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Vernacular Architecture can be defined as a type of local or regional construction, using traditional materials and resources from the area where the building is located. Consequently, this architecture is closely related to its context and is aware of the specific geographic features and cultural aspects of its surroundings, being strongly influenced by them. For this reason, they are unique to different places in the world, becoming even a means of reaffirming an identity.
Living in Shimla, Kath kuni happens to be our vernacular architecture. Although only a few structures can be seen with the centuries old construction style comprising of wood, stone and mud. Kath Kuni , where Kath means wood and Kuni comes from ‘kona’ meaning corner which can easily been in these buildings, ‘a wooden corner’.
The construction for Kath Kuni style buildings was initially held by the residents themselves with the help of neighbouring residents. It was designed as per the climatic conditions, and topography of H.P. Stone and wood were the most easily available materials back then unlike present day. Thus it was easy to construct using the locally available materials rather than using distantly available materials. Back then there used to be very limited means of transport unlike today.
Traces of kath kuni architecture can be found in Shimla, Chamba, Kullu, and Manali more than anywhere across the globe. A major difference between RCC and Kath Kuni architecture is that unlike RCC structures these structures are completely built on horizontal beams. Stone provide stability and strength to the structure whereas wood provides the required flexibility that makes it less likely to collapse at times of an earthquake. These structures also have great tensile strength, thus protecting it from all kinds of earthquakes and seismic activities.
In earlier days when this construction style came into being, the weather used to be extremely harsh and cold. Places like Shimla and Manali used to be covered under snow for months. That type of climatic conditions was the base for this architecture, thus double stone walls are used in the exterior with thick wooden beams holding them onto their place, mud coating in the interiors of walls making it prone to all sorts of harsh climatic conditions.
Also, these structures seemed to have an infinite lifespan. There’s a popular folk saying – The Himalyan wood (particularly deodar) would last a 1000 years in water and about 5 to 10 times of that on land and air. Naggar Castle construction dates back to 5 centuries back, the castle is now converted into a tourism unit under HPTDC and is still serving it’s purpose. Hidimba temple is another example of ancient Kath Kuni architecture.
Reuse of materials is easily possible in Kath Kuni architecture style, once you dismantle the building, it can be brought to use all over again.
Urbanisation is causing Kath Kuni architecture style to dissipate.
Having the upsides to it, also happen to have some downsides.
The material used in Kath Kuni is not as abundantly available now as it was back then, now cheap alternatives like concrete are more easily available.
In earlier days, the lower floors of the structure were used to store grains and the lowermost floor was the home for cattle back then. Presence of cattle at lower floors helped keeping the floors on the upper levels warm. For obvious reasons we cannot adhere to these types of requirements in today’s date. But that doesn’t mean it’s a failure of the entire Kath Kuni architecture. We just need to understand present day requirements and accordingly mould our designs and plans.
Replacements to materials like wood and stone can be easily found in the form of bamboo (which is at the stage of research as to in what way can it be used as a building material, and is indeed an easily available and fast growing material) and hempcrete. Kath Kuni is the way for environmentally sustainable Himachal. We have a Visual Representation of the modern blend to the typical Kath Kuni architecture. Anyhow it comes back to the requirements, the requirements mould the entire building. But one thing that may stay common in all the Kath Kuni structures that will be built today or in the near future will be having habitable lower floors.
