Kashmir Vernacular

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF
KASHMIR
The vernacular architecture of Kashmir is the architecture of the
common people as it evolved along with the various architectural
styles of the past such as the stone architecture of the
Buddhist-Hindu period that flourished during the first millenium
to the period of building in wood, prevailing under Islamic rule
and a short interval of Mughal emperors bringing into the state
their own style of stone architecture.

The city of Srinagar shows a large variation in architecture both
in terms of construction methodolgy and style.
However, the principal type of architecture which is associated
with Islamic domination is predominantly that which is
constructed entirely of wood.

From the point of view of residential architecture, Kashmir can be
divided into several regions with the following characteristics:
1. The Valley of Kashmir – Rural
2. The Valley of Kashmir – Urban
3. High-Elevation Hilly Regions Surrounding the Valley
4. Low-Elevation Hilly Regions (Surrounding the Valley
and Other Parts of the State)

A number of building systems in various parts of Kashmir have
developed over time to accommodate local natural and cultural
factors, including the impact of earthquakes.
Historically, the buildings have depended completely upon stone,

mud, bricks and wood for roofing as well as walling and thatch.
The most common building systems in Kashmir were brick or

stone walls. Some of them timber framed, with timber and mud
roofs.
Three different settlement pattern exist in Kashmir
region.
1. Temporary Structures
(Kaccha Huts)
2. Semi permanent Structures

(Doonga House Boat)
3. Permanent Structures
( Rural house , Dhajji Dewari and Taq
Construction)
TEMPORARY STRUCTURES - KACCHA HUTS
Historically, the buildings have depended completely upon stone,

mud, bricks and wood for roofing as well as walling.
In deep rural areas, initially the houses were built with mud and
wooden members and the construction is of temporary in nature.
Later, the the most common

building systems in Kashmir
were brick or stone walls. Some
of them timber framed, with
timber and mud roofs.
SEMI PERMANENT STRUCTURES - DOONGA OR HOUSE
BOAT
Traditionally, the houseboats were made by tying together pieces of

wood.
The primitive form of houseboats is known as

‘Shikara ’ in which, palm leaves tied over
bamboo poles form the roof of these
houseboats. These boats are made of wood
planks and coir rope.
Most of the houseboats are made from a wood known by the name of
Anjili. Cashew Nut oil is used as a varnish to ensure a protection for
the houseboats.
The main purpose of these house boats is holiday
accommodation for Europeans.
The main boats will be having an additional small boat attached

to it where the servants reside and cook for the guests. These
small boats are normally known as ‘Dhoongas’.
A houseboat is on an average 70 feet long boats with 15 feet width
In the central section.
Normally these houseboats are
• Having well planned and

organised spaces
• Made of fully Wooden members
• Treated with delicate Kashmiri

Wooden carving
• Provided withModern Resources

PERMANENT STRUCTURES
Based on the materials used for construction, three kinds of dwellings are
seen in Kashmir.
1. Gujjar house (used by shepherds and are found along the
Banihal pass and on mountain slopes).
2. Typical rural house
3. Urban Houses (Dhajji Dewari and Taq Construction).

1. Gujjar (shepherd) house.
- A simple earth-sheltered structure built entirely from locally

available building materials.
- Made by partially cutting into the mountain slope and raising

earth walls to enclose a rectangular space.
- The flat roof is made

of earth supported on
timber beams.
There are practically no
openings for windows and
only one door which lets in
light and ventilation.
These buildings are well

equipped to retain heat, but
are used mainly in summer.
During winter most

members of the Gujjar
Family move to the plains
with the cattle.
The house is divided into three parts:
• A front part where all daytime activities take place (the only part
with natural light),
• One part for cattle, and
• An innermost part used by the family (for cooking and sleeping).
The front space acts as a buffer between the external

environment and the protected internal space.
The doors to the two inner rooms are arranged so there is no

possibility for wind to enter. The heat from people, animals, and
the cooking stove keeps the living room warm.
Rural house
• Most rural houses are two

or three floors high.
• The materials used For

construction of walls and floors
are earth and timber, and the
main sloping roof over the
house is covered with paddy
thatch. Occasionally, the sloping
roof is covered with earth also.
• The two lower floors are fully enclosed with walls, the second
floor is open under the gable.
•The ground floor of the house is used for housing cattle and for
storage of fodder, while the first floor is the main winter living
room and kitchen.
• The well-ventilated space under the gable is used for storage

of fuelwood.
• During winter, the house is kept warm by heat from cattle,
which rises to the upper-level living room, as well as by heat from
cooking. The massive earth walls insulate the interior space and
cold air is kept out by minimizing ventilation.
• During summers, the household activities of cooking and

sleeping shift to the second floor which is well lit and ventilated.
Dhajji -Dewari or Timber Braced (patch-quilt) System
• Based on a braced timber framed structural system.
• 4-9 inch thick brick or stone masonry was used to infill the
gaps left in between these braces.
• The floors were supported on wooden joists.
• Infill of baked brick in cement mortar or unbaked brick

masonry in mud mortar, both 4" thick with timber frame were
common, especially in the villages.
• Many structures which are typically single- and multi (4-5) -

storey have Dhajji walls in the upper storey and the gables.
Dhajji Dewari Walls
Load Bearing Structure
‘Dhajj’ means ‘patchwork quilt’
A Dhajji house is a patchwork of timber and stone
This construction type has

shown enough resistance
to earthquakes when
compared to plain masonry
structures.
A Dhajji wall is strong because:
• The small panels distribute the earthquake energy

evenly.
• The friction between all the small elements and their in-
fills breaks down the energy.
• There may be a lot of small cracks which are not

dangerous.
• But large destructive cracks become very rare.

Wall Finish
Mud Plaster - Cow dung Plaster - Whitewash
• No cement Mortar
• Keeps Atmosphere Warm
• Does not get much affected from earth quake

Permanent Structures
Taq house
Taq system of construction
• 2 1/2 -3 ft. thick brick masonry piers

supporting wooden floor beams formed
the basic structural system of the
building.
• The distance between two brick

piers used to be normally around 3-4 ft
and was known as a Taq which formed
the basic structural bay of the building.
• The gap in between each taq would be filled in with either a

window opening or brick masonry.
• These load-bearing masonry
piers and infill walls, with wood
"runners" at each floor level
used to tie the walls together
with the floors.
• The timber beams in these

structures do not constitute
complete frames.
The construction practices used for these buildings include:
(1) Extensive use of wood with excellent joinery to bear

excessive snowfall and load.
(2) Lack of bonding between the infill walls and the piers
(3) Use of clay instead of mortar which gives an elastic bonding

to the bricks, which arranged in thick square pillars, with
thinner infill.
If well built in this style the whole house, even if three or

four stories high, sways together, whereas more heavy rigid
buildings would split and fall...
Stone Foundations
Sloping Roof
Roof Tile – CGI Sheets
• Roof is slopping to fall down snow.

• Structures are wooden with excellent joinery to
bear excessive snowfall and load.
OPENINGS
• Less openings
• Maximum 3’0” opening
span
• Mainly in south and South-
west Directions
FLOORING
Mud – Wooden - Carpet
• Keeps atmosphere warm
• Locally available
• Cheap in the Locality

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VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF

common people as it evolved along with the various architectural

styles of the past such as the stone architecture of the

Buddhist-Hindu period that flourished during the first millenium

to the period of building in wood, prevailing under Islamic rule

and a short interval of Mughal emperors bringing into the state

their own style of stone architecture.

in terms of construction methodolgy and style.

However, the principal type of architecture which is associated

with Islamic domination is predominantly that which is

constructed entirely of wood.

1. The Valley of Kashmir – Rural

2. The Valley of Kashmir – Urban

3. High-Elevation Hilly Regions Surrounding the Valley

4. Low-Elevation Hilly Regions (Surrounding the Valley

and Other Parts of the State)

Historically, the buildings have depended completely upon stone,

The most common building systems in Kashmir were brick or

2. Semi permanent Structures

Historically, the buildings have depended completely upon stone,

Later, the the most common

Traditionally, the houseboats were made by tying together pieces of

The primitive form of houseboats is known as

The main boats will be having an additional small boat attached

In the central section.

Normally these houseboats are

• Having well planned and

• Made of fully Wooden members

• Treated with delicate Kashmiri

• Provided withModern Resources

1. Gujjar house (used by shepherds and are found along the

Banihal pass and on mountain slopes).

2. Typical rural house

3. Urban Houses (Dhajji Dewari and Taq Construction).

- A simple earth-sheltered structure built entirely from locally

- Made by partially cutting into the mountain slope and raising

- The flat roof is made

These buildings are well

During winter most

• One part for cattle, and

• An innermost part used by the family (for cooking and sleeping).

The front space acts as a buffer between the external

The doors to the two inner rooms are arranged so there is no

• Most rural houses are two

• The materials used For

• The well-ventilated space under the gable is used for storage

• During summers, the household activities of cooking and

• The floors were supported on wooden joists.

• Infill of baked brick in cement mortar or unbaked brick

• Many structures which are typically single- and multi (4-5) -

A Dhajji house is a patchwork of timber and stone

This construction type has

• The small panels distribute the earthquake energy

• There may be a lot of small cracks which are not

• But large destructive cracks become very rare.

• Keeps Atmosphere Warm

• Does not get much affected from earth quake

• 2 1/2 -3 ft. thick brick masonry piers

• The distance between two brick