Understanding Traditional Architecture of Himachal Pradesh: An Unconventional Approach
Neha Raje
Tekton
Volume 11, Issue 1, July 2024
pp. 40-48
Neha Raje is a conservation architect and Assistant Professor at Lokmanya Tilak Institute of Architecture & Design studies, Navi Mumbai. She has been keenly involved in various conservation, documentation, architectural and interior projects. She has been actively involved in heritage listing and documentation for Mumbai with Adarkar Associates. Having conducted conservation electives in various Architectural colleges across Mumbai, she has been spreading awareness about built and un-built heritage to the students. She is frequently engaged in documenting various palaces in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. With Grassroots research and consultancy, she has worked on projects for Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism-Himachal Pradesh and Tourism-Uttarakhand.
ABSTRACT
This essay describes some of the concerns, motivations and methods adopted by a young conservation practice – SARAHAN, led by Ar. Neha Raje. She uses the case of traditional temples built in Himachal Pradesh in a characteristic kathkuni mode of composite construction of timber and stone. The method of understanding this heritage follows a community centric approach rather solely relying on tangible dimensions of the buildings. This then informs the strategies best suited for continued preservation of this uniquely local built heritage.
Introduction
For over a decade, our team SARAHAN has been engaged in studying the traditional ‘kathkunni’ style of architecture by visiting different places in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, India. This style is predominantly found in the south-eastern parts of the state. In kathkunni style of construction, timber members are arranged in alternate/ intermediate courses at right angles in an interlocking manner. Between the timber framework is dry masonry using slate stone. The structures thus remain elastic in its nature of masonry and absorbs the impact of earthquake in these regions, which fall under zones 4 and 5 of seismic activity. This time-tested indigenous technology has evolved from practice over centuries (Figure 1).
We often shortlist those places for our study which have unique cultural set-ups surrounding a significant vernacular structure or site for detailed study. Most of these sites are the nuclei of heritage settlements having historical and socio-cultural significance, which is visible either in stark nakedness or is hidden within the underlying layers of multiple histories over the centuries. The soul of any village or town lies in its residents, traditions, day to day lifestyle, network of trade and communications within and with the outside world. This combined with the built-forms of the place establishes its character. It is only a matter of time till one gets in discussions with the local inhabitants that the extra ordinary narratives regarding the history, architecture, myths and culture are revealed. While the tangible aspect can be easily figured out by measured drawings, photographs and archival images, these oral narratives needless to say form the crux of the intangible aspect of heritage associated with the site.
(contd…)
