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tal Households

Grass/…

Plastic/…

Hand made…

Machine…

Burnt Brick

Stone/Slate

G.I./Metal/…

Concrete

Any other…

Total Househol

ds

GThBamWoud

Urban 19988 2

Rural 316419 3

Total 336407 3

Tab

0

otal Households

Mud

Wood/Bamboo

Burnt Brick

Stone 

Cement

osaic/Floor Tiles

Any othermaterial

Total Households

Urban 19988

Rural 316419

Total 336407

Tab

hitecture: Ka

50000 10000

rass/hatch/mboo/ood/Md etc.

Plastic/Polythene

HmT

215 228

3444 668 5

3695 896 6

ble 1: HOUSEHOLD

50000 10000

Mud Wood/Baoo

2341 21

128644 1436

130985 1457

ble 2: HOUSEHOLD

Sou

S

angra 

0 150000 2000

Hand madeTiles

Machinemade Tiles

BuB

76 41

597 699 1

673 740 1

DS BY PREDOMINA

00 150000 2000

amb Burnt Brick S

48

1974 1

2022 1

S BY PREDOMINAN

urce: Census of

Source: Census

000 250000 300

urnt Brick

Stone/Slate

G.I./

Asbsh

55 3392 30

361 159278 74

416 162670 10

ANT MATERIAL OF R

000 250000 300

Stone  Cement

688 13492

10227 148454

10915 161946

NT MATERIAL OF F

f India 2011

s of India 2011

Figure 2: PSourc

0000 350000 4

/Metal/

bestoseets

Concrete Any mat

039 12933

456 142768 1

0495 155701 1

ROOF

0000 350000 4

Mosaic/Floor Tiles

Any omate

3264 13

24548 113

27812 127

FLOOR

Population in Kce: Census of In

 

 

00000

otherterial

9

148

157

00000

othererial

4

36

70

Himachtotal construwood avernacuAccord94.29%316419rural pthem a

Mater

Roof iHalf ofthe bamsuppormateriaextremhas abistone p

Floorconcretlayer ofinish floors floors floors. over ba

Kangra Districndia 2011

Figure 3: RurSou

hal Pradesh households

uction materare the majoular buildinding to (Fig% of rural 9 householpopulation ofare built with

ial usage

is generally f household mboo planksrt of the rooal for roofing

me weather coility of beingproperty.

is generallte (Table2).of floor madof flooring have generto avoid chFirst floor l

amboo plank

t

ral and Urban Aurce: Census of

. Still mores use lrials. Mud, Sor constructiongs of Higure.3) Kanarea .As pds accommf Kangra Di

h sustainable

made of Chave slate ro

s and purlinsof. Slate is hg as it is highonditions. Ag cut in sma

ly made of After compde of Soil is given to

rally cow duhipping off evel is also b

ks and strips.2 | P a

Area in Kangraf India 2011

e than 50% local vernStone ,bamboon materials imachal Prngra districtper Table.1modates comistrict and mmaterials.

Concrete or Soofs (Table.1s for the struhighly sustahly efficient

Also the slatealler sections

Mud or Cpacting the and Rubble,

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a g e  

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of the nacular oo and in the

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Total mplete

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Slates. 1)over uctural ainable for all

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Sust 

 

 

 

 

Total

U

Urba

Rura

Tota

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0

l Households

Grass/Thatch/…

Plastic/Polythene

Mud/Unburnt brick

Wood

Stone notpacked with…

Stonepacked with…

G.I./Metal/Asbestos…

Burnt Brick

Concrete

Any othermaterial

Total Househo

lds

Grass/Thatch/Bamboo etc.

an 19988 70

al 316419 783

l 336407 853

Table 3

Figure 4: CompSourc

hitecture: Ka

50000 100000

Plastic/Polythen

e

Mud/Unburnt brick

195 2472

556 132657

751 135129

3: HOUSEHOLDS BY

Sour

parison of Interce: UN Human S

angra 

150000 200000

Wood

Stone not

packed with

Mortar

Stpaw

Mo

110 427 10

629 4763 12

739 5190 13

Y PREDOMINANT M

rce: Census of I

rlocking BlocksSettlements Pro

250000 300000

onecked withortar

G.I./Metal/

Asbestossheets

BurnBric

086 79 1539

2409 235 1632

3495 314 1786

MATERIAL OF WAL

India 2011

s to its Alternatogramme 

 

350000 400000

nt ck Concrete

Any other

materia

95 147 7

54 995 138

49 1142 145

LL

tives 

 

l

Wall is gwith conperformanbeing foabandon using it falso a lomortar mtotal wall Table.3 nhave beenwalled hreductionas a strucno. of houAt few plbeen usedhighly suyears. Buwalling mhave beenhas been Years but50 yearsworkmanwalls alwin moderconstructitime and day sustaenough toassemblyassembly for the sam

FigureSourc

generally mancrete. As pnce of the

ound excellein the Kangfrom ancienower embod

material whicassembly hi

no. of househn found in m

households wn in people’s ctural and wauseholds in laces stone wd as a walli

ustainable anut if we are tmaterial its dn questioned

said that Mt the stone as. Due to

nship, the coways seems torn times whion material money of peinable matero be the bes. So extensis needed t

me.

e 5: Sun dried e: Photograph f

ade of Mud per Figure.Sun dried

ent. Also igra District

nt times. Sundied energy ch is also mighly sustainholds using bmore numbewhich is thchoice and

alling materimud is in a walls with wing materials

nd durable antalking aboudurability and several timMud houses and concrete

need of ost of constro be an expehen people n

which lastseople. If Murial then it hast choice to ive researchto be done a

Mud Brick Wafrom site visit o

3 | P a

or Burnt Br.4 the thermmud blocks

it is found and people

n dried Mudmaterial. T

mud makes nable. As per burnt clay brir than the M

he indicator believe in m

ial. But still decent amou

wood have as which is and last for lout the Mud and sustainabi

mes. Generalllast for 15lasts for abhighly skil

ruction of stensive event.need a duras long and sd is the modas to be duramake the w

h on mud wand is going

all after 15 yearof NITH studen

a g e  

rick mal s is

in are

d is The the the

icks Mud

of mud

the unt. also also ong as a ility ly it 5-20 ove lled tone . So able save dern able wall wall g on

rs ts

Sustainable Architecture: Kangra  

4 | P a g e   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000 160000

Grass/Thatch/…

Plastic/Polythene

Mud/Unburnt brick

Wood

Stone notpacked with…

Stonepacked with…

G.I./Metal/Asbestos…

Burnt Brick

Concrete

Any othermaterial

No. of Households

Grass/Thatch/Bamboo etc.

Plastic/Polythen

e

Mud/Unburnt brick

Wood

Stone not

packed with

Mortar

Stonepacked with

Mortar

G.I./Metal/

Asbestossheets

Burnt Brick Concrete

Any other

material

Any othermaterial 0 0 43 1 5 7 0 98 2 1

Concrete 0 0 1680 0 1001 2910 60 149130 821 99

G.I./Metal/Asbestossheets

60 14 1932 428 774 810 164 6241 63 9

Stone/Slate 235 94 128674 178 3141 9599 48 20450 219 32

Burnt Brick 3 1 157 29 54 69 1 1086 15 1

Machinemade Tiles 0 7 111 1 12 21 2 583 3 0

Hand madeTiles 11 5 254 2 9 15 8 365 4 0

Plastic/Polythene 100 619 86 15 6 6 14 50 0 0

Grass/Thatch/Bamboo/

Wood/Mud etc.

444 11 2192 85 188 58 17 646 15 3

Table 4: HOUSEHOLDS BY PREDOMINANT MATERIAL OF ROOF AND WALL

Source: Census of India 2011

Figure 6: Naddi Village NearDharamshala Source: http://himachaltourism.gov.in 

Finding overall combination of all structural assemblies to form a Sustainable Household

After analyzing the Census data 2011 for the different types of assemblies (Table .4) it have been found out that major households have been built in combination of

1. wall ofburnt bricks with concrete roof 2. wall of sun dried mud blocks with slate

roof 3. wall of burnt bricks with slate roof

The combination 1 is highly unsustainable for the Kangra region as the Burnt bricks are not the locally available material  as well as not the recyclable materials. 

The Combination 2 is highly sustainable as the materials used in the assembly are local, recyclable and lower embodied energy materials. 

The Combination 3 is unsustainable plus uneconomical. Generally in these types of structures excessive steel have been used in the roof structure and different assemblies and services. Also Highly finished slate tiles are used in roof construction which results in more embodied energy of the total built up. 

Figure 7: Sun Dried Mud Bricks  with slate roof Source: pictures from site visit to Didi Contractor works 

Sust 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six a

Five 

Four

Thre

Two 

One 

Nexcluroo

tainable Arch

0

1

2

3

4

5

6to8

9+

1

nd above 518

room 487

r room 1423

ee room 1942

room 4975

room 6023

Nousiveom.

378

Table 5: HOHOUSES, SIZ

Figure 8:house, bSource: TCertified

hitecture: Ka

5000 10000

2 3

1995 2924

1714 3234

4127 8014

4823 9256

8998 14689

7159 10672

338 422

OUSEHOLDS BY OWZE OF THE HOUSEH

RO

Source: Cens

: Life cycle embby element, perThe Significanced Passive House

Andr

angra 

15000 20000

No. of Househo

4 5

5192 4934

5781 5117

15040 12054

17671 13923

27736 21930

19917 13331

693 487

WNERSHIP STATUS HOLD AND NUMBEOOMS

us of India 201

bodied, case stur m² of usable fe of Embodied es by‐Robert H. ré Stephan 

25000 3000

olds

6to8 9+

7064 248

5525 124

4 12555 210

3 13580 191

0 20577 190

1 8605 488

388 54

OF THE CENSUS ER OF DWELLING 

1

udy passive floor area. Energy in Crawford and 

 

 

00

1

45

03

7

08

8

4

Living pa

Kangra disresiding inFrequent Observingseismic sestorey houstorey seisthe maximof the houthe sustaiand the fin

Culturally Architectutraditionasustainabl

Environmeand low bsustainabland stone

Financiallythe burnt But the duand the vamud to shlike reinfoplaster. 

Figure 9Source: P

attern and h

strict have mn two bedrooFamily Size fg the compacensitivity of tusehold and smically stabmum future gusehold will dnability: socinancial cond

Kangra regioure from the l methods ofle. 

entally the cuilding footple materials e architecture

y the Mud cobrick and ceurability of marious combihow the duraorced and sta

9: Traditional MPhotograph fro

ouseholds

major part of om househofound is 4‐8 pct family planhe region twthree –four ble  househogeneration. Sdepend threial culture, edition of the 

on has got M ancient timef constructio

ompact desiprints with uleads to proe in the Kang

onstruction iement mortamud Is alwaysinations havability of mudabilized mud

Mud House , Kaom site visit of N

5 | P a

population lds (Table.5)person familnning and wo room singroom doubllds needed fSustainabilityee domains onvironment region. 

Mud es and on are highly

igns of housese of highly motion of mgra region. 

s cheaper thar constructios questionede been triedd structures  blocks and 

ngra District NITH students

a g e  

). ly. 

gle e for y of 

y 

es 

mud 

han on. d  in 

Sustainable Architecture: Kangra  

6 | P a g e   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adobe CSEB Fired brick

Hollow concrete blocks (HCB)

Gypsum stabilized earth wall in sections

Gypsum stabilized earth massive blocks

Energy required (MJ/ fu)

36 233 1026 390 191 161

Carbon dioxide emission (Kg/ fu)

0 55 118 98 2 1

 

 

 

Figure 10: Modern Mud Building Interiors Source: from works of Didi Contractors in Kangra District 

Energy and Mud

Present day energy scenario of India , states that there is need of energy savings in all the sectors. Construction sector shares substantial part of energy consumption in India. Today Energy efficiency of mud have been proved earlier in various researches. The mud has zero embodied energy but production adds to the embodied energy of adobe blocks. Many researches are going around reducing the production energy of adobe blocks by efficient methods and machinery.  Few results have been detailed out in Table 6.The production energy of 1 finished unit of adobe block is 36 MJ Despite of Burnt Brick having 1026 Mj/FU. So according to data available there has been only 3.5% of energy consumption in Adobe manufacturing than the Fired Bricks. This shows the energy efficiency of the material. Although constructing a mud house seems to be more energy efficient but the low durability make it less reliable. In recent time’s mud construction have attention of researchers and many methods and types of mud construction have been evolved. Although adobe brick construction itself can sustain for 15 years, its durability can be increased till 30 year. Besides the primary energy(Figure 8), it have been proved scientifically that mud houses provided energy efficient interiors with less amount of heating/cooling required. This reduces the operational energy of the household and adds to the energy and money savings. 

Table 6: Production energy requirement and CO2  emission for various construction materials Source: CONTEMPORARY EARTH CONSTRUCTION IN URBAN HOUSING – STABILISED OR UNSTABILISED? By‐Mohammad Sharif Zami& Dr. Angela Lee

Sustainable Architecture: Kangra  

7 | P a g e   

Conclusion: Need of Research in the Mud Wall Finishes.

By discussing the vernacular existence of the mud architecture in the Kangra District region and evaluating it with the energy I have found that mud is a valuable material in the field of the sustainable architecture .Some detailed study of mud blocks have been done in past to make it durable .However the finish of the Mud walls have not been given of so much of importance(Figure 5 &12). During my research I have found out mud wall finishes are so much important that it can change the durability of the mud structure drastically. The combination of the cement/lime as the stabilizer and thatch as a reinforcement is yet the only solution found to incorporate in the mud walls to increase their stability. Much more research is needed to be done on mud wall finishes to make it look aesthetically pleasing and long lasting. In present context people are aware that mud houses are good but they never actually enjoy the durability of the mud structure that’s why people use other high energy material for the construction. There is need of research, documentation and training programs for Kangra people to increase their interest towards vernacular architecture of Kangra, Hiamachal Pradesh.Also the loss and lack of traditional knowledge of mud construction needs to be revoked. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 11: Mud House by Didi Contractor Source: Photograph from site visit of NITH students

Figure 12: Start of failure in Mud Wall Finishes Source: Photograph from site visit of NITH students

References: 

1. http://cdn1.hillpost.in, Location Maps

2. Census of India 2011,Census data of Himachal Pradesh

3.Case studies and site visits to the work of Didi Contractor

4.http://himachaltourism.gov.in,for Present available  image of Kangra District on the H.P. Tourism website

5.UN Human Settlements Programme  6.Traditional and Vernacular buildings are Ecological Sensitive, Climate Responsive Designs- Study of Himachal Pradesh, By. Sandeep Sharma ,Assistant Professor ,NIT Hamirpurand Puneet Sharma , Assistant Professor ,NIT Hamirpur

7.Sustainability;Dharamshala;Local Building Tradition, By AmanjeetKaur,Assistant Professor ,NIT Hamirpurand NeetuKapoor ,Assistant Professor ,NIT Hamirpur

8. The Significance of Embodied Energy in Certified Passive Houses by-Robert H. Crawford and André Stephan 9.Contemporary Earth Construction In Urban Housing – Stabilised Or Unstabilised? By-Mohammad ShariZami& Dr. Angela Lee 10. Photographs of Site visits by Miss NishaKumari, Architect Ajesh Kapoor , Architect Ghanshyam Thakur & Architect Sachin yadav

11.Discussion with professionals and MrsVandana Sharma ,Assistant Professor ,NIT Hamirpur