UIJRT | United International Journal for Research & Technology | Volume 01, Issue 02, 2019 All rights are reserved by UIJRT.COM. 42 The Comparative Study on Vernacular Dwellings in Bhutan Nimesh Chettri 1 , Jigme Thinley 2 and Ghana Shyam Koirala 3 1 & 2 College of Science and Technology, Rinchending, Phuntsholing, Bhutan 3 Gelephu Thromdae / City Corporation 1 nimeshchhetri.cst@rub.edu.bt Abstract— Bhutan is a small developing nation sandwiched between China to the north and India in the south. Traditional construction techniques range from rammed earth to bulky stone masonry which is in some degree similar to the neighbouring countries such as Tibet, Nepal and northern India. However, Bhutanese vernacular structures are unique and it significantly contributes to the already rich cultural heritage. Epitome of traditional construction in Bhutan can be dated back to the 17th century during which many of the dzongs (Bhutanese administrative buildings) and Lhakhang (temples) were constructed. The traditional construction typology of Bhutan can be classified under rammed earth, stone rubble masonry, adobe block, ekra (wattle and daub), timber houses and bamboo houses. Many of these structures were constructed without pre-prepared drawings. The construction would proceed on site under the vision of a head carpenter/mason. The paper presents the different types of un-engineered houses/dwellings in Bhutan, its construction methods and their structural integrity and configuration. Keywords— vernacular structure, rammed earth, wattle and daub, adobe block, jamthog, dzongkhag. INTRODUCTION The Kingdom of Bhutan is located in the eastern Himalayas, landlocked between China and India. The 38,686 square kilometers of mountainous country spans at an elevation ranging from about 160 meters in the southern region to more than 7500 meters in the northern region. The general climatic conditions are subtropical in the south, temperate in the central region and alpine in the north. The total population of the country was 757,042 and over the past several years, urbanization and infrastructure development has increased at an alarming pace (Department of Human Settlement, n.d.). The first recorded buildings in the history of Bhutan were the temples built around the 6th and the 7th centuries. The main building materials were stones, compressed earth (mud), woods and bamboos. Wooden shingles were commonly used for roofing as there were no other alternate materials (Traditional Architecture Guidelines, n.d.). Initially, buildings in the inner Himalayan valleys of Bhutan were constructed from rammed earth in the western region and quarried stone in the central and eastern regions. Villages in the inner Himalayan valleys, which are the focus of this study, were developed at the base of mountain slopes overlooking fields and a fast-flowing river. Villages typically consisted of a number of dispersed farm houses often loosely grouped around a Lhakhang (temple) or it is located in close proximity to a Dzong (fortress) built at a strategic point of the valley. 2. THE VERNACULAR STRUCTURES IN BHUTAN The traditional construction typology of Bhutan can be classified under rammed earth, stone rubble masonry, adobe block, ekra (wattle and daub), timber houses and bamboo houses. However, as per the interview with the local craftsmen there were historic records of some composite vernacular structures like wattle and daub over rammed earth ground floor and timber compartment over stone masonry ground floor. Some of these construction topologies in Bhutan are discussed below: 2.1 Rammed Earth Houses Rammed earth construction of Bhutan is distinctive with its own architectural components and features. The construction practice is grounded based upon the past knowledge of the craftsmen and their thumb rules. The rammed earth construction is predominant in western Bhutan(Jentsch et al., 2017). However, similar houses can be seen in central Bhutan as well. It consists essentially of foundation, rammed earth walls, timber floors and roofs. Most of the dwelling units have attic covered by half gable roof known as Jamthog over main gable roo f(Traditional Architecture Guidelines, n.d.). This is essentially used for various basic purpose like drying space.