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<p>The Himalayan belt of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, situated along an active tectonic collision zone, lies within the highest seismic hazard regions as per IS 1893 (Part 1): 2025, rendering it highly vulnerable to earthquake events. Among the most prominent vernacular construction systems in this region are timber-laced stone masonry typologies, notably Kath-Kunni and Thathara, which have demonstrated notable seismic endurance over centuries. Despite their widespread presence, the absence of codified guidelines for their construction and retrofitting exposes these systems to potential seismic risk. To address this gap, the present study undertakes systematic field-based documentation of architectural and structural characteristics through visual surveys, manual measurements, and qualitative seismic vulnerability assessment supported by literature review. A total of 30 buildings (20 Kath-Kunni and 10 Thathara) from selected districts of Himachal Pradesh were examined. The sample was selected based on prevalence, accessibility, and overall structural condition to represent typical traditional construction practices. The findings identify inherent seismic resilience through continuous timber banding, interlocking stone–timber construction, symmetrical rectangular layouts, limited wall openings, and reduced upper-storey mass. At the same time, critical vulnerabilities are observed, including heavy stone roofing, flexible and inadequately connected diaphragms, insufficient wall-to-floor anchorage, timber degradation, and foundation instability on sloped terrain. Based on these observations, targeted strengthening strategies are proposed that integrate traditional construction knowledge with modern engineering principles. Detailed schematic sketches are developed to illustrate the proposed retrofitting approaches, providing practical guidance for improving seismic safety while preserving the cultural authenticity of Himalayan heritage structures.</p>

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Retrofitting traditional Himalayan architecture for earthquake safety: a field-based study on timber-laced stone masonry (Part-2)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月20日

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  • Rajneesh Sharma,
  • S. K. Nagar,
  • A. K. Dwivedi

摘要

The Himalayan belt of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, situated along an active tectonic collision zone, lies within the highest seismic hazard regions as per IS 1893 (Part 1): 2025, rendering it highly vulnerable to earthquake events. Among the most prominent vernacular construction systems in this region are timber-laced stone masonry typologies, notably Kath-Kunni and Thathara, which have demonstrated notable seismic endurance over centuries. Despite their widespread presence, the absence of codified guidelines for their construction and retrofitting exposes these systems to potential seismic risk. To address this gap, the present study undertakes systematic field-based documentation of architectural and structural characteristics through visual surveys, manual measurements, and qualitative seismic vulnerability assessment supported by literature review. A total of 30 buildings (20 Kath-Kunni and 10 Thathara) from selected districts of Himachal Pradesh were examined. The sample was selected based on prevalence, accessibility, and overall structural condition to represent typical traditional construction practices. The findings identify inherent seismic resilience through continuous timber banding, interlocking stone–timber construction, symmetrical rectangular layouts, limited wall openings, and reduced upper-storey mass. At the same time, critical vulnerabilities are observed, including heavy stone roofing, flexible and inadequately connected diaphragms, insufficient wall-to-floor anchorage, timber degradation, and foundation instability on sloped terrain. Based on these observations, targeted strengthening strategies are proposed that integrate traditional construction knowledge with modern engineering principles. Detailed schematic sketches are developed to illustrate the proposed retrofitting approaches, providing practical guidance for improving seismic safety while preserving the cultural authenticity of Himalayan heritage structures.