Vernacular Architecture, introduction and example of Himachal Pradesh

1. VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE
PRESENTED BY:
MALAVIKA SHEKHAR
MEHAK KANSAL

2. WHAT IS VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE?
 SIMPLE, INDIGENOUS and TRADITIONAL structures made of local materials.
 It’s the response to a particular person’s or society’s building needs. It fulfils
the needs as it has been crafted by the individual and society it is in.
 The building methods and materials are tailored to the CLIMATIC, AESTHETIC,
FUNCTIONANL and CULTURAL needs of their given society.
 The structures built in this type of architecture have a lot lesser use of
technology.

3. FACTORS INFLUENCING VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE
 CLIMATE
Season wise : the material should remain hot in winter and cold in
summer.
Rainfall : like slanting roof and construct dwelling on stilts in areas
with high level of rainfall.
Winds : Orientation of buildings such that they have minimal area to
the direction

4. EFFECT OF CULTURE
 Size of family unit – Joint or nuclear family?
 How is food prepared and eaten?
 How do people interact?
 Local customs and beliefs.

5. MATERIALS
 Availability of forests implies high
preference to wood for construction
purposes. Mud/stone otherwise
 Depends on the physical condition of
that area.
 Vernacular architecture is sustainable
and does not exhaust local resources.
Resources available in abundance are
only used

6. EXAMPLE: HIMACHAL PRADESH
PLANNING TECHNIQUES
CLIMATE
 The southern slopes were preferred because of
the cold climate
 Orientation of the houses is to maximise the
penetration of the sun rays.
 Path of sun controls height of the building.
 Small window size and low ceiling height to
prevent heat loss.
 For efficient drainage in heavy rainfall and
snowfall the terrace should have a proper slope.

7. CULTURAL INFLUENCE
 Houses have been built for storage of grains
 Cow shed and kitchens form a separate unit
 Indian calendar months of baisakh, poh, magh and phalgun are regarded as auspicious for
start of construction
 The house should face east and the rising sun also as general rule, houses don’t have a
boundary wall

8. TOPOGRAPHY
 Steep hilly zones, stepped terraces are eco friendly
and economical as they result in least hill cutting and
disturbance to the hill stability
 Minimum clearance 1-1.5m between the hill face and
the building wall to avoid dampness and for proper
light and ventilation