This document discusses vernacular architecture in cold and dry climates, using Ladakh as an example case study. It begins with background on India's climate zones and what constitutes a cold and dry climate. It then discusses Ladakh's specific climate characteristics, including very hot summers and brutally cold winters with little vegetation or precipitation. The document outlines various factors that influence vernacular architecture, including using local materials like earth, wood and lime in construction. It provides details on traditional Ladakhi construction techniques for flat roofs, walled structures, and planning compact clustered housing to be resilient against earthquakes in the mountainous terrain.

1. Vernacular Architecture
In
Cold and Dry Climatic Zone
Submitted By:
Vartika Sharma

2.  India is home to an
extraordinary variety
of climatic regions, ranging
from tropical in the south to
temperate and alpine in the
Himalayan north, where
elevated regions receive
sustained winter snowfall. The
nation's climate is strongly
influenced by the Himalayas
and the Thar Desert.
Climatic Zones in India

3. Cold and Dry Climate is a
climate that is very cold
and the precipitation is
too low to sustain any
vegetation at all, or at
most a very scanty shrub.
Found in temperate
zones, almost always in
the rain shadow of high
mountains which restrict
precipitation from the
westerly winds, or in the
case of Central Asia, from
the monsoon.
What is Cold and Dry Climate?

4. Introduction
•Ladakh lies on the rain shadow side of the Himalayan, where dry monsoon
winds reaches Leh after being robbed of its moisture in plains and the
Himalayan mountain. The district combines the condition of both arctic and
desert climate.
•Therefore Ladakh is often called “Cold Desert”.

5. Vernacular Architecture

6. Factors
influencing
Vernacular
Architecture
are:
Topography
Climate
Materials
and
Resources
Users
Lifestyle
Construction
Technology
Culture and
Traditions

7. Topography
Landform plays a
very important role in
deciding the vernacular
architecture of any
place.
As heat gain is
desirable so buildings
should be placed on the
south side of the hill or
mountain.

8. •Very hot and dry in summer & brutally cold winters
•Cold Deserts frequently experience snow
•Mountainous area, has little vegetation.
•Solar radiation is generally intense with a very low percentage of diffuse
radiation
•Summer
•Maximum 17 to 24 degree Celsius
•Minimum 4 to 11 degree Celsius
•R.H. _ 10-15%
•Precipitation- <200mm per annum
•Cloud cover- 50%
•Winter
•Maximum -7 to 8degree Celsius
•Minimum -14 to 0 degree Celsius
Climate

9. Vernacular Materials used...
•Walling - Earth, soil, wood, timber, lime,
cement, etc.
Size of mud blocks- 300*150*150mm
20mm of non erodible mud plaster
cured for 15days
Thick mud plaster is used to create
additional insulation layers
•Roofing – Mud on wooden ballies,
timber, bamboo, thatch, etc
waterproof roofing panel of size-
300*300*100mm
•Flooring – Earth, soil, wood, timber, etc.
The traditional/conventional building materials used for
walling, roofing and flooring in the Ladakh region are:

10. Lifestyle

11. Culture and
Traditions

12. Construction Technology

13. Ladakhi Roof
Flat Wooden – Mud Finish
Flat due to less precipitation
Provides insulation from cold
Used to dry vegetables and fruits for cold season

14. Construction of Ladakhi Roof

15. •Next comes a layer of rough soil,
and then the layer of “markalak”
clay
•The final layer of soil on the roof is
applied wet, and its mix can include
straw, and even the dung of cows,
donkeys or horses to increase its
solidness as people often walk on the
flat roofs.
•Ladakhi roof starts with a ceiling of
wooden beams, rafters and willow-stick
joists, on which we place woven straw
mats to prevent dust from falling through
the joists,
•Next comes a layer of Ladakhi “yagtses”
grass, a traditional stop-gap layer.

16. Construction of Walls
Sun dried mud bricks
Rammed earth panels
Mud mortar used for joining
Retains temperature
Less affected by earthquake

17. Trombe Wall

18. Wall Finish
Creates germ free
atmosphere
Retain temperature
Mud Plastered – Lime washed

19. Flooring
For plinth and floor stone masonry with mud mortar is used.
Later on timber joists also came in use to make it more stable
and earthquake resistant.

20. Planning
Compact and clustered
planning
Houses made of stone
and mud clay

21. Thankyou