Down To Earth

Kath-Kuni is a popular type of natural building which uses locally available wood and stone as prime materials for construction. These humble looking abodes made of stone, mud and wood were popular in Himachal Pradesh.

There were several reasons for its popularity: It is environmental friendly, kept the cold out, and can survive earthquakes due to its high tensile strength. 'Kath-Kuni' is made of two words - 'Kath' meaning 'wood' and 'Kuni' meaning 'corner'. While Kangra and Spiti regions abound in houses made of mud and stone, Kathkuni houses are native to this middle Himalayan belt which includes Kullu, Manali, Chamba, Shimla and some parts of Uttarakhand. Kath-Kuni is structurally different from conventional building methods. Instead of vertical columns, it is built on horizontal beams. Through 'criss cross' bracings, an entire wooden structure is constructed. Even the joineries are made of wood. The weight of tightly packed stones provides stability to the structure while the wooden beams provide flexibility. Slate tiles are used to lay the roof, their weight presses the entire structure downwards and adds further to its stability. At the time of an earthquake, a Kathkuni structure might shake, but is less likely to collapse. Rahul Bhushan, a 29 year old Himachali local and alumnus of CEPT is trying to bring back the glory of Kath Kuni structures. He runs an organisation called NORTH in Naggar, A small town in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh. NORTH promotes local craftsmanship and preserves the ancient building traditions of the state. Himachalis have almost stopped building Kath kuni houses today. Unavailability of materials, high cost and lack experienced mistiris are the main reasons for its decline. But according to NORTH, The cost and time required for constructing Kath kuni houses can be reduced by replacing wood with other sustainable and cheap materials like bamboo and hempcrete. Kath Kuni architecture should be preserved and revived for an environmentally sustainable Himachal. If kath-kuni architecture and its artisans fade away into history, a deep knowledge of the mountains and how to live in them also disappear.