The document discusses climates and building techniques in cold regions like Ladakh. It provides details about Ladakh's cold and dry climate with summer temperatures ranging from 17-24°C during the day and winter temperatures as low as -14°C at night. It then summarizes various building techniques used in cold climates like compact designs with limited openings, thick walls, roof insulation, and interior heating. Specific building forms in Ladakh like mud walls, timber roofs, and shifting living spaces between floors and roofs are also outlined.

1. Sunayana
Yajas
Prashant
Arshia
Molliee
Bhavya
Maulshree
Sarah
*

2. *
*Climate is the long-term pattern of weather
in a particular area. It is measured by
assessing the patterns of variation in
temperature, humidity, atmospheric
pressure, wind, precipitation etc.

3. *
*India is home to an extraordinary variety
of climatic regions, ranging from tropical in
the south to temperate and alpine in the
Himalayan north, where elevated regions
receive sustained winter snowfall. The
nation's climate is strongly influenced by
the Himalayas and the Thar Desert.

4. *

5. *
*Regions that lie in the cold climate zone are
situated at high altitudes. The temperatures
range between 20-30 Degree C in summers ,
while in winters ,it can range from -3 to 8
Degree C ,making it quite chilly.

6. *
Example of areas of the world with cold and dry climates are
* eastern and central North America (Midwest, Middle Atlantic states, New England, Southern
states),
* eastern and central Canada, China, Korea, Japan, Russia ,
* Eastern Europe, Bosnia,
* parts of Norway, Sweden,
* inner parts of Spain and Turkey,
* parts of north and north-west of Iran,
* northern Iraq specifically Iraqi Kurdistan, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria,
* some parts of Azerbaijan, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary,
Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia
and Finland.
* A continental climate can also be found in many valleys around mountains in the North
Temperate Zone; such as the Alps (in France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria),
the Pyrenees (in Spain, Andorra and France) or the Himalayas (in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, India, Chin, Nepal, Burma and Bhutan).

7. *
*Ladakh is a region of India in the state of Jammu
and Kashmir, inhabited by people of Indo-
Aryan and Tibetan descent. It is one of the most
sparsely populated regions in Jammu and Kashmir
and its culture and history are closely related to that
of Tibet.

8. *
*Ladakh’s climate is a little extreme –the
summers can get a little harsh with direct
sunlight falling at such high altitude and winters
can be really cold with temperatures dropping
below freezing point.

9. *
Cold and Sunny type of Climate is experienced here
Temperature Variations
*Summer
During Day : 17 – 24 Degree C
During Night : 4 – 11 Degree c
*Winter
During Day : 7 – 9 Degree C
During Night : -14 – 0 Degree c
Relative Humidity – consistently low : 10-50%
Winds – occasionally Intense
Sky – fairly clear throughout the year
Cloud Cover – less than 50%

10. *
*Resist Heat Loss
• Decrease exposed surface
area
• Increase thermal resistance
• Increase thermal capacity
• Increase buffer spaces
• Decrease air exchange
rate
• Increase absorptivity
*Promote Heat gain
• Utilize heat from
appliances
• Trapping heat
• Orientation and shape of
building
• Uses of trees as wind
barriers
• Roof insulation , wall
insulation and double
glazing
• Thicker walls
• Air locks/lobbies
• Weather strapping

12. A trombe wall heats air
convectively as well as
heating the space
radiatively.
Vents can be shut at night to
keep the convection loop
moving in the right direction.

13. *
*In the dry climate of Ladakh, compacted earth walls are durable,
and the mud-plastered surface requires little maintenance as
there is hardly any rainfall.
*Mud walls are for houses and important buildings like
monasteries.
*Roofs are generally flat and are constructed with earth supported
on a framework of timber beams.
*The typical house of Ladakh is two stories high .
*In this extremely cold climate, even cattle may not venture out in
winter, and they occupy the lower floor of the house.
* Sometimes there is an enclosed yard on the ground floor where
cattle can sun themselves.

14. Building Techniques in Cold Climates

15. *During winter, the family lives on the first floor and the kitchen is
the main living room of the house. This is also where the family
sleeps.
*The window openings are limited to the sunny sides of the
building, and the sides exposed to cold winds have no openings at
all.
*A large quantity of fuel wood is required for cooking and heating
during winter, and this is normally gathered during the warmer
summer months and stocked on the roof of the house.
*This layer of wood adds to the insulation value of the roof.
*During summer, the well-insulated and poorly ventilated house
can become uncomfortably warm, and the typical Ladakhi family
shifts its activities, including cooking and sleeping, to the roof.

16. *

17. *
1) BUDDHIST MONASTRIES
Usually built on top of hills or rocks.
*EARLY PERIOD MONASTRIES(7TH
TO 12TH AD)
• Monasteries during this period were built
on flat land away from settlements .
• Their planning was also based on the
traditional mandala system . The mandala
planning concept refers both to the site
planning and the interior layout, particularly
the arrangement of deities and painted
mandalas in the interiors.
Eg : Alchi Choskhor

18. *LATER PERIOD MONASTERIES(12
CENTURY AND AD ONWARDS)
• Chinese and Mongolian army abruptly ended
the Kashmir Tibet coalition on the
development of art and architecture in the
region .
• Drastic change occurred in the built forms .
• Instead of building them on flat piece of land ,
monasteries adopted hill tops as favourite
sites and promoted their fortified appearance
thus protecting them from any attack.
• The plinth is raised to a certain level , a foot
or two which is made of random rubble
masonary above which are placed one and a
half to two feet thick mud block walls.
Eg : themisgam gompa

19. 2) LANDSCAPE
Religious elements like kagan chortens
,lhatos,chortens ,matrachakras ,mane
ringmos ,and riksum gombos occupy
strategic locations like periphery, hill
top or mountain pass.
• Chortens and ringmos mark the
entrance to a village .
• Mantrachakras are built at an
important street intersections .
• Most houses are framed by prayer
flags which mark Buddhist occupants
.
• Entrance are marked with chortens
placed above the doorways to keep
evil spirits at bay.
mane wall and chortens at
themisgam village

20. 3) PALACE
• THE BASE IS made heavier with
the help of random rubble
masonry which is usually
extended till one or two floors and
the actual house starts above that
level .
• The houses are made either of
stone or of mud . mud is used in
form of blocks or according to
rammed art techniques .
Palace in Ladakh

21. 4)Forts
• most forts in the region are found
on the hill top . their strategic
location commands a panoramic
view of the valleys below which is
very much required for defence .
• One common feature associated
with all forts is the presence of
watch tower .
ruins of watch tower at themisgam
, ladakh

22. 5)VERNACULAR ARCHITETURE
*THE SETTLEMENT
It depends on the flat land available.
• Land is used both for agriculture and
dwelling units. thus the size of the
village depends upon the availability
of flat land
town

23. 5)The house
• The houses in ladakh are built in 2levels
.
• The lower floor is reserved for animals
and storage of fodder and the upper
level is used as habitable spaces .
• The upper level has a single room and
there is an oven in the corner which is
multi purpose in function .
• All the houses have traditional black
bands at roof level and bordering the
window and the door openings and flags
fluttering above them .
typical ladakhi house

24. *
A traditional Ladakhi roof is made from
poplar beams and willow twigs covered
with straw, grass, mud and clay. Ladakhi
‘yagtses’ grass, a traditional stopgap
layer, can absorb water several times its
volume. The grass also serves to
insulate the roof. The final layer of soil
on the roof is applied wet, and its mix
can include straw, and even the dung of
cows, donkeys or horses to increase its
solidness as people often walk on the
flat roofs. They are used for gathering
and for performing certain household
chores.
Flat Roofs

25. *
*Small openings in low numbers are used to prevent the thermal
exchange between outside and inside of the building in these
regions. If the windows are large, it’s necessary to apply a shade.
*The openings used in the south side are larger and longer to take
maximum advantage of sunshine.
*Double walled windows are also proper to minimize the thermal
exchange.
*Meanwhile, the rate of internal air exchange and natural ventilation
should be minimized as much as possible to prevent from breeze
in the building and inner heat exit to out.
*The dimensions of openings in this region are increased to make
use of heat energy of sunshine

26. *
The city texture of the cold and mountainous region has been
developed in order to cope with extreme cold. Specifics of urban
and rural texture in this region are as follows:
*Small and enclosed areas
*Taking advantage of the sun and directions
*Narrow passages along the ground level
*Usage of timber and other insulating material while building.
*Building houses with a tapering roof so that the snow can slide
down
*Houses should be constructed on the leeward side of the
mountain so that it experiences comparatively low rain/ snow fall.
*Trees should be planted along the house to provide Buffer from
the cold winds.

27. *
*Srinagar is the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and
Kashmir. It lies in the Kashmir Valley, on the banks of the Jhelum
River, a tributary of the Indus. The city is famous for its gardens,
lakes and houseboats. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri
handicrafts and dried fruits.

28. *
*Srinagar has a cold and dry climate, much cooler than what is found
in much of the rest of India, due to its moderately high elevation and
northerly position.
* The valley is surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides. Winters are
cool, with daytime a January average of 2.5 °C (36.5 °F), and
temperatures below freezing at night.
* Moderate to heavy snowfall occurs in winter and the only road that
connects Srinagar with the rest of India may get blocked for a few
days due to avalanches.
* Summers are warm with a July daytime average of 24.1 °C
(75.4 °F).
* Spring is the wettest season while autumn is the driest.
* The highest temperature reliably recorded is 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) and
the lowest is −20.0 °C (−4.0 °F).

29. *
*Rural buildings in Kashmir are generally made by the people for
their own use without the help of architects.
*The various forms of construction have evolved over time with the
input of each generation of artisans. Traditional rural buildings use
locally available materials and skills.

30. *
Factors governing the
popularity of construction
methods and materials are
* economics in relation to
people’s spending capacity,
* easy maintenance by the
common person and
* effective response to local
natural conditions such as
extreme cold, strong winds or
high earthquake risk.
Wood shingle roofing on timber placed on
brick masonry and dhajji walls

31. *
*The main factor determining this architecture is the high
density of development.
*This calls for vertical growth, resulting into three to four-storey
structures.
*The two most common walling systems observed are
(i) Dhajji type, with timber frame and infill consisting of baked
or unbaked bricks
(ii) (ii) Taaq type, consisting of brick masonry interlaced with
heavy timber bands supported on large masonry piers
made of baked bricks

32. Four sided CGI roof on un-
plastered Dhajji walls
Taaq type construction
House with timber balconies and two sided
pitched roof
River front view

33. *
*A typical rural Kashmiri house today is a large two storey structure
with walls that are not plastered from outside and a shining
corrugated galvanized iron roof that is pitched, with one or more
projections.
typical house with random rubble
wall & CGI roof

34. Plans of a typical house in srinagar

35. *
*Using common walls as much as possible and creating a
heaped and compacted texture in complexes;
*Preparing compressed and compact planes;
*Forming the building to create shade in summer and receive
proper heat in winter.
*Placing heat generating spaces like kitchen in the centre of
building plane.
*Using appropriate heat insulator in outer walls and
especially in roof.
*Using stony bed below the rooms to reserve extra heat in
floor and release this saved heat in night or cold times

36. *
The main objectives of building design in Srinagar are
• Resisting heat loss
1. Decrease the exposed surface area of the building.
2. Use material that heat up fast but release heat slowly.
3. Provide buffer spaces between the living area and the outside.
4. Decrease the rate of ventilation inside the building.
• Heat gain can be promoted by
1. Avoiding excessive shading.
2. Utilizing the heat from appliances.
3. Trapping the heat from the sun.

37. *
In this type of region the residential areas are usually established in
the middle of high slopes, towards the south . This is done for the
following reasons:
* To enhance the heat capacity of northern walls and increase
the interior volume in relation to exterior surface.
* The northern front of the mountain is usually under shadow
and is cold, while the cities should be built toward the valley
and in the sun to make the maximum use of sunshine

38. *
*The materials used in traditional buildings in cold
and mountainous regions are from the available
materials there.
*These materials should have a good thermal
capacity and resistance to keep the building
warm in its inner area. So the body of these
buildings is from stone (or wood, cob mortar,
adobe and bricks) and the roofing is from timber
and cob.
*Stone and heavy resistant materials are used for
building foundation, and in some parts, the heavy
materials are used for base course to prevent
moisture. However, the buildings of these regions
are generally built on the ground.
Thatch roofing on timber
and burnt brick masonry
wall
CGI sheet roofing on timber and
stone masonry wall