Architecture for Hills : A Context Responsive Housing Settlement

Author: Lakshmi Sai
Site Location: Naggar, Himachal Pradesh
Institute: Aurora Design Institute, Habsiguda
Advisor: Prof. Aparna Devisetti

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The “Architecture on hills” always seems to be beautiful from the very prehistoric times, these hills have sustained themselves, enticing and soothing to the eyes of the people.

“Shelter” has been one of humankind’s necessities since immemorial time besides food and clothing. While nothing has changed significantly in man’s food and clothing habits, he has been constantly improving upon his dwelling to make it more homely, protective, and comfortable to suit his ever-changing lifestyle under various environmental conditions.

In that quest, not only have the basic materials of construction and their usage techniques changed radically but the planning and design parameters, functional imperatives and everything else have undergone an almost complete transformation. A price has been paid to accommodate more and more people and to suit the expanding economy.Houses have been washed away and buried under the massive landslides. Earthquakes have taken their toll since these houses are not built quake-proof unlike the traditional ones.

The more fundamental question is:

“Whether the displacement of communities from their ancestral homes is the best-case scenario and how can we provide effective sustainable disaster resilient housing solutions…?”

-The Himalayan town of Joshi Math, Uttarakhand, India has been experiencing land subsidence The town’s problems have worsened since October 2021, when large areas of land began to sink and buildings started to crack. Over 700 houses and several roads have developed cracks, and as many as 200 families have been evacuated

The people who live there are much more governed by the seasons than elsewhere, Those building methods are tested through trial and error by society and are tailored to the climatic, aesthetic, functional and sociological needs of that society and the built environment emerges from the “Indian traditional knowledge systems”.

Addressing hill development issues does not have a specific path on which one can stick. Understanding the type of problem that persists is necessary. We should pave the path to sustainable development and habitats in mountainous areas in a holistic, all-encompassing manner by focusing on a single habitat or settlement.