

walls rising out of the water. The main movement spine is

formed by the river and parallel

streets on both banks, connected

across by a series of bridges.

Narrow cross lanes run

perpendicular to the river.


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TYPICAL DWELLING

The buildings were generallythree to four storey high, withbasements contained within theretaining walls along the riverside.

The plans were generally squareso that a minimum of externalwalls were exposed and heat wasconserved in the cold winter.

Bay windows(dub) are presentoverlooking the river or main

street . The dub is generally located on

the southern side so that the sunwas available in winter.


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ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

The oldest surviving examples of traditional vernacular architecturein the city of KASHMIR dates back to early 19th Century.

This architectural style is solely represented by the residences of thecity and broadly falls into two distinct categories; based on thestructural system involved. These two systems are:

Taq Construction

Dhajji-Dewari or Timber Braced (patch-quilt) System


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TAQ CONSTRUCTION

In this system ofconstruction 2-3 ft. thickbrick masonry pierssupporting wooden floorbeams formed the basicstructural system of thebuilding.

The distance between two

brick piers used to benormally around 3-4 ft andwas known as a TAQ.

The gap in between eachTAQ would be filled in witheither a window opening orbrick masonry.

The roof comprised a layerof earth covering over birchbark and wooden planksresting on wooden rafters.


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DHAJJI-DEWARI CONSTRUCTION

The dhajji-dewari

construction is based on abraced timber framedstructural system, in whichnormally 4-9 inch thick brickor stone masonry is used toinfill the gaps.

Normally this system islimited to upper floor levelsor attics ( kani ) of thebuilding

Timber bracings

used in upper

floors , ground

floor is made of

just stone

masonary.


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SPATIAL ORGANISATION AND

PLANNING

Most of the buildings constructed on the above mentionedstructural systems show a common spatial arrangement anddecorative elements. The buildings can thus be subdivided intotwo categories on the basis of plan form :

Square Plan

Linear Plan


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Many of the traditional buildingsare based on a square plan with

the main entrance opening into acentrally located staircase lobby.

The lobby is flanked by one ortwo rooms on either side, inground as well as first floor.

The space above entrance in firstfloor in some cases also enclosesa projecting wooden bay window(dub).

The second floor (kani) normallycomprises a single large hallwhich can be subdivided intothree smaller rooms wheneverrequired with the help ofpartition screens.


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The entrance to these

buildings was from a

staircase lobby located nearone 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.


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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.


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The second floor is surmounted by a cruciformshaped attic space.


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EVOLUTION AND HISTORY


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architecture in many places continues to evolve, andKashmiri rural architecture is no exception.

A number of building systems in various parts of Kashmir

have developed over time to accommodate local naturaland cultural factors, including the impact of earthquakes.

These systems are not only part of the cultural heritage ofKashmir but also add to its beautiful landscape.

Historically, the buildings have depended completely upon

stone, mud, bricks and wood for roofing as well as walling.Until very recently, non-local materials did not represent avalid option for local constructions.

They were expensive, and their use added logisticalcomplications to the construction process.

However, in recent times new materials have made theirway into the valleys of Kashmir on account of theirfavorable economics as well as peoples aspiration tomodernity.


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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 peoples aspirations to a more contemporary lifestyle are

encouraging such changes.


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Thatch roofing on timber and burnt brick masonry wall CGIsheet roofing on stone masonry and timber wall Architecture

constantly adapts to suit the changing context so that it canbest meet the common persons needs.

The social, climatic, economic and technical impacts of newinterventions are often not fully understood, and this mayhave negative effects on peoples lives.

These impacts include the reaction of buildings toearthquakes and other natural disasters. RC, for example, is amaterial that requires a high level of engineering, but thepeople who use this material often know little about this.

This is why, in many cases, new materials and techniquesapplied in an unprofessional way will threaten the safety ofbuildings and the people who live in them.


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Aspects of Rural Architecture


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Factors governing the popularity of construction

methods and materials areeconomics in relation to peoples spending

capacity,

easy maintenance by the common person and

effective response to local natural conditionssuch as extreme cold, strong winds or high

earthquake risk.


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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.


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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 asRs. 5-6 in a village a mere 2 km away from the road side where ithas 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 thearea is only by foot over long distances and steep terrain.

In other areas, cheaper timber varieties with shorter life are gainingacceptability, since

the CGI roofing protects such timber from the natural elements andtimber no longer gets exposed as it did when it was used for

shingles or plank roofing.


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MAINTENANCE

In vernacular architecture practical measures and proceduralmethods are already embedded in construction knowledge, as

local builders are actively involved and engaged in the building

and maintenance of traditional built environments.

Maintenance requires materials and skills. Since these are no

different from what is required in construction, the maintenanceof rural structures is easy and within the reach of ordinary

people.

However, if materials from outside the locality were to be used,

the maintenance of the structure would become expensive.


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LOCAL NATURAL CONDITIONS

Winter cold is the most common natural factor governingmost of Kashmir.

Thick walls of brick and stone with mud plaster provide

excellent protection against this, as does a thick mud-timber

roof.

The lighter, pitched roof made of timber and CGI sheets in

combination with the attic floor also ensures livable

conditions inside the house in winter and summer.

The steep pitch of the light roof permits little

accumulation of snow and prevents any water leakages.


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ARCHITECTURE BY REGION

From the point of view of architecture Kashmir can be divided into several

Regions with the following characteristics.


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(1) The major factors that dictate the local architecture here are :-

(a) easy access to good soil for brick-making and to water and timber

(b) snow in winter

(c) possibility of earthquakes

2) As a result, walls are made mainly out of timber and bricks, baked or

unbaked.

The most common wall types are load bearing:-

(a) Baked brick (external wall) masonry with mud or cement mortar(b) Unbaked brick (internal wall) with mud mortar and mud plaster

(c) Unbaked brick with baked brick veneer (external wall) masonry

with mud mortar

(d) Dhajji timber framed constructions with infill of baked brick in

cement mortar or unbaked brick masonry in mud mortar,


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(3) Many structures which are typically single- and

double-storey have Dhajji walls in the upperstorey and the gables (The part of a wall that

encloses the end of a pitched roof)

(4) Roofs slope steeply in two directions. Although

planks or shingles of hardwood like Deodar were

formerly the main roofing materials, today CGI

sheets on timber supports have become themost common type of roofing.


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KASHMIR VALLEY:

URBAN ARCHITECTURE


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(4)The Taaq type: 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 pitched. The wood shingle

roofing that was once used in most structures has been replaced by

the CGI sheeting on account of economics and availability.(5) This manual does not cover the traditional Dhajji Dewari and Taaq

constructions since these have heritage value and thus call for a

different approach to restoration and retrofitting than half-

modern/halftraditional composite rural constructions


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HILLY AREAS SURROUNDING

THE VALLEY


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(3) The roof can be sloping or flat.(a) The flat roof made with timber understructure supportingthe mud and vegetal

(b) roofing is often used for summer dwellings in high altitudepastures.

(c)It is also used animal shelters in this region on account ofthe warmth that it can provide.

(d)This type of roofing requires extraordinarily heavy roofingelements on account of heavy snow buildup in winter. Morecommonly, roofing consists of pitched CGI sheet roofing ontimber supports, since it encloses a large volume whichprovides insulation in the cold winters on account of the atticfloor.


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(1)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

(g) possibility of earthquakes.

(2) The most common wall types are coursed random rubble

masonry with or without

mud mortar, with or without mud plaster, since availability of

mud and water vary greatly


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TYPICAL RURAL HOUSE IN

KASHMIR


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(1)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.

(2) In the ground storey it has approximately four rooms including a kitchen

and a front verandah, with a central corridor stretching from the mainentrance 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.


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(3) Unlike in other parts of the country, where rooms aregradually added as and when the need arises, here the

basic structure is built in one go. But the upper storeys areenclosed and finished at a later date.

(4) The ground-storey rooms are used as a sitting area,bedrooms, and kitchen. The upper storey rooms may beused as for storage as well as bedrooms. On account ofthe joint-family system with several families living underone roof, there is often more than one kitchen in thehouse. The attic area is invariably used for storage, sincethe people are predominantly agriculturists. In the case of

single-storey houses, the attic space is often divided withlightweight internal walls to create more utilizable spaces.


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(1) 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 beincorporated 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 wateris heated continuously

2) 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.

(3) 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.


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Vernacular architecture in jammu and kashmir