A new thing
a day
ARCHETYPE
A perfect or typical specimen
An original model or pattern; prototype
Content of the collective unconscious
The constantly recurring organization, pattern, motif.The original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which are based.
This is an attempt to see many archetypes in one place. It has been my obsession to study archetypes in architecture, art, music, sciences, religion, stories, to observe the innate unspecific knowledge, derived from the sum total of human history, which prefigures and directs conscious behavior.
Though there has been rejection as they are hard to define as they are essentially infinite and also can solidify the cultural prejudices of the interpreter, I am here to learn the quality of cultural longevity aspects of Archetypes. I want to discover via documenting traditional houses to start with and see folk intelligence embedded into these designs.
In modern design activity, we avoid connecting to this traditional knowledge justifying the changing times we live in. We casually break this historical continuity by new technology, shapes, ideas in the name of solving for new situations
As we tend to get bored with Modern approaches that have been repeating in the last 150 years, we notice the harm they have infected to the environment by its warlike approach to the design of buildings and community living. I hope to revisit these wonderful architectural specimens and life around them and learn some co-existence patterns if any.
This page will be ongoing work for a few months. Please access picture references and sources list here >
Kashmir
Elements
Hamams - stone-floored rooms with hollow bases that are heated by burning wood underneath
Zoon dub - Cantilevered balcony
Pinjarkari- Wood carving
Single entrance facing south
Construction
Style : Taq, Dajji Diwari
Materials: Stone, plaster, bricks, wood, glass
Roofing: Shingles, false ceilings,
Climate: Extremes, Moderate in south
Types: Traders house, Farmers house
Great insulation solution, earthquake resistance, locally sourced materials, community building, time tested plan, economical to build, flexible to suit building types
Ladakh
Elements
Trongpa - Residential unit
Rapsal - Wooden lattice balcony
Gyazgo- Main door
Thokskar - Smoke outlet
Shelkhang - Upper Storey
Construction
Style: NA
Materials: Stone, mud plaster, bricks, wood
Roofing: Wood, stone slab, mud mortar
Climate: Extremes
Type: Monks house, Sheperd house
Ref: Ladaki House, Patrick Kaplanian
Integrated social unit, Winter and summer solutions, religious consultation
Great insulation solution, earthquake resistance, locally sourced materials, community building, time tested plan, economical to build, flexible to suit building types
Himachal
Elements
Gaushala - Base unit
NA - Granary, Wall punctures
Kath Kuni- Wall
To be researched
Construction
Style: Kath Kuni
Materials: Stone rubble, wood, Mud plaster
Roofing: Wood, stone slab, slate tiles
Climate: Cold Temperate
Type: Farmer's house, Darbargarhs (grand house), Temples
Ref: Marloes Lisa van der Zanden, Analysis
Construction documentation - M Shah, J Thakkar
Earthquake resistance, Insulation solution,
locally sourced materials, community building, time tested plan, now not economical to build, flexible to suit building types - Temple, Large house, granary, farmers house
Uttaranchal
Elements
Bhaklee - Community unit
Grain store, lower level
Gaushala - Cattle store
Temple room
Passage Balcony
To be researched
Construction
Style: Koti Banal, Balcony row houses
Materials: Stone rubble, wood, Mud plaster
Roofing: Wood, stone slab, slate tiles
Climate: Cold Temperate
Type: Farmer's house, Community row house, Temples
Ref:
Earthquake resistance, Insulation solution,
locally sourced materials, community building, time tested plan, now not economical to build, flexible to suit building types - Temple, Large house, granary, farmers house
Sikkim
Elements
Ka den mo lee - Where we spend our childhood
Kaaoo Damphu - Central Pillar
Kadun Damphu - 8 surrounding pillars
Thop Damphu - 4 pillars of cooking space
Dong - Cross beam
Construction
Style: Bhutia, Lepcha houses
Materials: Stone rubble, wood, Bamboo, Mud plaster. Roofing: Bamboo frame, Thatch, sheet
Climate: Cold Temperate
Type: Farmer's house, Monastry
Earthquake resistance, Insulation solution,
locally sourced materials, community building, time tested plan, now not economical to build, flexible to suit building types - Monastry, Large house, granary, farmers house