What makes ancient Indigenous architecture eco-friendly?
In India's mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh, age-old construction traditions such as Pahadi architecture and the Kath Kuni technique use locally sourced natural materials. The benefits of these approaches are more relevant than ever.
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00:00Flat ground for building homes isn't easy to find here in Himachal Pradesh, and yet
00:07settlements dot the mountains all the way up to an altitude of 4,000 meters.
00:13In the tourist town of Naggar, woodworker Khobram Thakur is overseeing the construction
00:18of a home with locally sourced materials.
00:21The methods to build it are the same as those used by generations before him.
00:30Back then, walls were made of alternate layers of stone and interlocking wood beams, plastered
00:36with mud, and topped with a slate roof.
00:41The gaps between these layers were packed with hay.
00:44That's how traditional houses were constructed using mud and other natural materials.
00:53Rather than from his elders, he learned his skills at the local architecture studio North.
00:59It's committed to reviving traditional building methods and indigenous craftsmanship.
01:04Methods such as kaat-kuni and dhajji-dewari, ancient Himalayan techniques that rely solely
01:10on locally available stone, wood and clay.
01:13In this earthquake-prone region, they've stood the test of time.
01:20Some of the kaat-kuni houses here are 300 to 400 years old.
01:25Because of the flexibility of the wood, even if these houses tilt, there's no cause for
01:29concern.
01:30In addition, the natural materials allow the buildings to breathe, making them comfortable
01:37in all seasons.
01:42The ornate buildings that are a major draw for tourists are examples of kaat-kuni and
01:47dhajji-dewari architecture.
01:49But their appeal extends beyond aesthetics.
01:53North founder Rahul Bhushan believes the resilience of these techniques makes them ideal for the
01:58fragile ecosystem of these hills, and should be used for all new constructions.
02:03When we start a new project, we have to look at the land, the site, how the sun and wind
02:09patterns are, and we have to analyse the slopes to cut the terraces accordingly.
02:15So that ultimately, the building looks like it's growing out of the mountain, rather than
02:21just a bulk propped on top of it.
02:25Getting this right beforehand is a large part of the effort.
02:31While the region's pre-modern heritage may be a big tourist draw, most new structures
02:36here are made from concrete.
02:40Over time, bigger developments have taken over the steep mountain slopes, a risk, says
02:45local historian Om Chandra Handa.
02:49He lives and works in the state capital Shimla, which has seen some of the worst effects of
02:53unchecked construction.
02:55Forty years back, it was Snowden, the commander-in-chief of the Indian army, who used to stay here,
03:04and that is why that is called Snowden building.
03:06But now it has become a big complex township.
03:09If you happen to see that, township on both ways.
03:13It is a ridge, and both the slopes, this is covered in structure, and Roorkee Engineering
03:19College conducted soil survey, and it said, it is not suitable for tall structures.
03:27But now, eleven storey structure in that area, when it will sink, nobody knows.
03:35And sink it could, like many of the homes destroyed in the severe floods that hit the
03:39region in 2023.
03:42Even those built with the strongest reinforced concrete and steel collapsed like a house
03:47of cards.
03:49Seventy-one people lost their lives, and many more were injured.
03:58And yet, the region is urbanizing quicker than ever.
04:02The building boom is putting unprecedented pressure on its hills.
04:07The natural angle of repose of these hills is not more than 45 degrees.
04:12That is the highest one should go.
04:14But today we are building on slopes which are considerably sharper.
04:18We are going at slopes which are 70 or 80 percent.
04:21We are going with heavy excavation.
04:23We are going in with heavy retaining walls.
04:26In the absence of solid strata, we are going to have problems.
04:33Back in Naggar, many of the older structures survived the floods without significant damage.
04:40This has generated a lot of interest in the North Collective's use of traditional building
04:44materials for new structures.
04:48Upcycled materials improve sustainability and reduce costs.
04:56We begin every project by searching for reclaimed wood or stones from old houses, or logs that
05:03can be reused or restored.
05:09If there is nothing on site, we ask around in nearby towns and villages.
05:19Working with reclaimed material also requires a lot of skill and experience.
05:28The North Collective runs training workshops and collaborates with over a hundred local
05:32artisans like Khubram Thakur, ensuring their skills are preserved.
05:40If we make the effort to build this way, future generations will see the advantages and continue
05:45to keep these skills alive.
05:47This is the only way to go if we want to save Himachal Pradesh.
05:52The artisans hope that by promoting this holistic approach, this tiny mountain town can inspire
05:57the whole Himalayan region to build more responsibly by embracing the benefits of its
06:03architectural heritage.