Vernacular architecture LADAKH (architecture)

A complete guide regarding the vernacular architecture of Ladakh.

1. Vernacular architecture L A D A K H M S HEMANTH PRASAD

2. Ladakh lies on the rain shadow side of the Himalayan, where dry monsoon winds reaches Leh after being robbed of its moisture in plains and the Himalayan mountain. The district combines the condition of both arctic and desert climate . Therefore Ladakh is often called " Cold Desert ". Region in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir , extends from the Kunlun mountain range to main Great Himalayas to the south. Inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. A number of valleys passes, mountains ranges, landscape completes the beauty of Ladakh I N T R O D U C T I O N

3. • Very hot and dry in summer & brutally cold winters. •Cold Deserts frequently experience snow. • Mountainous area , has little vegetation. •Solar radiation is generally intense with a very low percentage of diffuse radiation Summer •Maximum- 17 to 24 degree Celsius •Minimum- 4 to 11 degree Celsius •R.H. - 10-15% •Precipitation- <200mm per annum •Cloud cover-50% Winter •Maximum -7 to 8degree Celsius •Minimum -14 to 0 degree Celsius C L I M A T E

4. Landform plays a very important role in deciding the vernacular architecture of any place. Heat gain is desirable so buildings should be placed on the south side of the hill or mountain. The rainfall in this region is as low as 10 cm annually. This is because it lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. The  area  experiences freezing winds and burning  sunlight. Therefore, if you sit in the sun with your hand in the shade; you will experience sunstroke as well as frostbite at the same time. TOPOGRAPHY

5. Ladakh is known as the 'land Of the Lomas(monks)' and the Buddhist Of Ladakh prefer to call their religion Lamaism - which is much the same as Mahayana (or Great vehicle) form of Buddhism. The people of Ladakh have a system of dedicating at least person from each family to priesthood, that is , to be a lama(monk). Jabro , Shondol , Marriage Dance and Kampa Sumsak are some of the well known traditional dance. Zunglu . Tallu . Marriage songs and Alley Yato are well known folk songs of Ladakh. Hemis festival, Ladakh

6. Among the Buddhists, these often develop into open-air parties accompanied by dance and song. 'Chang’ the local brew made from fermented barley. Staple food are sku and thukpa The Buddhist influence on Ladakh culture started as early as the 7th century The female monk is called Chomo. The Dalai lama Of Tibet is to them the Chief spiritual head The economy of Ladakh is mainly Agriculture. Most of the people earn their livelihood by growing barky, wheat and peas. THUKPA

7. Walling : Earth, soil, wood, timber, lime, cement, etc. Size of mud blocks-300x150x150mm 20mm of non erodible mud plaster Cured for 15days Thick mud plaster is used to create additional insulation layers Roofing : Mud on wooden ballies, timber, bamboo, thatch, etc Waterproof roofing panel of size-300x300x150mm Flooring: Earth, soil, wood, timber, etc. Primary building material is earth and timber available locally which offer climatic comfort in diurnal range of Ladakh. Quartzite stone is used only in the partial construction of forts and palaces especially the lower storeys to impart additional strength and provide protection from water. Sundried earth blocks (alluvial soil) are the primary unit of masonry construction. M A T E R I A L S

8. Roofs are constructed in flat spans by using trunk of local poplar tree as beams placed about 50-60cm apart. The diameter of the trunks 15cm A 15 to 20cm layer of dry grass, hay, etc is spread over the layer of windows and finally finished with plaster clay mud. Floors of lower storey on ground are made of mud while the upper storey in timber. The lintels of the doors and windows are corbelled features with ornamentation. The sills and jambs are articulated by the plaster band often coloured in Red or Black. These timber lintels and plaster bands are the distinguishable features of the Ladakhi Architecture

9. CONSTRUCTION OF L A D A H K I HOUSES Sun dried mud bricks Rammed earth panels Mud mortar used for joining Retains temperature Less affected by earthquake Mud Plastered - Lime washed A traditional Ladakhi house is made entirely of mud, sometimes strengthened with horizontally positioned timber sections, and has one huge room with an oven in the corner that is utilized for both heating and cooling the interior rooms . The upper level contains the livable quarters, while the bottom level is designated for storing livestock, wood, and wintertime fodder. The building’s cavity walls are made of rammed earth or sun-dried bricks, and a six-inch space between the two walls is filled with inexpensive insulation consisting of sawdust or wood shavings mixed with earth and clay. The walls, which are covered in 15–25 mm thick wet mud plaster, are typically thick at the bottom and progressively get thinner as they ascend. The majority of mud plasters need annual repairs.

10. The ceiling is primarily constructed out of mud and wood because of their insulation-enhancing qualities and widespread availability, and it is covered in slates because Ladakh endures a cold and dry climate. To ensure enough insulation in every location, the ceiling height is kept low. The interior is kept at a comfortable temperature and the heat is trapped. The sty's entry has a small hole for air intake. The sty is cool and dark. creating a pressure under the toilet pit which draws fresh air from the door opening and ventilates it out through an air shaft thus keeping the area free of odours, flies and insects. The excrement from the toilet and pig waste is collected and used as manure in the fields. Trombe wall- double-layered wall

11. L A D A K H I ROOF Flat due to less precipitation Provides insulation from cold Used to dry vegetables and fruits for cold season •Ladakhi roof starts with a ceiling of wooden beams, rafters and willow-stick joists, on which we place woven straw mats to prevent dust from falling through the joists, •Next comes a layer of Ladakhi " yagtses " grass, a traditional stop-gap layer. •Next comes a layer of rough soil, and then the layer of " markalak " Clay •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.

12. Mostly the building are 2 Storied Large houses have courtyards while small houses do not have. The ground floor is usually a dwarf Storey keeping livestock, storage purposes and also to collect waste. Upper storey is used for living. purposes usually consists of prayer room, store, toilet and a large room function of drawing, kitchen, bedroom. The timber post is characteristic of architecture of Ladakh The main living room have large windows facing sun Ground floor First floor

13. Opening system constitutes windows and which are kept to minimum to avoid the cold drafts and also to avoid structural weakening. The elevations have a few openings, oriented to face the south. The opening sizes of the buildings are small as compared to the surface area of the wall which ensures more stability to the walls. Residential buildings have comparatively larger windows The window assembly usually consists of a wooden lintel with bearings on both the sides . A horizontal wall tie beam generally runs above the lintel to provide additional support

14. A village mainly consists of several in close to each other sharing walls or separated by narrow paths. The effect is that of a maze. In the Village the buildings are all made of mud bricks sealed by smooth mud cement. Compact and clustered planning. Clustered houses share a common wall to reduce the exposure to cold winds PL ANNING OF SETTL EMENTS

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