Building Crafts of Kath-khuni Architecture of Himachal Pradesh
The study of vernacular architecture, particularly the earthquake-resistant kath-khuni construction techniques in the Western Himalayas, offers a unique intersection of craft, design, and sustainability. This indigenous technique, which integrates building crafts like wood, stone, and metal crafts, is a testament to the region's cultural heritage and resilience to environmental challenges. In recent years, the knowledge and practice of these building crafts have been threatened by modernization, changing lifestyles, environmental degradation and climate change. Documenting the wood, metal and stone crafts and understanding their intricate relationship with kath-khuni architecture as well as the land and the local cultural practices offers an opportunity to preserve an endangered cultural practice and reimagine how such traditional knowledge can be integrated into contemporary practices. This DRP will focus on mapping the craftspeople (wood, metal and stone crafts), documenting the craft practices and processes, understanding the application of these crafts in kath-khuni architecture, studying the motifs and patterns, interpreting the local narratives, decoding the material culture and socio-cultural aspects associated with building crafts of kath-khuni architecture.
