Architecture of Traditional Wisdom

Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Windows to Vernacular x Academy of Architecture

Kangra is one of the most populous districts in Himachal Pradesh and is home to the Gaddi Tribe. After centuries of grazing through the valley, the shepherds settled in parts of the valley. Over the years the settlers found methods to fend and support themselves and their animals, shaping and altering the land. The first half of the study is focused on decoding the evolution, planning and detailing of buildings built over the centuries in the region through the study of a village called Khirku in the Kangra District. The village of Khirku is one of the few villages in the region that received road access fairly recently, thus reducing the 21st-century influence. The impact of the temperature and altitude variations, materials available, cultural and occupational needs is seen at the building and settlement levels. The region's buildings have been a product of years of permutation - combinations and set rules. 

The other half of the study was to see a 21st-century approach towards centuries-old learning by studying Didi Contractor's works. It is a practice rooted in the traditional practices and learnings from the valley applied in buildings with amenities and detailing to suit the newly developed palette.

A study where culture is still alive and is reflected in the region's built fabric, whether traditional or in Didi Contractor's works.