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Indi Architecture Working to promote & conserve vernacular architecture & the ancient wisdom of Master Artisans

Active Solar Heating is a low energy heating method that relies on the heat of the sun's rays to warm air in a large pan...
27/01/2025

Active Solar Heating is a low energy heating method that relies on the heat of the sun's rays to warm air in a large panel oriented to the sun. The active component involves a series of small computer fans that pump the air down chimneys into a room for directly heating the air, or as in our case into a large solar battery below the floor. The computer fans require only a very small solar panel to operate. For the pit we dug out 3.5 ft of the floor inside the room, reinforced the walls with stone masonry, applied insulating lime and perlite plasters, and filled the cavity with large rocks leaving space between to allow the air to easily move between allowing the rocks to absorb the heat. The cooler air is then recycled through another chimney bak up to the roof panel to be heated again. The next stage is to install either an earthen or lime floor above it. The system will operate when the sun is out and the rocks will radiate heat up through the floor 24hrs a day. It is anticipated this room will remain a comfortable 12 to 14 degrees celsius even when outside temperatures dip to minus 30. Previously this system had been installed at other properties using cement and steel and thermocouples insulation. Ours is the first all natural system. We had a talented team from Ladakh help us with the installation.

A journey of three years until now... Our heritage reconstruction project in Spiti Valley. Rebuilding a 150yr old rammed...
26/01/2025

A journey of three years until now... Our heritage reconstruction project in Spiti Valley. Rebuilding a 150yr old rammed earth home from the ground up. We kept the intelligent bioclimatic design by sticking with the original floorpan. We changed the use of the rooms to fit with modern lifestyles. Added double glazing and passive and active solar for energy efficient heating. We hope to have this alternative tourism development project completed by October 2025 and be welcoming guests from November. Sometimes during construction it seems there is always so much left to do. It pays to look back sometimes and remember just how far you have come.

Are you building a natural home but are unsure of how to achieve an all natural bathroom? These images show the ongoing ...
26/01/2025

Are you building a natural home but are unsure of how to achieve an all natural bathroom? These images show the ongoing progress of one of our bathrooms at our project in Spiti. A passion project demonstrating handcrafted homes, as once was the norm. A work in progress we hope to complete by the end of the year. Our home is built in stone masonry and traditional Spitian rammed earth. Our Master Craftsmen from Rajasthan are transforming our earthen walls in our bathroom into a lime plastered oasis befitting of a Haveli.
The first stage involved a bridging plaster to go from the softer earthen walls to the harder Thappi lime plaster in the second layer. The final plasters will be a mixture of Araish, Lohi and lime wash.
If you would like to learn how to create lime plasters for your wet areas, join us for our upcoming Lime Plaster Workshop in Mandawa. Feb 27th to Mar 2nd.

Indian Master Craftsmen have been making all natural lime based water storage tanks and wells for centuries. Using a com...
19/01/2025

Indian Master Craftsmen have been making all natural lime based water storage tanks and wells for centuries. Using a combination of lime, Surki (brick powder) and sand combined with herbal admixtures these architectural elements provide pure fresh water, cool in summer and warm in winter. The incorporation of fermented fenugreek seed water and unrefined sugar water has profound effects on the workability of the mortar in it's fresh state as well as the strength and durability of the mortar in it's cured state.
Join us in our upcoming workshop next month in Mandawa, Rajasthan to learn the ancient secrets behind this tradition. Taught by a highly skilled master craftsman, with theory sessions to reveal the science behind the tradition. Three unique Rajasthani lime plasters will also be taught throughout the duration of the workshop as well including the luxurious polished lime and marble plaster known as Araish.
February 25th to March 2nd.
More details on our website or drop us a message for a detailed PDF.
indiarchitecture.com

Mandawa's streets are lined with elaborate Haveli's, once grand and imposing. Now many stand abandoned, their trader own...
12/01/2025

Mandawa's streets are lined with elaborate Haveli's, once grand and imposing. Now many stand abandoned, their trader owners long departed for more lucrative lives to be lived in far off lands.
Mandawi Kothi is an exception. Renovated and transformed into the most charming hotel in town. You could call this home during our upcoming Rajasthani Lime Water Tank and Plasters Workshop. Immerse yourself in the colourful architectural and cultural heritage of Rajasthan whilst experiencing its culture through its craftsmanship. Feb 25th to Mar 2nd. Send us a message for more details.

On special request we are offering an intensive Lime Water Tank Workshop as an extension to our popular Rajasthani Lime ...
06/01/2025

On special request we are offering an intensive Lime Water Tank Workshop as an extension to our popular Rajasthani Lime Plasters Workshop. Join us in Rajasthan to learn all about lime. Experience the beauty and timelessness of these handcrafted finishes in the heart of Shekawati. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthani architecture, whilst learning the secrets behind these ancient techniques.
***Please note the Water Tank Workshop must be taken with the Plasters Workshop. However anyone wishing to focus specifically on plasters may join only the Rajasthani Lime Plaster Workshop. Comment Lime below and we will send you more details.

A couple of years ago I travelled to Morocco to experience how Terrachidia, A Spanish cultural heritage conservation org...
02/12/2024

A couple of years ago I travelled to Morocco to experience how Terrachidia, A Spanish cultural heritage conservation organisation, were working with local communities in the Moroccan Sahara to help conserve their precious vernacular architectural heritage. It was an enriching experience in a country with such a strong earthen architectural heritage.
Now I will be joining them for a talk from India discussing our work conserving the precious wisdom of Master Craftsmen and women and the unique architectural heritage of various regions across India. Join us on the 5th at 23:30 IST.
Join us for some inspiring conversation. We will be taking questions and looking to hear from our listeners as well.

Meymand is a unique village in Iran where the inhabitants have carved their homes out of the mountainside. These cave dw...
16/11/2024

Meymand is a unique village in Iran where the inhabitants have carved their homes out of the mountainside. These cave dwellings are believed to be around 2500 yrs old. The soil in this area is the result of two major volcanic eruptions that resulted the fusion of soil and ash. Easily carved by human hands yet strong and durable.
Once the village was home to thousands of residents. However these days only a dozen of the original inhabitants, mostly women in their 80s, still call Meymand home.Traditionally this community was semi nomadic. Moving between 3 or 4 different sites throughout the year. In winter these caves offered a warm haven, in summer they migrated up higher into the mountains to their gardens to maintain and harvest pomegranates, almonds, grapes, walnuts, figs and the like. In the autumn and fall they resided in their southern site in the plains, where they keep their sheep year round with their Shepherds. The homes there made from a combination of stone and roundwood timber covered in pomegranate branches and wild shrubs. The main village of Meymand is now a tourist destination and paradise for anyone looking to slow down and enjoy a different pace of life. Join me next year for an architectural tour and workshop in Iran to experience the magic of this village all for yourself.

Earthen staircases of Iranian desert villages. Before the intervention of standard building codes, architectural element...
12/11/2024

Earthen staircases of Iranian desert villages. Before the intervention of standard building codes, architectural elements expressed the creativity of the hands who moulded them. Sometimes arched, sometimes tall, sometimes narrow and sometimes wide. Their beauty comes from their diversity. No standard step heights or minimum widths. As individual as the people who use them.

In the middle of the vast Iranian desert lies a spectacular adobe village by the name of Esfahak. Destroyed in an earthq...
11/11/2024

In the middle of the vast Iranian desert lies a spectacular adobe village by the name of Esfahak. Destroyed in an earthquake 1978 the village was abandoned for 40 years. 12 yrs ago a group of young men from the village came together to restore their cultural heritage. Reviving the ancient architectural wisdom of their forefathers in order to breathe life back into the earthen homes. Their story is one of the most inspiring I have heard in a while. From the exterior their homes appear organic in nature and form. From the inside they are elegant and ornate in true Persian style.

Join us this December in Rajasthan to learn how to create 3 unique lime plaster finishes - Thappi, Loki & Araish. Immers...
10/11/2024

Join us this December in Rajasthan to learn how to create 3 unique lime plaster finishes - Thappi, Loki & Araish. Immerse yourself in the culture of Rajasthan whilst experiencing the ancient wisdom of the master craftsmen. Rajasthani Lime Plaster Workshop. December 1st to 4th - Mandawa - Shekawati Region, Rajasthan

09/11/2024

Us Hussein is trying for a world record. The largest purely earthen dome. 9 metres wide and 7 5 metres high. His precision work will hopefully ensure he achieve it! There is a lot of detail in the technique. How long to ferment the clay mortar, how to secure the adobes with stones, the measurements to ensure the perfect arc... so much to learn from him. Join me for a tour and workshop in Iran in March to learn all this and more.

DATE CHANGE DECEMBER 1ST TO 4TH. We have moved our workshop forward by one week. A major music festival is happening fro...
31/10/2024

DATE CHANGE DECEMBER 1ST TO 4TH. We have moved our workshop forward by one week. A major music festival is happening from the 5th in the region. So we have rescheduled our dates to ensure accommodation availability. Book soon to ensure the best stay options. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the culture of Rajasthan through it's craftsmanship.

Join us for our upcoming Rajasthani Lime Plaster Workshop in Mandawa. Over four days you will learn all about lime, theo...
26/10/2024

Join us for our upcoming Rajasthani Lime Plaster Workshop in Mandawa. Over four days you will learn all about lime, theoretically and practically. Our practical sessions are taught by a highly skilled Rajasthani Master craftsman. You will have the chance to experience the culture of Shekawati through its craftsmanship.
December 4th to 7th 2024. Mandawa, Shekawati, Rajasthan.

03/10/2024

Spiti Valley is home to an ancient technique of rammed earth, very different in form and method to modern rammed earth. Tabo Monastery was built using this technique. At 1026 yrs old it stands as a testament to the durability of this construction method. This video shows the simple formwork and tools used to form these monolithic earthen walls.

Making adaptations to a vernacular construction tradition that has been successful for over a thousand years is a task w...
28/09/2024

Making adaptations to a vernacular construction tradition that has been successful for over a thousand years is a task we undertake with great humility. Climate change however is necessitang adaptation to the traditional flat mud roofs of this high altitude desert region. Monsoon rains now often fall in what was once a rain shadow region. In our effort to maintain the aesthetics of a traditional flat mud roof, we decided to opt for a living roof with a rubber EPDM to stop any excess rainfall damaging our rammed earth home. We have also added a layer of wool waste and insulating blocks made from straw, rice husk lime and clay. We hope this will help to shield the home from the minus 30 degree winter cold.

Natural pigments can be found in abundance in nature. When one becomes attuned to the types of locations one might find ...
19/09/2024

Natural pigments can be found in abundance in nature. When one becomes attuned to the types of locations one might find them, they begin to be found more frequently. On our recent drive back up to Spiti we stumbled across a beautiful yellow pigment revealed by excavation works for a new road. Previously we have found a stunning white mica and deep maroon colour at a landslide in the Himalayas. An interesting yellow stone was found in a high village in Spiti, we later learned that the locals grind it and heat it in a heavy fry pan to turn it red. In Kutch a rainbow of colours can found in deserted fields. In Burkina Faso black is made by charring the branches from an indigenous plant....
Have you ever harvested your own pigments? If so where did you find yours? Leave a comment below.

Mauritania is where we'll be heading to escape the chill of Spiti winter. This image is a perfect example showing how hi...
18/09/2024

Mauritania is where we'll be heading to escape the chill of Spiti winter.
This image is a perfect example showing how highly localised, culturally specific architecture transports you to another world and makes for wonderful travel experiences. I will be sharing images from my own journey later in the year.

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The traditional rammed earth technique practiced by the people of the Spiti Valley is remarkably different to that of modern rammed earth. Their structures have withstood the test of time. Tabo Monastery is over 1028 yrs old and numerous homes can be found throughout the valley that are centuries old. Ancient wisdom for sustainable architecture. Woukd you like to learn vernacular architecture directly from traditional mastercraftsmen? Join us for one of our workshops. #rammedearth #pise #vernaculararchitecture #spitivalley #ancientwisdom #himalayanarchitecture

Wondering what our workshops are like? Watch this to see what our previous participants say about us. #limeplasterworkshop #culturaltravel #heritageconservation #vernaculararchitecture #rajasthan #mandawa

A glimpse at the hive of activity on our last day ( maybe) on site for 2025

Spiti Valley is home to an ancient technique of rammed earth, very different in form and method to modern rammed earth. Tabo Monastery was built using this technique. At 1026 yrs old it stands as a testament to the durability of this construction method. This video shows the simple formwork and tools used to form these monolithic earthen walls. #rammedearth #rammedearthformwork #spitivalley #earthenconstruction #naturalbuilding #vernaculararchitecture #SustainableArchitecture

Vernacular architecture achieves it's beauty through the skilled hands of Master Craftsmen and Women. Here is a chance to meet our Master Carpenter Lakpachering of Kinnaur. We love him for his beautiful timber work as much as for his calm and wise nature. #himalayanarchitecture #buddhistarchitecture #heritageconservationindia #culturalheritage #mastercraftsman #vernaculararchitecture

Heaven on Earth...

A quaint village, hidden in plain sight. The place we happily call home...

The making of adobe blocks in Spiti Valley. Taking the soul beneath our feet, adding water and straw to make a low carbon footprint cottage for a genuine eco tourism development project. #spitivalley #vernaculararchitecture #spitivalley #earthenarchitecture #himalayanarchitecture #sustaibaletourismdevelopment #himachaltourism

In Spiti spring has sprung and our work has begun. DM us this reel to find out more about our Spiti Plasters Workshop for Kaarwan happening June 13th. #spitivalley #GreenBuilding #sustainablearchitecture #architectureworkshop #plasterworkshop #vernaculararchitecture #rammedearth #naturalbuilding

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The mesmerising doors of Spiti - Take 2! #doorsofindia #doorsofinstagram #vernaculararchitecture #spitivalley #incredibleindia

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