VERNACULAR CONSTRUCTION OF UTTARKASHI STANDING THROUGH DISASTERS by Sonali Rawat

DISSERTATION Year: 2018-19 Batch No. 16

VERNACULAR CONSTRUCTION OF UTTARKASHI STANDING THROUGH DISASTERS

Sonali Rawat Enrollment No.: 14E1AAARF45P122 V Year B.Arch (C)

Prof. A. S. RATHORE

Prof. N.S. RATHORE

GUIDE

COORDINATOR

Aayojan School of Architecture ISI-4, RIICO Institutional Block, Sitapura, Jaipur-302022

APPROVAL The study titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disastersâ&#x20AC;? is hereby approved as an original work of Sonali Rawat enrolment no. 14E1AAARF45P122 on the approved subject carried out and presented in manner satisfactory to warrant its acceptance as per the standard laid down by the university. This report has been submitted in the partial fulfillment for the award of Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rajasthan Technical University, Kota.

It is to be understood that the undersigned does not necessarily endorse or approve any statement made, any opinion expressed or conclusion drawn therein, but approves the study only for the purpose it has been submitted.

December 2018 Jaipur

Prof. K.S. MAHAJANI EXTERNAL EXAMINER 1

PRINCIPAL

Prof. N.S. RATHORE EXTERNAL EXAMINER 2

COORDINATOR

DECLARATION I, Sonali Rawat, here by solemnly declare that the research work undertaken by me, titled ‘Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters’ is my original work and wherever I have incorporated any information in the form of photographs, text, data, maps, drawings, etc. from different sources, has been duly acknowledged in my report. This dissertation has been completed under the supervision of the guide allotted to me by the school. Further, whenever and wherever my work shall be presented or published it will be jointly authored with my guide. SONALI RAWAT V Year B.Arch (C) Aayojan School of Architecture, Jaipur

CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the research titled ‘Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters’ is a bonafide work by Sonali Rawat of Aayojan School of Architecture, Jaipur. This research work has been completed under my guidance and supervision in a satisfactory manner. This report has been submitted in partial fulfillment of award of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE degree from Rajasthan Technical University, Kota. This research work fulfills the requirements relating to the nature and standard laid down by the Rajasthan Technical University. Prof. A. S. RATHORE Guide Aayojan School of Architecture

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Working on this dissertation for past five months has instilled in me a greater passion towards the field of architecture. There are a number of people, without whose support, I would not have been able to make it so far. Their recurring words of encouragement and inputs have enabled me to stay focused and have a deeper comprehension of the subject. I thank, Dissertation coordinator, Prof. N. S. Rathore for his able advice and valuable time. I am highly in debt and grateful to my guide, Prof. Archana Singh Rathore, whose expertise, generous guidance, understanding and support made it possible for me to work on a topic that was of great interest to me. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. K. P. Bhatt, Lawyer in District court, Uttarkashi for guiding and touring me around Uttarkashi, Ar. K. C. Kuriyal, Uttarkashi, for helping me in getting relevant information for my topic and for their immense time. Also, I would also like to thank Ar. Ranjeet Mukherjee and Shreenu Mukherjee from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Vrindavan Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for helping me with relevant data and guidance with this topic My parents are a constant source of motivation, which put faith in me and urged me to do better. A big thanks to my mother, Anju Rawat for accompanying me in Uttarkashi. I would also like to thank my friend, Rishabh Jain for his support throughout the research.

SONALI RAWAT V Year B.Arch. (C) Aayojan School of Architecture, Jaipur

List of pictures, illustrations, graphs & pie-charts No.

Figure name

Page

Source

no. 1.1

Location of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand Map

www.nicee.org.in

1.2

Landslide map of India

www.bmtpc.org

1.3

Flood Hazard map of India

www.bmtpc.org

1.4

Earthquake Hazard map of India

www.bmtpc.org

1.5

TOI Newspaper clipping

Time of India, 18-06-13

1.6

HT Newspaper clipping

Hindustan times, 10-02-12

1.7

Time-line of Major Disasters in Uttarkashi

Author

1.8

A building during 1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake

1.9

River Bhagirathi during Uttarkashi Flash-floods

National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) NIDM

1.10

Uttarkashi to be first Earthquake resilient District

Time of India, 2013

1.11

1.12

Bridge over Bhagirathi river collapses during earthquake 1991 Flow chart showing Methodology

National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) Author

2.1

Climate graph of Uttarkashi

en.climate-data.org

2.2

Temperature Graph of Uttarkashi

en.climate-data.org

2.3

Topography Map of Uttarkashi

en.climate-data.org

2.4

Uttarkashi, river Bhagirathi

Uttarkashi.gov.in

2.5

Earthquake Zonation Map of Uttarakhand

Uttarkashi.gov.in

2.6

Drainage map of Uttarkhand

Uttarkashi.gov.in

2.7

Landslide Zonation map of Uttarakhand

Uttarkashi.gov.in

2.8

Damage pattern in Post office building

National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)

2.9

State bank building in Uttarkashi after 1991 Earthquake Embankment walls and building foundation eroded

National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.10

after flash-floods 2.11

Disaster Resistant Features for New construction

Author

2.12

Sketch showing collapse of roof

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.13

Sketch showing Vertical crack at corner

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.14

Sketch showing Vertical crack away from corner

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.15

Sketch showing Horizontal crack at gable wall

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.16

Sketch showing Diagonal crack

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.17

Sketch showing crack under a beam

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.18

Sketch showing wall with small portion at top

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.19

Sketch showing collapse of a part of slab

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.20

Sketch showing severe cracking/collapse of wall

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.21

Sketch showing scouring of wall base

Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, 2008, UNDP

2.22

Symbols for Earthquake, Flashfloods & Landslides

Author

3.1

Koti Banal construction features

Author

3.2

Typical Koti Banal house in Uttarkhand

www.euttarkhand.com

3.3

Koti Banal house in Uttarkashi

Author

3.4

Joinery details for wall

Author

3.5

Five storey structures

www.euttarkhand.com

3.6

Koti banal house exhibiting horizontal bands of

www.euttarkhand.com

wood 3.7

www.sahapedia.org

3.8

Construction process of a typical wall in Koti Banal house Traditional Garhwali stone construction

Author

3.9

Typical mud and stone slate house

Author

3.10

Author

3.11

Openings are very small and stone slates used as slabs and roofs Traditional Garhwali stone construction

Author

3.12

Framework of Case study

Author

3.13

Author

3.14

Traditional Garhwali house with stone and timber construction Modern house with RCC and brick construction

Author

3.15

Parameters of study

Author

3.16(a)

Types of questions in survey

Author

3.16(b)

Structure of survey

Author

3.17

Parameters of analysis

Author

3.18

Feasibility of a construction technique

Author

3.19

Illustration showing environmental impact of building construction Koti Banal Houses showing cultural significance

22 22

Author

Time-line showing list of Disasters experienced by the building

Author

3.20 3.21

3.22

Bijolu Residence front facade

Author

3.24

Windows are of wood and have very small opening within them Schematic Site section of the house

Author

3.27

Schematic section of the house showing symmetry in elevation Projections are supported by wooden brackets

Author

3.28

Building plan with its Centre of Gravity inside.

Author

3.29

Windows in the house

Author

3.30

Wall course layering

Author

3.31

Ring beams tied across the house horizontally

Author

3.32

Author

3.33

Time-line showing Disasters experienced by the house Location Map of the residence

https://maps.google.com

3.34

Residence as seen from the road behind it (higher)

The Vrindavan Project

3.35

The Vrindavan Project

3.36

Original Structure of the house before stripping(Front porch of the house) Site Plan of the house

The Vrindavan Project

3.37

Schematic Sitesection of the house

Author

3.38

Damaged Foundation

The Vrindavan Project

3.49

Retrofitting of Foundation

The Vrindavan Project

3.40

Schematic section of foundation retrofitting

3.41

Plan of the house

3.42

Rectangular plan

3.43

Front(north) Elevation of the house

The Vrindavan Project

3.44

Low Centre of gravity due to low building height.

Author

3.45

Building plan with its Centre of Gravity inside.

Author

3.46

Author

3.48

Wall section showing before and after retrofitting of the wall. Blue and red lines indicate L or T-steel sections to hold the walls and then plaster them with cement Picture of the retrofitting of walls

The Vrindavan Project

3.49

Roof of the building before stripping

The Vrindavan Project

3.50

The Vrindavan Project

3.51

Arches have large areas, windows occupy less area Distance of arches from corners is very less

Author

3.52

Schematic section Foundation to wall connection

Author

3.53

Author

The Vrindavan Project

3.55

Schematic sketched showing wall thicknesses, internal wall same as external walls. Arches from inside the building showing wall thickness Section showing roof-wall connection

Author

3.56

Roof dismantled retrofitting

The Vrindavan Project

3.25 3.26

3.47

3.54

vii

The Vrindavan Project

3.57

Picture showing slab beam bands tied across

The Vrindavan Project

3.58

Picture showing first floor constructed in wood

The Vrindavan Project

3.59

Author

3.60

Time-line of past Disasters experienced by the building Panwar Residence in Uttarkashi

Author

3.61

Schematic plan of the house

Author

3.62

Schematic section of the house

Author

3.63

Wall to slab detail

Author

3.64

Picture showing wall to slab detail

Author

4.1

RCC and brick house

Author

4.1

RCC columns destroyed during floods

Author

4.3

Cracks develop near openings

Author

4.4

Author

4.7

The house on the left is a non structural, replica of the old timber house like the house on the right Museum building with false facade looking like koti Banal,section showing wall Time-line of past Disasters experienced by the residence Front of the house, NIM

Author

4.8

Plan of the house

Author

4.9

Site section of the house

Author

4.10

Elevation of NIM residence

Author

4.11

Time-line of Disasters experienced by the building

Author

4.12

Pant residence in Uttarkashi

Author

4.13

Schematic Plan of the house

Author

4.14

Foundation section

Author

4.15

Roof to wall section

Author

4.16

Building Elevation showing two type of construction

Author

4.17

Timeline of Disasters experienced by the residence

Author

4.18

House location, Uttarkashi

Author

4.19

Schematic Plan showing projections

Author

4.20

Schematic Site section of the building

Author

4.21

Schematic roof section

Author

4.22

Schematic foundation section

Author

5.1

Graph showing residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge of disaster resistant features

Author

5.2

Graph showing Involvement in construction of house Graph showing Type of material used in houses

Author

Graph shows if buildings follow Disaster resistant features

Author

4.5 4.6

5.3 5.4

viii

5.5

Graph showing effects on houses under Disasters

Author

6.1

Author

6.3

Technology Dissimination Park : Need of the project in Uttarkashi Representation of Cultural significance in modern houses Do’s & Dont’s for Siting of house

Author

6.4

Do’s & Dont’s for Plan of the house

Author

6.5

Do’s & Dont’s for Projections and Overhangs

Author

6.6

Do’s & Dont’s for Doos & windows

Author

6.7

Do’s & Dont’s for Foundation Design

Author

6.8

Do’s & Dont’s showing Centre of Gravity

Author

6.9

Do’s & Dont’s showing Roof Design of the house

Author

6.10

Author

6.11

Do’s & Dont’s showing Foundation to wall connection Do’s & Dont’s showing Wall to wall connection

Author

6.12

Do’s & Dont’s showing wall to roof connection

Author

6.13

Do’s & Dont’s showing ring beams in a typical house

Author

6.2

List of tables No.

Figure name

Page

Source

no. Data on Damages and Losses due to Landslides and Flashfloods of 3rd August 2012 in Uttarkashi District Risk Matrix for Disasters occured in Uttarkashi

National Institute of Disaster Management(NIDM)

Author

3.2

Scale of Damage for Disaster Resilience parameters(Refer Annexure I) Analysis of Bijola Residence

Author

3.3

Analysis of Mussoorie Residence

Author

3.4

Analysis of Bhatt Residence

Author

4.1

Analysis of Residence, NIM

Author

4.2

Analysis of Pant Residence

Author

4.3

Analysis of Panwar Residence

Author

2.1

2.2 3.1

CONTENTS Approval

Declaration

Certificate

Acknowledgment

List of illustrations, pictures, graphs & pie-charts

List of tables

Contents

ii iii iv-viii viii ix-x

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8

Background Criteria of selection Research question Hypothesis Aim Objectives Scope and Limitations Methodology

1 2 3 3 3 3 3 4

CHAPTER 2: UTTARKASHI- GENERAL 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4

2.5 2.7

6 6 7 7-8 8-10

Climate Topography Vulnerability maps of Uttarakhand Major Disasters occurred in last 50 years 2.4.1 1991 Earthquake 2.4.2 2012-2013 Floods and Landslides 2.4.3 Measures and Remedies Risk Matrix Behavior of buildings under Disasters

11 11-13

CHAPTER 3: VERNACULAR CONSTRUCTION OF UTTARKASHI 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4

3.5 3.6 3.7

Background Koti Banal Construction Traditional Garhwali Stone Construction Framework 3.4.1 Framework- Case Study 3.4.2 Framework- Survey 3.4.3 Framework- Analysis Bijola Residence, Uttarkashi Bhatt Residence, Uttarkashi Swarup Residence, Mussoorie ix

15 15-16 17 18-22

23-24 25-28 29-30

CHAPTER 4: CONTEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION OF UTTARKASHI Background 4.2 Residence, NIM, Uttarkashi 4.3 Pant Residence, Uttarkashi 4.4 Panwar Residence 4.1

CHAPTER 5: ANALYSIS- SURVEY & CASES

32 33 34 35-36 38 39-41

Analysis- Survey 5.2 Analysis- Case Study 5.1

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 43 44-47

Conclusion 5.2 Recommendations 5.1

Bibliography xi Glossary of term xi Annexures xii-xiv

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND India has been prone to disasters since ages bringing death and destruction in many places every year. Uttarakhand lying in the Himalayan region is more prone to disasters like earthquake, flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides. Since the Himalayas are formed by pushing of the Indian sub-continent against the Asian landmass. This still persists and due to this seismic pressure, this region becomes earthquake prone zone. Out of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares (mha), more than 40 mha is flood prone. Floods are a recurrent phenomenon, which cause huge loss of lives and damage to livelihood systems, property, infrastructure and public utilities. Major reason for floods in towns like Uttarkashi is cloudbursts and heavy rainfall.

1.1. Locating Uttarkashi in Uttarkhand

Uttarkashi district in north-west Uttarakhand, has seen some major disasters since it was formed in 1960. It ancient place with rich cultural heritage and as the name suggests is the Kashi of north (Uttara) held almost as high a veneration as Kashi of the plain (Varanasi). It has experienced earthquakes, floods and landslides which has caused destruction and loss to lives.

1.2 Landslide Hazard Map of India

1.3 Flood Hazard Map of India

1.4 Earthquake Hazard Map of India

Traditional construction can often be termed as 1Non- engineered construction, as back in time, there were no engineers or architects everywhere. Buildings were constructed by masons and local contractors only. 1.5 TOI newspaper clipping

1.6 HT newspaper clipping

Non- engineered buildings are defined as those that are spontaneously and informally constructed in various countries in the traditional manner without any or little intervention by the qualified architects and engineers in their design.

Â1

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

1.2 CRITERIA OF SELECTION Vernacular houses in terms of their performance during earthquake and flood disasters are found to be technologically resilient in many aspects. Residents of Uttarkashi are doing new construction with local construction technologies which in turn is not as good as the old construction technologies when it comes to disasters. However, people are not opting for the vernacular construction knowing it has witnessed disasters and stood through them. Technologically sound structures are a dire need for Uttarkashi. Earthquake and floods occurred till now have only forced the residents to move to nearby towns like Dehradun, 1.7 Time-line of major Disasters in Uttarkashi, 1991 earthquake is one of the most Srinagar etc. devastating ones in India. Â1

1.8 A building Earthquake

during

1991

Uttarkashi

1.9 River Bhagirathi during 2012 Uttarkashi Flash floods

There is a need to study the old structures and make modern interventions to them to make it more resilient to disasters. There is also a need for awareness among residents of Uttarkashi about disaster resilient structures. DMMC conducted a survey and found that 56% of the buildings in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Tehri and Srinagar are not disaster resilient. Hence, there is a need to study the old structures as they have withstood all calamities and adapt those practices in new construction with modern interventions.

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1.11 Bridge over Bhagirathi river collapses during earthquake in 1991. Vernacular houses here are the traditional houses in Uttarkashi that are more than 200 years old and are still standing through everything. 2 DMMC- Disaster Managament and Mitigation Centre, Uttarakhand. 1

1.10 Newspaper clip from TOI, 2013

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. Is construction practices done in past better than its contemporary construction techniques in terms of disasters? 2. Why are we not practicing the old construction techniques? 1.4 HYPOTHESIS Disaster Resistance of Vernacular construction techniques of Uttarkashi is better than its contemporary construction techniques.

1.5 AIM To study the disaster resistance of vernacular construction techniques of Uttarkashi and compare it with its contemporary construction techniques. 1.5 OBJECTIVES 1. To study the background of disaster occurrence of Uttarkashi. 2. To study the Vernacular construction techniques of Uttarkashi and analyse its behavior and problems during disasters. 3. To study the contemporary construction techniques of Uttarkashi and analyse its behavior and problems during disasters. 4.To analyse the difference between the two technologies and investigate the causes behind the non-acceptance of practicing vernacular construction techniques in Uttarkashi. 5. To recommend construction technologies for disaster resistance construction and modern interventions to the existing non-engineered construction. 1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS 1. The scope of this study is limited to residential buildings of Uttarkashi and nearby towns. 2. The scope of this research is to assess the traditional houses of Uttarkashi under various circumstances such as earthquakes and floods. 3. The study does not consider thermal comfort of the building. 4. The study also considers some architectural factors that helps resist disasters. Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

1.6 METHODOLOGY Hypothesis: Disaster Resistance of Vernacular construction techniques of Uttarkashi is better than its contemporary construction techniques. Need of study Understanding scope of study and setting limitation Formulating Objectives

Objective 1 To study the background and disaster occurrence of Uttarkashi.

Objective 2: CASE STUDY To study the Vernacular construction techniques of Uttarkashi and analyse its behaviour & problems during disasters.

Climatic data, Vulnerability maps, Topography, Geographical condition

Primary Data: Old constructed houses that withstood disasters, their construction techniques and materials used.

Secondary Data: Koti banal , its construction techniques and materials used.

Primary Data: Contemporary houses in Uttarkashi, their construction and material details.

Source: Live case studies, Surveys, Observation & Interviews.

Source: Literature case studies, Books, Research papers, websites, Articles.

Source: Live case studies, Surveys, Observation & Interviews.

Disasters occurred in Uttarkashi in last 50 years and its loss and remedies. Source: Disaster Mitigation and management centre(DMMC) BMTPC.org, Uttarkashi. gov.in National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA)

Objective 3: CASE STUDY To study the contemporary construction techniques of Uttarkashi and analyse its behaviour & problems during disasters.

Objective 4: ANALYSIS To analyse the difference between the two technologies and investigate the causes behind the non-acceptance of practicing vernacular construction techniques in Uttarkashi.

Analysis of Survey

Secondary data: Prevailing

Construction techniqes in buildings of Uttarkashi.

Source: Literature case studies, Books, Research papers, websites, Articles.

Analysis of Case studies

Objective 5: CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS To recommend construction technologies for disaster resistance construction and modern interventions to the existing non-engineered construction. 1.12 Flow chart showing Methodology

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Chapter 2

UTTARKASHI - GENERAL

2.1 CLIMATE The climate in Uttarkashi is warm and temperate. The summers are much rainier than the winters in Uttarkashi. The 1KĂśppen-Geiger climate classification is Cwa. The average temperature in Uttarkashi is 18.8 Â°C. In a year, the average rainfall is 1693 mm. The driest month is November with 12 mm rain, the most amount of precipitation occurs in August, with an average of 463mm.

2.1. Climate graph of Uttarkashi, The driest month is November with 12 mm rain, the most amount of precipitation occurs in August, with an average of 463mm.

2.2. Temperature Graph of Uttarkashi

2.2 TOPOGRAPHY Lying in the upper Himalayas, Uttarkashi contains within itself varying geographic environments ranging from snow free valleys and outer hills to the high peaks with perpetual snow and glaciers. The terrain runs into series of ridges and valleys. Most of the terrain is mountainous consisting of high rise ridges, hills and plateaus and flat pieces of land are rare. The land in these areas is now in fertility due to large content of out crops of boulders and gravels. Made-up of alluvial soil, valley is a stream bed. Generally forests occur on the upper ridges that bound the valleys. On their sloping hill sides lie a chain of populated settlements interspersed with terrace cultivation. The ecology of Uttarkashi mostly comprises of forest covers and grasslands. Soil type: Brown Forest Soil, Red to Dark, Black Clay

2.3 Topography Map of Uttarkashi

2.4. Uttarkashi, river Bhagirathi

Koppen-Geiger Climate classification divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five main groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar).

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2.3 HAZARD-VULNERABILITY PROFILE OF UTTARKASHI Natural hazards in Uttarakhand are pronounced due to its tectonic activity, lithological, structural and ecological settings, topography and changing landscapes owing to various natural and anthropogenic activities. Natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides, slope failures, rockfall, cloudbursts, flashfloods, lightening, forest fire etc are frequent in Uttarakhand causing loss of life and property from time to time. 2.3.1 Earthquakes

Uttarkashi DAMAGE RISK: VII on MSK scale

As per the earthquake zonation map of India, Uttarakhand can be covered into two zones, Zone IV and Zone V, and Uttarkashi lies in Zone IV. The region has experienced many earthquakes of small and large scale with their epicenters located within the Himalayan region. The state has witnessed two major earthquakes in recent part, 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake and 1999 Chamoli earthquake. 2.5 Earthquake Zonation Map of Uttarakhand

2.3.2 Floods and Flash floods With rainy season normally from late April to September the average rainfall of Uttarkashi is 463mm. Periods of high rainfall result in flooding low lying areas and erosion of land. Increase in soil erosion in hilly areas has reduced the carrying capacity of rivers. Flash floods are very common hydrometeorological hazards which occur due to excessive of high rainfall, bursting of natural or constructed dams, cloudbursts etc. These floods are devastating because of the high velocity of water huge energetic capacity to carry away everything on its way. 2.6 Drainage map of Uttarkhand, Bhagirathi is the main river in Uttarkashi

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2.3.3 Landslides During the periods of rainfall, landslides, slope failures is common in Uttarakhand hills. This causes damage to infrastructure like roads and buildings and destruction of agriculture and ecosystems. As per Central commission, the possibilities of the landslides can be avoided by proper implementation of catchment area treatment plan including stablizing of landslides/slips prone areas.

2.7 Landslide zonation map of Uttarakhand

2.4 MAJOR DISASTERS IN UTTARKASHI 2.4.1 Garhwal Earthquake, 1991 Date: 20 Oct. 1991 1 Magnitude: 6.8 on 2Richter scale 3 Epicentre: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand 4 Intensity: VII on 5MSK scale Uttarkashi lies in the main Alpine Himalayan belt, one of the most earthquake prone regions of the world. Crustal instability in this belt is ascribed to the movement of the Indian plate towards the Eurasian plate at the rate of about 50mm per year. Buildings: Damage to rural dwellings (random rubble stone masonry supporting a heavy roof) was extensive in areas of maximum shaking. 2 Richter Scale is a scale of 1magnitude which tells the size earthquakes. It ranges from 0-9, 9 being the most severe and 0 being the mildest. 3 Epicentre is the point on the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake. 4 Intensity is the scale of damage caused by an earthquake at a given place. It is measured on scale called 5MSK scale and varies from I to XII where I is the mildest and XII being the most severe.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Shear-cracks developed in the ground floor columns of two story Post Office Building in Uttarkashi built in 1985-86 by engineers. The strong floor beams in the frame forced the yielding into ground-story columns.

The weaker roof beams sustain flexural hairline cracks while the supporting second story columns were damaged.

2.8 Damage pattern in Post office building

Most government buildings, both offices and residences, are one or two story buildings with load bearing walls and sloping roofs. Older construction is of non-reinforced random rubble stone masonry which performed very poorly. The newer construction is of Unreinforced concrete block masonry and usually include a RC band at lintel level. Estimated Building Damage: There was significant damage to many buildings in the earthquake of 1991 here in the township. IITK report shows that up to 42,400 houses were damaged.

2.9 State bank building in Uttarkashi after 1991 Earthquake The beams has only two normal rebars on the top face near the column joint and those were incorrectly placed.

2.4.2 Flash-floods and Landslides, 2012 & 2013 Date: 03 Aug. 2012, Uttarkashi lies in the main Alpine Himalayan belt, one of the most earthquake prone regions of the world. Crustal instability in this belt is ascribed to the movement of the Indian plate towards the Eurasian plate at the rate of about 50mm per year. Flash-floods occurred in Uttarkashi due to excessive rains in the region. The buildings along the river were damaged completely. Following is a table showing houses severely damaged, partially damaged and completely damaged, as it can be seen old houses survived more than the contemporary houses.

Table 2.1 Data on Damages and Losses due to Landslides and Flashfloods of 2.10 Embankment walls and building 3rd August 2012 in Uttarkashi District foundations eroded after flashfloods cause structural collapse.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2.4.3 Remedies and Measures for Buildings DMMC has proposed guidelines for Disaster resistant construction in Uttarkashi in co-ordination with NIDM. UNDP has also given some guidelines for building homes in disaster prone areas such asUttarkashi. Typical building specifications: Wall: All walls including gable walls-Load bearing stone masonry. Floor: Internediate floor-Timber plank on timber joists. Roof: Slate on planks supported on purlins spanning between gable and principle rafters.

2.11 Disaster Resistant Features for New construction, Typical Uttarkhand House

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2.5 RISK MATRIX Disasters occuring in Uttarkashi have destroyed lives and houses but few of these disasters are more frequent and damaging than the others. This can be shown through a Risk Matrix, which is made on the basis of disasters occured in last 150 years. DISASTER

LIKELIHOOD

CONSEQUENCE

RISK RATING

Earthquake

Almost certain

Major

SEVERE

Flash-floods

Likely

Major

HIGH

Landslides

Likely

Medium

MEDIUM

Possible

Medium

MEDIUM

Forest fire

Rare

Low

LOW

Avalanches

Rare

Low

LOW

Cloudbursts

Table 2.2 Risk Matrix for Disasters occured in Uttarkashi

According to this risk matrix, Earthquake and Floods are most prominent disasters occuring in Uttarkashi. They have highest risk factor as compared other disasters occuring there. 2.6 BEHAVIOUR OF BUILDINGS UNDER DISASTERS The behaviour of a building during an earthquake depends on various factors like stiffness, lateral strength and configurations of the building. Buildings in hill slope have a typical structural configuration. Following are some of the major earthquake damages and their causes:

2.12 Sketch showing collapse of roof

2.13 Sketch showing Vertical crack at corner

Collapse of Roof Vertical crack at corner Cause: Portion of support wall collapses Cause: Corner is weak ad not able to take resulting in the collapse of roof tension between two walls. understructure. Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2.14 Sketch showing Vertical crack away from corner

2.15 Sketch showing Horizontal crack at gable wall

Vertical Crack away from corner Horizontal crack at the base of gable wall Cause: Wall is not able to withstand tension Cause: Gable wall is unable to resist caused by its bending. tension at its base caused by its back & forth shaking.

2.16 Sketch showing Diagonal crack

2.17 Sketch showing crack under a beam

Crack under a beam Diagonal crack Cause: Wall is not able to withstand Cause: Wall is unable to resist splitting due tensiong resulting from elongation in to load from the beam. diagonal direction.

2.18 Sketch showing wall with small portion at top

2.19 Sketch showing collapse of a part of slab

Wall with small portion at top having collapsed Cause: Weak wall without adequate roof anchoring is not able to withstand tension caused by bending.

Collapse of a part of slab Cause: Portion of support wall collapses, depriving support to a part of slab, resulting in the collapse of that part.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2.20 Sketch showing severe cracking/collapse of wall

2.21 Sketch showing scouring of wall base

Severe cracking/collapse of wall Cause: Prolonged flooding & heavy rain cause he wetting of wall and mortar. This reduces the bearing capacity of mortar and wall, so the wall is not able to support the roof.

Scouring of Wall Base Cause: Fast moving water erodes the foundation of the wall mortar. This weakens the structure resulting into large holes or cracks.

Source: Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, June 2008 by UNDP

SUMMARY In this study, risk matrix is done on the basis of past Disasters and their occurence and severity. It is concluded that Earthquake and Floods are prominent in Uttarkashi as their likelihood and consequences are the most. Landslide are also accompanied by flashfloods, so they can be considered as main hazard in Uttarkashi.

Earthquake Flash-flood Landslide 2.22 Symbols for Earthquake, Flash floods & Landslides

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Chapter 3

VERNACULAR CONSTRUCTION OF UTTARKASHI

3.1 BACKGROUND Uttarkashi District has a number of intact traditional houses with distinct construction style known as Koti Banal construction. Koti Banal is a village near Uttarkashi from which Koti Banal-construction technique is originated. In early times, houses in Uttarkashi were built by the residents only. They themselves used to collect materials like wood, stone etc. and worked as masons too. Also, Koti Banal houses were built as a food storage house for the whole village, hence it was built by all of the village so as to have their share of storage in that house. (Source: Ar. K C Kuriyal) 3.2 KOTI BANAL-CONSTRUCTION As these houses originated from Koti Banal village, they gained popularity for its strength and stability under earthquakes. Then, these storage houses became a prototype for residences in northen Uttarakand and some parts of Himanchal Pradesh. Simple layout Use of locally available building material

Construction on elaborate, solid and raised platform

KOTI BANAL

Small openings Shear walls

Incorporation of wooden beams all through the height of the building at regular intervals

3.1 Koti Banal construction features

It exhibits procedures for site selection, preparing the platform for raising the structure, and detailing the entire structure on principles somewhat similar to that of framed structures of the present times. Locally and then abundantly available wood was used in these structures. Entire Himalayan terrain i.e Uttarakhand, Himanchal Pradesh, Jammu, Northeast region is recognized as being highly vulnerable to earthquakes with entire Uttarakhand is categorized as falling in Zone IV and V of the Earthquake Risk. 3.2 Typical Koti Banal house in Uttarkhand

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.3 Koti Banal house in Uttarkashi

3.4 Joinery details for walls

3.5 Five storey structures

The region has witnessed some of the catastrophic earthquake in the past. Kumaon Earthquake of 1720 and Garhwal Earthquake of 1803 are termed as two of the Great Earthquakes (magnitude > 8 on Richter scale) that jolted the region, yet this type of construction has survived through it all. The reason for that is the skilled masonry, strong joinery details and strength of materials and mortar. This is not being achieved in new construction due to lack of awareness in Uttarkashi. The picture shows a traditional Koti banal house with wood and stone construction. Openings used to be every small in these houses just for ventilation which is not very advisable nowadays. Steps to above storeys are small and less in number which would not be practical now.

3.6 Koti Banal house exhibiting horizontal bands of wood.

This picture shows the joinery detail of Koti banal construction. Wooden bands are enclosed with stone random rubble masonry with joints in between. Wood and stone were locally available in abundance in Uttarkashi therefore, it was a sustainable material. It was also built by the residents of Uttarkashi and later became masons. Nowadays skilled masons are not there and unaware of disaster resistant construction technologies.

3.7 Construction process of a typical wall in Koti Banal house.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.3 TRADITIONAL GARHWALI STONE CONSTRUCTION This method incorporates sloping roofs and houses with two storeys only. They had thick masonry walls generally made of timber and stone which were locally available in abundance. Stone slates above the timber beams was a common system for slabs as well as sloping roofs. Then the slates were covered with mud plaster. This mud plaster course is done regularly to ensure maintenance. Workmanship those days was of good quality. Due to scarcity of water, dry masonry was done which was flexible in horizontal movements, as there are stone slates available here. The interlocking is efficient, hence the wall doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t collapse. Workmanship those days was of good quality. Due to scarcity of water, dry masonry was done which was flexible in horizontal movements, as there are stone slates available here. The interlocking is efficient, hence the wall doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t collapse.

Mud plaster Stone Slates

Timer joists

Stone Wall

3.8 Traditional Garhwali stone construction

3.9 A Typical mud and stone slate house in Uttarkashi

3.10 Openings are very small and stone slates used as slabs and roofs

3.11Traditional Garhwali stone construction

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.4 FRAMEWORK Research framework is required so that research for design and detailing to carry out analysis and conclusion in the end of the research. 3.4.1 Framework- Case Study As per the hypothesis, the area of study is disaster resistance of buildings. In a simpler way, buildings which survived disasters like earthquakes and floods are a good examples of disaster resistant structures and ones that couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t survive are the bad ones. Cases taken in the study are residences in Uttarkashi and nearby towns. Identification of cases is done on the basis of their time of construction. Case Identification

Contemporary Houses

Vernacular Houses

Parameters

Structural Parameters

Non-structural Parameters

Analysis on above parameters 3.12 Framework of case study

CASE IDENTIFICATION: Sample study was done for 20 houses through survey, out of which 6 houses are documented for comparision. The traditional houses which are the oldest namely vernacular are one type and the other is the modern houses.Survey done of the houses was judged on the basis of a scale which determines the damage pattern of the house and helps in giving individual analysis of the house.

3.13 Traditional Garhwali house 3.14 Modern house with RCC and with stone and timber construction brick construction

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

To study the given case studies on the basis of their disaster resistance against Earthquakes and Floods, certain parameters can be drawn to justify their performance against disasters. Following are the parameters, they can be classified broadly into two categories: PARAMETERS JUSTIFYING BUILDING PERFORMANCE DURING DISASTERS

STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS

NON-STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS

Foundation Design

Siting

Ring Beam

Shape of plan

Roof Design

Door/window Location

Centre of Gravity

Door/window Areas

Foundation-to-wall connection

Projections and Overhangs

Wall-to-wall connection

Strength of building materials

Wall-to-Roof connection 3.15 Parameters of case study

1. STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS: Foundation Design: The house site should be level or on very stable slopes which allow for the foundation to be constructed at one constant elevation. Centre of Gravity: Centre of gravity of building should be low so as to lessen the impact of earthquake forces. Roof Design: Roof should maintain its shape and form during earthquake motion, hence should be light weight. Foundation-to-wall Connection: Adequate bonding/anchorage between foundation and wall so wall remain fixed, hence move with foundation. Wall-to-wall connection: Wall connections should be firm and attachments should be fabricated using dowel bars or horizontal knee bracing at the corners. Wall-to-roof connection: Roof should be anchored to the walls, so there is no relative movement between walls and roof. Ring Beam: Ring beams should be constructed in all loadbearing walls at floor lines, lintel lines, roof lines, to tie the various walls of the building together so building acts as one unit during earthquake. Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2. NON-STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS: Siting: The house site should be level or on very stable slopes which allow for the foundation to be constructed at one constant elevation. Shape of plan: Building should have simple rectangular and symmetrical plan. The length of plan should not exceed three times its width. Projections & Overhangs: Cornices, baclconies, chimneys fall early during earthquake and injure people. They should be avoided or should be reinforced and anchored properly. Door/window Location & Areas: Door/window should be located far from the corners and from each other. Door/window areas should be proportionate with the wall size, total width of all windows shouldnt be more than half the length of the wall. Strength of Building Materials: Materials should have high strength in compression, tension & shear. It should have small weight density.

3.4.2 Framework- Survey Survey is carried out in order to get details about houses and their damage patterns, it is also to analyse the reason behind the non-acceptance of vernacular construction in Uttarkashi and also to know the awareness among residents.(Refer Annexures I,II & III) The stakeholders for the survey will be: 1. Residents of Uttarkashi 2. Architects/Engineers, who have worked in Uttarkashi 3. Local Masons in Uttarkashi Type of Questions

Disaster Resistance of buildings

General Questions

Prevailing construction techiques

3.16(a) Types of Questions in Survey 1. Damage pattern in their houses

1. Local Residents

2. Architects/Engineers 3. Local Masons

2. Reasons for non-acceptance of traditional construction

1. Construction technologies used 2. Reasons for non-acceptance of traditional construction 1. Construction technologies used 2. Reasons for non-acceptance of traditional construction

3.16(b) Structure of Survey

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.4.3 Framework- Analysis To analyse the given case studies on the basis of their disaster resistance against Earthquakes and Floods, certain parameters can be drawn to judge their performance against disasters. Further parameters are mentioned to give their overall acceptance as a construction technique. Following are the parameters on which vernacular and contemporary construction can be analysed and the 1better construction can be known: FEASIBILITY SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE DISASTER RESILIENCE STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS

NON-STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS 3.17 Parameters of Analysis

Feasibility: Construction technology should be feasible to be used in current scenario. Any construction technique being Disaster resistant should also be economical, in terms of materials and labor cost. Usage of locally available materials is best for economic construction as it reduces the transporation cost. Economical Building material

Ease of construction

Local Masons

3.18 Feasibility of a construction technique

Social Acceptance: Acceptance of the construction technique in Uttarkashi is important as it ensures its existance. Building material in a certain type of construction, if not socially accepted, will have less chance to be practiced in that area. Better: Out of the two construction techniques, to know the better technique to be practiced today in Uttarkashi maintaining the cultural heritage of the buildings would be the one which has the following factors; feasible, socially accepted, less environmental impact, culturally signifiacnt and better resilience to disasters.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Environmental Impact: Overall construction process should have low environmental impact, building materials extracted from environment shouldn’t exploit natural resources.

3.19 Illustration showing environmental impact of building construction

Cultural Significance: Cultural heritage of Uttarkashi should be maintained as Uttarkashi is developing as a tourist place and Uttarakhand’s heritage buildings or houses need to be retained.

3.20 Koti Banal houses:Cultural Heritage

Disaster Resilience: Resilience to Disasters in buildings can be seen through various parameters, scale of damage should be as low as possible. Following are parameters to determine disaster resilience for houses: STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS

NON-STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS

Foundation Design

Siting

Ring Beam

Shape of plan

Roof Design

Door/window Location

Centre of Gravity

Door/window Areas

Foundation-to-wall connection

Projections and Overhangs

Wall-to-wall connection

Strength of building materials

Wall-to-Roof connection 3.21 Parameters for Disaster Resilience

Above parameters for Disaster Resilience are being judged on the basis of a Scale of Damage which is a damage pattern in the building. Building’s disaster resistance is classified into Good, Fair and Poor.

Scale of Damage 1-2 3-5 6-10

Building Disaster Resistance Good Fair Poor

Table 3.1 Scale of Damage for Disaster Resilience parameters(Refer Annexure I)

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.5 BIJOLA RESIDENCE, DUNDA, UTTARKASHI, 1700s Objective: To study a Vernacular House in Uttarkashi or nearby towns and understand its behaviour during a disaster. Location: Dunda, Uttarkashi Year of Construction: 1710s Type of construction: Koti Banal 3.22 Time-line showing list of Disasters experienced by the building

This house is around 400 years old, it is not being used now because of its not safe to live in and has been listed under high risk buildings. But this building has experienced all the disasters of past and withstood them. This house is made of wood, stone, mud, mud plaster etc. Openings are very small and floor heights are less than habitable height, which is one of the reasons of its non acceptance or it can said 3.24 Windows are of wood and that its a drawback of this have very small opening within construction technique.

3.23 Bijolu Residence front facade

them

1. Siting: Site is located on stable slopes. 2. Foundation Design: It has a stone foundation with random rubble masonry. 3. Balance of structure: Walls are parallel, of same height. Openings in the wall are also of equal area. Overall its a balanced structure.

3.25 Schematic Site section of the house

4. Building Plan: It has a symmetrical, rectangular plan which minimizes torsion during earthquake. Projections and Overhangs are supported on wooden bracks and wooden beams extended out of the wall which is strong and is bonded well for support.

3.26 Schematic section of the house 3.27 Projections are supported showing symmetry in elevation by wooden brackets

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

5. Centre of Gravity: The height of the building is more than its length, the center of gravity is little higher. Also, the lightweight roof helps lowering the center of gravity of the building. 6. Rigid walls: Rigid stone walls with thickness 0.5, transmitting load of the roof, slabs to foundation with integrity. Walls are made of Stone and wood together. 7. Roof design: Roof is lightweight, composed of wooden rafters, purlins, and stone slates as roof tiles. It has maintained its intergrity through the disasters.

3.28 Building plan with its Centre of Gravity inside.

8. Door/window location & areas: Doors and arches are near the corners and have large areas, while the windows have small areas as compared to the wall. 9. Foundation-to-wall Connection: Foundation is of stone with wall course starting above it.

3.29 Windows in the house

3.30 Wall course layering

10. Wall-to-wall Connection : Most walls are as thick as 0.6m. They have three layers, stone layer sandwiched between two wooden planks anchored. 11. Wall-to-roof connection: Roof is anchored with the wall so that rafters rest on the beam. 12. Ring Beam: This building is a load bearing structure, and has ring beams i.e slab beam, tie beam, lintel and sill bands. These bands are repeated after every alternate course of wall. 13. Strength of Building Materials: Stone and wood used in foundation & walls, it has high compression strength.

3.31 Ring beams tied across the house horizontally

15. Strength of Mortar: Mud mortar was used in this house. It is still intact in some places. 16. Quality of Workmanship: All the joinery details are done neatly and are strong, even after400years, materials are assembled well.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.6 RESIDENCE, MUSSOORIE, 1800s Objective: To study a Vernacular House in Uttarkashi or nearby towns and understand its behavior during a disaster. Location: Charleville, Mussoorie Year of Construction: 1810s This residence has experienced 3 major earthquakes of all times and withstood all of them. Now, it is under high risk state and can prone to structure failure, hence is being reconstructed to extend its life.

Residence

3.32 Time-line showing Disasters experienced by the house

3.33 Location Map of the residence

This residence has experienced 3 major earthquakes of all times and withstood all of them. Now, it is under high risk state and can prone to structure failure, hence is being reconstructed to extend its life.

Walls Retrofitting Demolishing weak structure i.e roof, first floor Foundation Retrofitting

3.34 Residence as seen from the road behind it (higher)

1. Siting: Site is located on stable slopes

3.36 Site Plan of the house

3.35 Original Structure of the house before stripping(Front porch of the house)

3.37 Schematic Sitesection of the house

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

2. Foundation Design: It has a stone foundation with plinth beam band across the house.

3.38 Damaged Foundation

3.39 Retrofitting of Foundation

3.40 Schematic section of foundation retrofitting

3. Balance of structure: Walls are parallel, of same height. Openings in the wall are also of equal area. Room added to the east side of the house is a later extention.

L B

3.41 Plan of the house

3.42 Rectangular plan

3.43 Front(north) Elevation of the house

4. Building Plan: Simple rectangular plan, almost symmetrical and balanced. Length(L) to Breadth(B) ratio is 1:1.5. Longer building collapse easily than a short one. 5. Centre of Gravity: The height of the building is lower than its length, the centre of gravity is low due to low height of the structure. Also, the lightweight roof helps lowering the centre of gravity of the building.

3.44 Low Centre of gravity due to low building height.

3.45 Building plan with its Centre of Gravity inside.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

6. Rigid walls: Rigid stone walls with thickness 0.45m-0.6m, transmitting load of the roof, slabs to foundation with integrity.

3.47 Blue and red lines indicate L or T-steel sections 3.46 Wall section showing before and after retrofitting of the wall. to hold the walls and then plaster them with cement.

3.48 Picture of the retrofitting of walls

3.49 Roof of the building before stripping

7. Roof design: Roof is lightweight, composed of wooden rafters and purlins and roofing sheets above them. It has maintained its intergrity through the disasters. 8. Projections & overhangs: No overhangs and projections in the building. 9. Door/window location & areas: Doors and arches are near the corners and have large areas, while the windows have small areas as compared to the wall.

3.50 Arches have large areas, windows occupy less area.

3.51 Distance of arches from corners is very less.

10. Foundation-to-wall Connection: Foundation is about 1m deep and is connected to the plinth ring beam, wall starts above plinth beam since it is a load bearing structure.

3.52 Schematic section Foundation to wall connection

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

11. Wall-to-wall Connection : Most internal walls are as thick as external walls, walls are as thick as 0.6m.

3.53(left) Schematic sketched showing wall thicknesses, internal walls same as external walls. 3.54(right) Arches from inside the building showing wall thickness

12. Wall-to-roof connection: Roof is anchored with the wall using wall plate attached to the tie beam.

3.55 Section showing roof-wall connection

3.56 Roof dismantled retrofitting

13. Ring Beam: This building is a load bearing structure, and has ring beams i.e plinth beam, slab beam, tie beam.

3.57 Picture showing slab beam bands tied across

3.58 Picture showing first floor constructed in wood

14. Strength of Building Materials: Wood used in roof as well as walls on first floor. Stone used in foundation & ground floor walls, it has high compression strength. 15. Strength of Mortar: Cement plaster as mortar has high tensile and shear strength and good bonding characteristics. 16. Quality of Workmanship: House is 200 years old, masonry is done by local skilled mason.All the joinery details are done neatly and are strong, even after 200 years, materials are assembled well. Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.7 PANWAR RESIDENCE, UTTARKASHI, 1800s Objective: To study a vernacular house in Uttarkashi or nearby towns and understand its behaviour and problems. Location: Tilod, Uttarkashi Year of Construction: 1700s

3.59 Time-line of past Disasters experienced by the building

Site is located on stable slopes. It is at a high level i.e away from the river. Structure is balanced equally with openings equal on parallel walls. Building Plan & Centre of Gravity: Simple rectangular plan with centre of gravity lying inside the house. Roof is sloping with rafters, purlins and stone slates above it. Doors/windows are very small i.e 0.5m by 0.45m.

3.60 Panwar Residence in Uttarkashi

Timber roof Niches in walls to reduce load

3.61(left) Schematic plan of the house 3.62(right) Schematic section of the house

Thick Stone walls z

Stone foundation is connected to wall without a plinth beam band. Wall is connected to the wall above through beams, walls on same floor are connected through column at corners. Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

3.64. Picture showing wall to slab detail 3.63 Wall to slab detail

SUMMARY All three cases constructed in a vernacular manner can be analysed individually on the bases of parameters. Following is the individual analysis: Case I: Bijola Residence, Uttarkashi, 1700s

Case II: Residence, Mussoorie, 1800s

Case III: Bhatt Residence, Uttarkasi, 1800s

Table 3.2 Analysis of Bijola Residence

Table 3.3 Analysis of Mussoorie Residence Table 3.4 Analysis of Bhatt Residence

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Chapter 4

CONTEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION OF UTTARKASHI

4.1 BACKGROUND Contemporary houses in Uttarkashi are mainly being constructed in RCC and brick masonry. Stone and timber usage is vanishing due to the scarcity of those materials. These structures done in RCC and brick masonry have history of being destroyed against disasters.

4.1 RCC and brick house

4.2 RCC columns destroyed during floods

4.3 Cracks develop near openings

Timber is still being used, but only as a decorative material for the exterior to have the look of the old vernacular houses. There are cases where the walls are actually of bricks and false facade having timber bands and stone pieces attached to it, which replicates the Koti banal style. These kind of construction can be seen in temples, museums, and temporary shades for sitting where there is not structural requirements needed.

4.4 The house on the left is a non structural, replica of the old timber house like the house on the right

4.5 Museum building with false facade looking like koti Banal,section showing wall

Due to the 1991 earthquake, the collapse of one of the RC frame building was peculiar as the columns of sixth storey (at the road level) failed whereas the storey below were intact. This unusual failure of RC frame building can be seen in alot of buildings in Uttarkashi and nearby towns. The hill buildings are subjected to significant torsional effects under earthquake forces. Shown here is a picture of a museum in Uttarkashi which is replicating the Koti banal style showing the false facade using wooden bands and stone slates.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

4.1 RESIDENCE, NIM, UTTARKASHI, 1970s Objective: To study a modern house in Uttarkashi or nearby towns and understand its behaviour and problems. Location: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand Year of Construction: 1965

4.6 Time-line of past Disasters experienced by the residence

4.7 Front of the house, NIM

This house was built in 1960s under CPWD guidelines, hence is disaster resistant. This house is a single story unit for officers living in the campus.

4.8 Plan of the house

4.9 Site section of the house

1. The plan is not balanced or symmetrical. 2. The house is located away from the retaining wall and has channels for water to flow around it. 3. Lintel and plinth beam bands are present. 4. Sloping roof for water flow, roof has strong connection with walls, foundation to wall connection is strong too. 5. Walls above lintel beam are hollow at places to decrease the load on the house. 6. Load bearing walls are reinforced at corners for higher strength. 7. Windows and doors are of a sufficient size for easier load transfer. 4.10 Elevation of NIM residence

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

4.2 PANT RESIDENCE, UTTARKASHI, 1980S Objective: To study a contemporary house in Uttarkashi or nearby towns and understand its behaviour and problems. Location: Tilod, Uttarkashi Year of Construction: 1988

4.11(left) Time-line of Disasters experienced by the building 4.12(right) Pant residence in Uttarkashi

This house was built three years before the 1991 earthquake, it was affected in a way that it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t livable. Site is located on stable slopes. It is at a high level i.e away from the river.

4.13 Schematic Plan of the house

4.14 Foundation section

Foundation Design: It has a stone foundation without any plinth beam. Foundation connects to the walls directly. Balance of structure: Structure is not balanced, windows & doors are not placed equally. Building Plan: Simple Rectangular plan Centre of Gravity: Cg lies inside the building in plan. Wall-to-wall connection: Wall is connected to the wall above through beams, walls on same floor are connected through column at corners. Wall-to-roof connection: Wall is connected to roof through beam which stayed during disasters. Strength of Building Materials & Mortar: Building has used concrete and brick, framework of columns and beams are non-engineered and weak.

4.15 Roof to wall section

4.16 Building Elevation showing two type of construction

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

4.3 PANWAR RESIDENCE, UTTARKASHI, 1990s Objective: To study a contemporary house in Uttarkashi or nearby towns and understand its behaviour and problems. Location: Tilod, Uttarkashi Year of Construction: 1995

4.17 Timline of Disasters experienced by the residence

4.19 Schematic Plan showing projections

4.18 House location, Uttarkashi

4.20 Schematic Site section of the building

1. Plan is rectangular and symmetrical. 2. Siting : House location is poor as it is situated at the bank of the river with stilts. 3. Projections/Overhangs: Heavy loads are acting on the building as projections as balconies are on both sides. 4. Concrete makes the building heavier, and prone to flooding. 5. Workmanship is fair except the foundation and wall connections are not done properly as the soil capacity is low there.

4.20 Schematic roof section

4.21 Schematic foundation section

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

7. Openings are all on the outer wall and are symmetrical, so its a balance in facade. 8. Foundation to wall connections are not very strong as the foundations are not deep enough for the soil it has. 9. Roof also has projections with parapet which makes the structure bulky and heavy to bear load of the structure. SUMMARY All three cases can be analysed individually on the bases of Disaster Resistant parameters. Following is the individual analysis: Case I: Residence, NIM, 1970s

Case II: Pant Residence, Uttarkasi, 1980s

Table 4.1 Analysis of Residence, NIM

Table 4.2 Analysis of Pant Residence

Case III: Panwar Residence, Uttarkasi, 1990s

Table 4.3 Analysis of Panwar Residence

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Chapter 5

SURVEY AND ANALYSIS

5.1 ANALYSIS OF SURVEY Reasons for non-acceptance of Vernacular construction technique: People are under the impression that wooden & stone construction are symbol of Kutcha house. They consider concrete to be a symbol of Pakka house. There is no such financial reason or unawareness among the residents of Uttarkashi.

5.1 Graph showing residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge of disaster resistant features

5.2 Graph showing Involvement in construction of house

5.3 Graph showing Type of material used in houses

5.4 Graph shows if buildings follow Disaster resistant features

No of Houses

Other conclusions based on the surveys done, (refer questionaires in annexure I,II & III)

Scale of Damage

5.5 Graph showing effects on houses under Disasters. X-axis: Damage Effect, Y-axis: No of houses

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

5.2 ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDIES PARAMETER OF ANALYSIS

VERNACULAR HOUSES

CONTEMPORARY HOUSES

Case I Residence, 1700s

Case II Residence, 1800s

Case III Residence, 1800s

Case I Residence, 1970s

Case II Residence, 1980s

Case III Residence, 1990s

1. Feasibility

Construction material is wood and stone which was locally available in abundance in past, hence was cheap and easy to transport.

Construction material is stone, wood, locally available, concrete was a little expensive at that time. This house has good masonry done by skilled masons.

Construction material is wood, mud and stone slates which was locally available in abundance at that time, hence was cheap and easy to construct.

Stone and concrete are used as building material which are moderately expensive, skilled masons have built the house under CPWD guidelines.

Brick and concrete is used as building material which is not locally available hence expensive. Poor masonry is seen in the house with poor detailing.

Brick and concrete is used as building material which is not locally available hence expensive. Poor construction is seen with unskilled masons.

2. Social Acceptance

Wood and Stone houses without plaster give an impression of a kachha house to the residents of Uttarkashi.

Stone construction is accepted by the people, although wooden first floor being damaged is being replaced by brick masonry.

Mud and stone slate roof are seen as a kachha construction and hence are not accepted by the residents of Uttarkashi.

Concrete is seen as a pakka house by the residents of Uttarkashi. It is accepted by them as a building material.

Brick and Concrete is seen as a pakka house by the residents of Uttarkashi. It is accepted by them as a building material.

Brick and concrete is seen as a pakka house, the reconstruction of the house is also done in brick and concrete with poor masonry.

3. Environmental Impact

Koti Banal construction uses local materials which has exploited the resources of Uttarkashi.

Stone is available in abundance, wood used has exploited the resources.

Mud is available in abundance while wood has been exploited in making of the house.

Concrete has high carbon footprint, hence has high environmental impact.

4. Cultural Significance

Being one of the oldest houses in Uttarkashi, it is the cultural heritage of that place.

This house was built during the British rule and has a different heritage to it.

This house is old and typical Uttarakhand house which is significant in Uttarkashi.

Stone is available in abundance while concrete has high carbon footprint, hence has high environmental impact. This house despite being built by CPWD, has no such cultural significance.

Being built in concrete and brick just like most of the houses there, it has no cultural significance.

This house also built in concrete and brick has been destroyed in floods, and is new hence has no cultural significance.

INFERENCES

Vernacular houses can be seen using locally available materials which are easy to tranport hence cheap. Masons were local and skilled. While in contemporary houses, materials are transported to Uttarkashi and masons are not very skilled, hence its expensive. Vernacular houses use wood, mud, stone which in a building are seen as a kachha house. Concrete and brick masonry is considered as a sign of pakka house by the residents of Uttarkashi. Vernacular houses have stone and mud which available in abundance, while contemporary houses have concrete which has an environmental impact. Vernacular houses with Koti banal architecture are more culturally significant then the mud houses and the new age brick masonry and concrete.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

PARAMETER OF ANALYSIS

VERNACULAR HOUSES Case I Residence, 1700s

Case II Residence, 1800s

Case III Residence, 1800s

CONTEMPORARY HOUSES Case I Residence, 1970s

Case II Residence, 1980s

INFERENCES

Case III Residence, 1990s

5. Disaster Resilience Vernacular houses have safe sites for disaster resilience while contemporary houses have poor siting majorly.

Siting

Non-structural Parameters

Building plan

Projections and Overhangs

Door/window location & areas

Strength of Building Material & Mortar

Building material is wood and stone which have high strength. Mortar: Mud plaster

Building material is stone on ground floor which is load bearing. Mortar: Mud plaster, cement plaster.

Building material is stone slates and wooden joists which is strong. Mortar: Mud plaster

Building material is stone and concrete having high strengths. Mortar: cement plaster.

Building material is stone on ground floor which is load bearing. Mortar: Mud plaster, cement plaster.

Building plans in Vernacular houses as well as contemporary houses are typical rectangle or squares which is safe. Projections and Overhangs are proportionate in old houses with proper joinery details while in contemporary houses, projected balconies lack strong joinery details. Doors and windows are placed equal on parallel walls in vernacular houses, while they are not following this in contemporary houses. Strength of building Building material is stone on ground material and mortar in old floor which is load houses is strong while in bearing. Mortar: Mud plaster, contemporary houses, it is weak in some cases. cement plaster.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

PARAMETER OF ANALYSIS

VERNACULAR HOUSES Case I Residence, 1700s

Case II Residence, 1800s

Case III Residence, 1800s

CONTEMPORARY HOUSES Case I Residence, 1970s

Case II Residence, 1980s

Case III Residence, 1990s

In Vernacular houses, COG is lower as the material is lighter as we go up while in Contemporary houses its higher.

Centre of Gravity

Cog lies outside building

Structural Parameters

INFERENCES

Roof Design & Roof-to-wall connection

Vernacular houses have strong connections of roof to wall, but contemporary houses have RCC slab with weak wall-to-roof connections.

Foundation Design & Foundation-to-wall connection

Foundation in Vernacular houses have random rubble masonry which is mostly strong while in Modern houses, the masonry in foundation is weak and poor.

Wall-to-wall connection

Wall to wall connections in vernacular houses are not mostly strong and its the same in contemporary houses.

Ring Beam Ring beams are present at lintel and plinth level.

Ring beams are only present at lintel, plinth and slab level.

Ring beams are present at all levels .

Ring beams are not present in this house.

Vernacular houses have wooden ring beams which give strength to the house while in new houses, the ring beams are missing.

Table 5.1 Table showing Comparative Analysis

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Chapter 6

CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 CONCLUSION According to the observations made in the analysis, the disaster resistant technologies in future should neither be purely vernacular nor be like the modern construction, but should be a fusion of the old and new. The integration of both should respect the local building practices and use that knowledge to display strength and safety during disasters. And also, using traditional practices with modern technologies will help maintain the identitiy of Uttarkashi which is lost somewhere. Architects have a big role to play in this situation, they should be the one promoting vernacular architecture and also make people aware of Disaster resistant construction. 6.2 RECOMMENDATIONS As per the understanding of traditional and modern houses in Uttarkashi, few do’s and dont’s can be drawn. These recommendations are ideas and suggestions that can be modified freely as per use. FEASIBILITY: Uttarkashi being in Himalayas, has abundance of wood, which has been exploited over the time. Nowadays, wood is being exported outside and is not easily available in Uttarkashi. Best would be to use materials such as stone, mud,brick masonry which are locally available or nearby available. SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE: Residents of Uttarkashi see Mud, wood and stone slate construction as a 1kachha house construction, they don’t feel secure in those houses and concrete structure as solid 2pakka house and consider it safe during disasters. They are also very unaware of disaster resistant architecture. Hence, disaster resistant construction as well as materials should be made aware of among residents of Uttarkashi so that its socially accepted. A Technology Dissemination Park should be proposed in Uttarkashi for demonstration of vernacular construction techniques and research work. This can be a center for training and learning disaster resilience buildings for masons, engineers, architects and students. Also, it will aware general public of the resilience of vernacular construction and promote those techniques. Unawareness among Residents about Disaster resistant construction

Lack of skilled labor in Disaster Resistant construction

Technology Dissimination Park, Uttarkashi

6.1 Technology Dissimination Park : Need of the project in Uttarkashi

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Wood being widely used in past in Uttarkashi has exploited the nature and now it is just exported outside and not available for internal use. Hence materials used for construction should have low impact on environment. 1 2

kachha is a hindi language term used for a weak clay-built houses pakka is a hindi language term used for hard concrete houses.

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: Uttarkashi is budding as a tourist place, certain plans have been made to enhance tourism there, hence there is a need to have cultural significance in the architecture and construction of Uttarkashi. Koti Banal houses represent the heritage of the place and should be reflected in today’s buildings retaining the traditional Garhwali Construction.

6.2 Representation of Cultural significance in modern houses

DISASTER RESILIENCE: Uttarkashi is among those regions which experiences severe disasters and almost 60 percent of the houses are not disaster resistant. Following are some reccomendations for certain parameters:

Non-structural Factors Siting Siting should be done in a way avoiding low lying areas and away from steep slopes.

6.3 Do’s & Dont’s for Siting of house

Shape of Plan Square plan serve best during earthquakes. Complx shapes like L, T, C should be avoided

6.4 Do’s & Dont’s for Plan of the house

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Projections & Overhangs Anchorage of chhajjas, overhangs is necessary as they damage and fall on people during earthquake.

6.5 Do’s & Dont’s for Projections and Overhangs

Door/window locations & areas: Door/windows should be located equally on parallel sides. Lintel level should be equal for all the windows.

6.6 Do’s & Dont’s for Doos & windows

Building Materials: Stone and timber can be integrated with reinforcements to get best strength during disasters. To make walls rigid, heavy material like stone can be used while to have light roof, timber can be used. Appropriate materials are necessary.

Structural Factors Foundation Design: Due to loose liquiable soil near the river, it looses its strength during earthquake and behaves like heavy fluid.

6.7 Do’s & Dont’s for Foundation Design

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Centre of Gravity: Vetically, the centre of gravity of the building should be as low as possible. The building heigh shouldnt go much higher than its width. One other way of doing it is to have light materials above to lower down the CG.

6.8 Do’s & Dont’s showing Centre of Gravity

Roof Design: Roof should be highly light as to lower the CG of the building and also so there is less load on the building. Also, gable roof is subjected to high earthquake forces, therefore, hipped roof should be preferred.

6.9 Do’s & Dont’s showing Roof Design of the house

Foundation-to-wall connection: Foundation should be connected to the wall through the plinth beam with a layer of DPC. The plinth should be tied together just as the foundation is tied together. It gives high strength during an earthquake.

6.10 Do’s & Dont’s showing Foundation to wall connection

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

Wall-to-wall connection: Taking notes from the Koti Banal houses, wall connections can be made similar to the old ones which timber and stone ties together alternatingly. Columns at corners can be added to this joinery detail.

6.11 Do’s & Dont’s showing Wall to wall connection

Wall-to-Roof connection: Wall to roof connectiong should be tied properly, tie beams above the wall should be there with anchoring through the rafters and purlins.

6.12 Do’s & Dont’s showing wall to roof connection

Ring Beam: Ring beams can be copied from the Koti Banal houses, there can be multiple lintel bands and therefore mutipls window positions. The positions can be very small and help gain strength during disasters.

6.13 Do’s & Dont’s showing ring beams in a typical house

Vernacular Construction of Uttarkashi standing through Disasters ASA, Jaipur

BIBLIOGRAPHY Books: 1. Jitendra Bothara, Svetlana Brzev, 2012, Improving the Seismic Performance of Stone Masonry Buildings, UNDP, Kanpur. 2. R.K Jain, 2003, Earthquake Resistant Design for Built Environment, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur. 3. Rajendra Desai, Rupal Desai, 2008, Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction in India, UNDP, Ahmedabad. 4. CVR Murthy, 2005, Earthquake Tips, Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority, Gandhinagar. 5. 2001, Manual of Earthquake Resistant non-engineered Contruction, ISET Roorkee, Roorkee Articles and Research Papers: 1. Earthquake Behavious in Hilly region, NICEE 2. Some concepts in Earthquake behaviour in earthquake, CVR Murthy 3. Garhwal Earthquake on 20 Oct 1991, IIT Kanpur, Sudhir K. Jain Magazines & Publications: 1. IIA Journal, Hill Architecture, Feb 2013 2. IIA Journal, Earthquake Resisitant structures, March 2001 3. Architecture + Design, April 2001 Web Refrences: 1. http://www.ndma.gov.in 2. http://www.bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in 3. http://www.bmtpc.org 4. http://www.uttarkashi.gov.in 5. http://www.dmmc.uk.gov.in

GLOSSARY OF TERMS Disaster Resistance: Disaster-resistant structures are structures designed to protect buildings from disasters. While no structure can be entirely immune to damage, the goal of disaster-resistant construction is to erect structures that fare better during resistance activity than their conventional counterparts. Earthquake: An earthquake is a series of vibrations on the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface caused by the generation of elastic (seismic) waves due to a sudden rupture within the earth during release of accumulated strain energy. Flash Floods: Very fast rise and recession with characteristics of small volume flow and high discharge, which causes high damage because of suddenness and force. Landslides: Landslides are downward and outward movement of slope materials such as rock debris and earth, under the influence of gravity. xi

ANNEXURE I Questionaire: For residents Objective of Survey: To investigate the causes behind the non-acceptance of practicing vernacular construction techniques in Uttarkashi. 1. Name: 2. Age: 3. How long have you been living in this house? Year of construction: Less than 5 years

5-10 years

10-50 years

more than 50 years

4. Ownership: Owned Rented 5. How many people are living in this house? Single family Multifamily 6. What is the size of the plot? 7. What type of construction is in this house? Koti Banal RCC Stone Mud Composite Other 8. Who constructed the house? Local masons Local masons + engineers engineers+ architects

Local

9. Were the masons local?

Yes

masons+ No

10. Were the materials local? 11. Have you experienced any disaster while living here?

Yes No

12. What was its effect on your house? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (Refer scale of damage) 13. Was the house reconstructed?

Yes

14. What part of it is reconstructed? 15. Were the disaster resistant features followed in new construction?

Yes No

16. Do you know any building guidelines given by NDMA for disaster resistant construction? Yes No 17. How do you know about it? Newspapers

Workshops by DMMA

Friends/family xii

Engineer of the house

Scale of Damage: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

- No damage - Furniture/interior objects damage(elemental damage) - Non-structural damage (wall cracking) - Non-structural damage(wall collapse) - Structural Damage (crack in beam/column/slab) - Structural Damage (beam/column collapse) - Structural Damage (beam & column collapse) - Structural Damage (beam, slab & column collapse) - Structural Damage (fully) - Non-structural & structural damage (fully)

Performance of buildings is judged in a scale of Good, Fair & Poor. Following is the criteria of judging the buildings: Scale of Damage

1-2 3-5 6-10

Building Disaster Resistance Good Fair Poor

ANNEXURE II Questionaire: For Local masons Objective: To investigate the trends and local materials in construction being practiced by masons. 1. Name: 2. Age: Sex: 3. Are you a local? 4. How long have you been living here? 3 years or less 3-5 years 5-10 years

Yes

5. What construction methods do you know or have practiced? RCC Stone Mud Other 6. Which type of construction do you find easy? RCC Stone Mud Other 7. Which type of construction generates more income for you? RCC Stone Mud Other 8. What construction technologies are done here that you know of?

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10-50 years

ANNEXURE III Questionaire: For Archiitects/Engineers Objective: To investigate the trends in construction technologies prevailing in Uttarkashi. 1. Name: Firm: 2. How long have you been living here? 3 years or less 3-5 years

5-10 years

3. Have you built any buildings in Uttarakhand? If yes, which ones and how old are they?

Yes

10-50 years No

4. Do you follow building guidelines for disaster resistant construction given by NDMA/DMMC?UNDP ? Yes No 5. If not, what are the reasons according to you? Financial Lack of knowledge Lack of skilled labour Other 6. Have you been here during a disaster?

Yes

7. How have the buildings responded during disasters? Old New 8. Do you practice khat ghuni or koti banal architecture? Not at all Very less Less More than new construction 9. Are the masons aware of all kinds of construction techniques here? Yes No 10. Has the govt made any efforts on making people aware of disaster resistant construction? Yes No 11. What type of material and construction methods and technologies do you use there? 12. What are the client demands? 13. What are the innovations that you make to improve contemporary construction technologies?

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