KATHKUNI STYLE

ARCHITECTURE
Kathkuni is a indigenous wood and stone construction
technique employed by all types of vernacular built forms
which can be seen in Sutlej valley of himachal.
Both practical and aesthetically pleasing Uses local materials
in a systematic process of layering.
Walls are made of deodar (a mountainous cedar wood) and
limestone with rubble acting as insulation .plinth is entirely
constructed of stone .
Slate shingles which rest on these wooden framework
complete and cap
They are fixed to wooden framework using metal nails.
These shingles protect the structure from rain , snow .
One peculiar feature is projecting carved stone in one or
more corners. studies say that it can be either for a
structural purpose or might have some cultural significance
too .
In the well built structure, the wood is very carefully
arranged, the beams with thickness around 30 cms in depth
extending over the whole length of wall.
A beam on the outside and another beam on the inside, the
space in-between is filled with stones.

TECHNIQUE
The base of the structural wall is two parallel layers of stones
installed flat. Depending on the size of the stone the gap in
middle is filled with an infill of random rubble.
The larger stones are stacked up on the outer edge and the
corners of the wall to provide stability.
The wall is constructed by layering both wood and stone. The
materials are stacked horizontally, in alternating rows,
parallel to the ground.

 As the construction proceeds vertically, the height of the

stone layer decrease and ultimately it is only the wood frame
stacked on another wood frame that completes the
structural wall.
Slate tiles rest on the wooden framework and cap the
building.

FOUNDATION
Locally Available Stone Is Used For Foundation.
Trench Is Dug About 900mm In Depth And 900mm In Width.
This Trench Is Then Filled With Large Slabs(dry Stones) With
Approximate Width Of 900mm.
The Similar Courses Go Up To 100 To 200mm Above Ground
Level Forming The Plinth Of The House.
In some cases where the ground is hard enough no trenches
were dug for foundation just a layer of stones up to a height
of 300mm is laid for plinth.

WALL SYSTEM
All The Walls Are Load Bearing and Of Thickness 600mm.
Construction Material:
Walls Are Made Up Of Stones And Wood Of Deodar ,Rai And
Perman Tree Without Any Mortar. These Walls Are Then
Plastered With Mixture Of Mud, Cow-dung And Kail, Wood
Powder Or Wheat Husk.
Above The Raised Plinth Of Stones Wooden Beam Of 200mm
Thickness Is Laid Spanning Over The Entire Length Of Wall.
Over This Beam A Framework Of Wooden Logs Are Created
Which Are Later Hand Filled By Stones.

Kathkuni house comprises of four primary

components:
a stone plinth, which creates the base of the house,
wood-and-stone structural walls forming the core of the
house with floors as an insert,
cantilevered wooden balconies acting as the second skin to
the house,
an overhanging slate tile roof fixed to the wooden
framework, which caps the entire structure.

Case study
BHIMAKALI TEMPLE COMPLEX AT
SARAHAN
Method of Construction The walls of the buildings presented in the
complex are constructed in kathkuni style . It is an indigenous
style of construction which is evolved in western Himalayas. In
Kath-kuni or Kath-kundi style a mesh of interlocking horizontal
cedar (locally deodar) sleepers/ logs is created. In this mesh

dressed or raw stone are packed without any mortar. Absence of

vertical members for wall construction is a characteristic of this
style. With inherent elasticity, the design has an enormous
seismic response. There have been instances, when tremors have
dislodged the stones from the frame, and later, have been
hammered back into the intact mesh of wood houses.
Part of wall created in kathkuni

BUILDING FORM
Temple complex has a variety of building forms. The two main
temples constructed in uppermost courtyard are the finest
example of tower style temples and combination of Indo- Chinese
architecture. The building form is rather simple but elegant. It is a
combination of slanting pagoda roof over a cubical base. This
cubical base has five storeys. Upper storey of the temple is
projecting over the lower stories. The verticality of lower stories is
broken by series of coursed of wood and stones. On the upper
stories richly carved windows/ openings are provided in woodwork
expresses the skill and accuracy of the craftsmen of the region
wooden sculptures are used on brackets to support projected
upper floors

Materials Used
Whole of the complex is constructed with the use of mainly
indigenous/ locally available materials. Locally available sand
stone and deodar/cidar wood are the two main building materials
which are used in the complex for wall construction. Natural
slates are quarried from nearby slate mines and used as main
roofing material over the wooden roof trusses.