Architecture ยท Research
Preserving Heritage
Exploring Mountain Architecture in Naddi, Dharamshala
About the Project
This workshop explores the vernacular construction materials and technologies of the mountain architecture of Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. It takes Naddi, a village situated about 20 km from Dharamshala, as a case study for this research.
The structures in Naddi are historically proven to withstand natural calamities and extreme weather of their context better than their modern counterparts. They encode generations of accumulated knowledge about how to build in harmony with a demanding landscape.
Documentation Approach
The research aims to document these technologies and advocate for the formation of inclusive building codes that take into consideration the vernacular construction methodologies. Three primary methods were used to capture what cannot be conveyed through drawings alone.
Against Forgetting
These vernacular structures demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of local climate, available materials, and seismic behavior that modern building codes often fail to capture; or actively exclude. By prioritizing standardized construction over regional knowledge, contemporary development risks erasing techniques that have proven their resilience over centuries.
The workshop concluded with an academic documentation report to ensure that these technologies do not get lost in time; a record that can inform architects, policymakers, and communities invested in building codes that honor what came before.