Traditional Construction Techniques of Gilgit-Baltistan

and its Adoption for New Construction

Prepared By:
Wajahat Ali, Senior Conservation Architect
Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan

Dated:
28/08/2010

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Table of Content

1. Introduction: Traditional Construction Techniques of Gilgit-Baltistan

2. Traditional Hunza House

Construction Techniques in Hunza.
Load bearing structures
Cator and Cribbage structures

3. Traditional Architecture of Baltistan

Construction Techniques
Cator and Cribbage structure
Post and ring beams structure (square in section)
KAA-Khingfiyong Structure (Timber Post and beam)
Partition walls (Wattle n Daub Construction).

4. Use of Traditional Construction Techniques in New

Buildings. Cluster Housing Project and Darbar Lounge
Hunza. Abruzzi Higher Secondary School Shigar:
Khaplu Palace Complex Project.

5. Conclusion
1.Introduction:Traditional Construction Techniques of Gilgit-Baltistan
The Karakoram Mountains contains a most remarkable number and variety of historic
buildings of monumental and domestic scale. The survival up to the present shows how
well they have served their inhabitants, it is proof of excellent material qualities, of
suburb construction detailing of regular maintenance and minimal external pressures of
changes. From the monumental fort and Palaces building to smaller domestic buildings
are found every where in Gilgit-Baltistan. Most of the material used in these buildings is
indigenously available like rubble and dress stone, adobe, rammed earth and timber.
These materials were used in the simplest ways of ordinary buildings. Important
buildings involved itinerant craftsman proudly showing off high quality structural
engineering and carving skills. The use of cator and cribbage construction reached its
zenith in this area.

The majority of the domestic buildings are single storey to avoid wall deformation and its
intertwined way of construction helps the dwellers to resist the harsh winter climate. All
roofs in the regions are flat so that these could be used in summer for living as well as
store things on it. Most of the monumental buildings are constructed with timber cators
which came to this area through Ladakh and these included Palaces, Forts, mosques,
Astanas and Khanqah etc.

Example of Traditional architecture: Altit Fort and settlement

Today traditional building techniques and settlements in the area are rapidly being
replaced by new unfamiliar building materials like concrete and steel, which are not only
causing the environmental issues but diminishing the traditional techniques of
construction which are good for the area and sustainable. Therefore this report will shed
some light of traditional construction techniques of Gilgit-Baltistan as well as their use
for the new buildings.
2.Traditional Hunza House.
The typical Hunza house follows simple building construction techniques. It has simple
load bearing walls with a complex roof structure resting on four timber posts placed
around the central core which is HA. Stone, soil and wood are the major construction
material used for its construction. There is an inherent understanding of three local
buildings. Traditional Hunza house has typically three floor, in which winter living is on
the ground floor and is enclosed from all sides with minimal openings, summer living is
on the upper floor. Upper floor is the more open and has the large opening on the floor
for maximum air circulation and direct access to the roof. Some time the upper floor only
comprises of a Baldi with an open terrace. Following drawings and its description will
shed some light on the spaces of Hunza house briefly.

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8

. Plans, Section and 3d View of Typical Hunza House

Construction Techniques in Hunza:

There are two ways of construction in Hunza.

• Load bearing wall structures.
• Cator and Cribbage structures.

Load bearing wall structures.

Most of the vernacular residential buildings in Hunza have a two storey structure to avoid
wall deformation due to wall construction. Small stones are used for its construction
therefore its corners are sub rounded and irregular which bolsters the corners to obsorb
any movement in the building. Wall construction of these buildings is mostly single wall
with simple beam system and offers possibilities to use the roof terrace for summer
outdoor living. The use of timber provides a degree of ductility; belong to strap the wall
fabric together and able to accept large deformation strains. In a better built structures
roof timbers sit on and are pegged to timber wall plates. This means the roof structure can
work monolithically gaining strength from a shear plate configuration.

Traditional HA of typical Hunza House.

Due to stone masonry without any wooden bracing, the buildings of domestic structures
are weak for the following reasons.
• Shallow foundations without footings – which are highly susceptible to differential
movements.
• Most walls are built with variable quality rubble found immediately to hand.
• Stones are placed in a haphazard point to point contact.
• Between the stones are thick irregular mortar (lime or mud) beds.
• Rubble stones are placed out of equilibrium and rely on the mortar and/or internal 'wedging' to
maintain a stable position.
• Large stones are used for the inside and outside wall faces. These stones are adjusted by
internal wedges to give a vertical face. There is also frequent change of stone sizes up a wall; as
the wall approaches shoulder height the stones get smaller because they are manually lifted.
The internal core of the wall is progressively in filled with small loose rubble, stone chips
discarded from knapping, and leftover mortar. In domestic buildings ‘through’ stones and long
‘quoins’ are only occasionally used.

View of upper floor-Agon

To overcome these structural troubles locals also built the building with much better
technique which will be described in next paragraph.

Cator and Cribbage Structure.

Most of the historic Forts, palaces, Khanqahs, mosques, and shrines were constructed
with the timber cage technique or also called Cator and cribbage construction technique.
Timber lacing or the combination of captor and cribbage is a most sophisticated
earthquake resistance technique used in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Here the walls of a
structure are horizontally strapped with beams locally known as cators. The timber is
generally of 50 to 120mm square section and horizontal beams are placed into the inside
and outside wall faces at 0.3 to 1.3m vertical intervals. In less well-built walls, the timber
is infrequent and may only be reinforcing corners. Often the timber lengths are not
jointed or nailed together. In better constructed walls the face timbers are tied together
through the wall thickness with joined/nailed cross pieces at 1 to 4m intervals. Where the
beam is of insufficient length for the whole length of the wall, two or more pieces are
connected with tension resisting scarf joints. The beams at the corners are also jointed so
that the whole building is strapped together. Breaks in the integrity of the ‘ring beam’
may occur at doors and windows.
 3d View of Cribbage Column

Advantages:
• Only short lengths of wood are used.
• This is flexible structure, this is vertical member
which can easily obsorb P waves when in the
event of earthquake.
• The ease of creating straight sided walls.
• The need not to have the typically over designed
foundations.
• Corner joints and long timbers providing tensile
resistance to out of plane movements.
• This type of structure is only for the corners hence
prevent the building from over turning.
• The roof bearing surface is larger than for a pit prop.
• Greater bearing surface area on roof and floor.
• Less bowing of structure under load and ease
of recovery.
• It has less infill therefore the structure is ductile due to
its wooden nature.
• It has greater crushing resistance due to less infill and
maximum resistance.
Altit Fort is best example of Cator
And cribbage structure
 2. Traditional Architecture of Baltistan.
Construction Analysis
All the vernacular buildings including fort, palaces, mosques, shrines and houses in the
region demonstrate a simple building system. Materials like stone, wood and soil are the
basic materials used in traditional architecture. The advantages of these materials are easy
repair and maintenance against wear and tear. Throughout the Karakorum there is a
plentiful supply of stone. In Baltistan, rammed earth and wattle and daub are traditional
soil building methods.

Construction Techniques
Following three techniques of construction are common in Baltistan

Cator and Cribbage Structure.

This is the same technique used in Hunza.

3d View of cribbage structure

Historic Buildings of Baltistan-Amburiq

Mosque,Astana in Khaplu and Khaplu Palace were built with Cator and cribbage construction technique.
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Post and Ring Beams Structure (square in section)
In this type of structure, traditional building normally has a wooden frame in both vertical
and horizontal directions on an outer side of the wall. This configuration provides load
bearing and provides resistance against shear forces. The infill of these wooden bracing is
normally with stone or adobe. This type of structure is good for the building with double
of more floor structure due to its flexible nature. These type of buildings are commonly
found in both Skardu and Khaplu region.

Khaplu Palace, south elevation, example of wooden post and

ring beam structure

KAA-Khingfiyong Structure (Timber Post and beam)

Timber post and beam is a simple but has a better resistant against earthquake. The
structure made of this technique is a multipurpose house unit. The roof is supported by
means of four or more wooden columns depending on the size of space. At roof level the
beams are placed on top of these columns. The walls in this type of construction are
constructed separately which are acting like an independent structure. Interestingly, the
posts take loads separately from the first and second floor door to the foundations. The
walls are effectively infill panels, some what independently working at each floor level,
able to deform in an earthquake and to be replaced if damaged.

Detail from Khaplu Palace Showing Construction of a village house

column and beam structure with KAA-Khingfiyong Structure

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 Detail shows the column and beam
structure method at ceiling level.

Partition walls (Wattle n Daub Construction).

In Baltistan, rammed earth and wattle and daub are traditional soil building methods.
However for the partition walls wattle and daub is very common in every type of
building. Light weight walls acts as a partition walls without inserting any weight on the
building. In this method the fresh branches of willow or poplar are weaved in a timber
frame of a partition wall. Then after some time the surface render is applied on both sides
of frame. The advantages of this technique are, it is lightweight and best for the upper
floors, second it is cost efficient and third there is no need of special skill for such
construction. There are some cases in the valley where the technique is left exposed
without any application of surface renders.

Later added walls of in Khaplu Palace are

constructed with wattle n daub technique. Typical construction of a house with wattle
n daub technique in Bara Khaplu
4.Use of Traditional Construction Techniques in New Buildings.
AKCSP has used these construction techniques from both Hunza
and Baltistan in all the projects AKCSP executed so far. This
includes, Cluster Housing Project, Amin Khan House, Darbar
Lounge, Tariqah Board building, TMS Building and many
communal and residential structures in Hunza. In Baltistan AKCSP
executed many projects, where it has demonstrated use of
traditional construction techniques and also merged that with
contemporary solutions for structural problems. Some of the
significant projects are, Abruzzi Higher Secondary School Shigar,
Garden House in Shigar Fort, Azam Khan House, Jamia Mosque
Shigar and external residential block of Khaplu Palace Complex
etcetera. We will only discuss Cluster housing project and Darbar
Lounge in Hunza, Abruzzi Secondary School and Khaplu Palace
Complex in Baltistan where such techniques have been used in
new buildings.

Cluster Housing Project and Darbar Lounge Hunza.

Cluster Housing project (CHP) was initiated by AKCSP with an

aim to show following aspects
• Use of traditional space organization, techniques and materials.
• Seismically engineered.
• High thermal performance.
• Sustainable use of materials
• High aesthetic quality and affordable
In this regard AKCSP technical team thoroughly researched on the
traditional materials and technique and came up with a solution
which was, seismically engineered as well as highly energy
efficient. Steel vertical bars were introduced with horizontal
wooden bracing for strengthening of buildings
Drawing showing steel vertical bars with
horizontal wooden bracing in CHP

Photograph showing steel vertical bars with horizontal wooden bracing

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Similarly in Darbar Lounge building in Aliabad Hunza, which was built for HH Aga
Khan for his visit, AKCSP intervened and modified the plan of building a structure in
RCC column beam structure. AKCSP executed the building in a traditional way by
incorporating cribbage structure with traditional mud thatch. This building has a greater
impact and local communities who visit to see this structure gets inspiration from the
local material and building their own structures with indigenous material used in the
project.Amin Khan House in Hunza was also constructed on same the principle.

View of Darbar Lounge in Aliabad Hunza where traditional Cribbage structure has been used.

View of Amin Khan House in Aliabad Hunza where traditional Cribbage structure has been used.

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Abruzzi Higher Secondary School Shigar

In accordance with AKCSP’s objective to demonstrate to the local communities the of use
local materials and techniques for new building, School building was designed and executed
in a way that it should have a positive impact on the delicate mountain environment as well
as creating a model of sustainability that can be replicated elsewhere in the region. AKCSP
designed and executed the building by blending traditional techniques of construction. Steel
vertical bars were introduced with horizontal wooden bracing for strengthening of buildings in both
horizontal and vertical terms. Green wood (Poplar) was use not only for structural purpose
but for the finishing components of the project. The design of the school is based on traditional
knowledge as well as prevailing modern techniques, which are discussed in detail in the
following paragraphs.

School Design

The building consists of three levels with the covered area of 13,000 sq. feet and comprises 7
classrooms, a laboratory, a library, storage area, an administrative and faculty block, space
for community gatherings, and sanitation facilities (Plans are attached). The external space
consists of a playground, and a green area used for vegetation and planting of local species.
The design of the building is inspired form the spaces unique in the area as well as it is
sensitive to environmental aspects of Gilgit-Baltistan, such as harsh winter climates, frequent
dust storms, undulating topography etc. The building is placed on the available contours in a
way that it would fit in to it. The majority of the classrooms are south oriented to for
maximum heat gain during the winter. The building’s square form is consistent with
earthquake resistant geometry, and comprises a central atrium that traps maximum sunlight
during the winter and distributes warmth to all adjoining classroom, including those that are
not south oriented. In the summer, the atrium allows for the building to be properly ventilated
through its openable enclosing elements. Furthermore, given the necessity for maximum heat
retention during cold climates, the roof, ceilings, walls and floors are insulated with low cost
and easily available materials.

3d Model of Abruzzi School Shigar showing the structural

system used.
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Plans of all three levels of Abruzzi School Shigar
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Sustainable Energy Efficient Architecture
In accordance with AKCSP’s vision to disseminate energy efficient design, the design of the
school focuses on sustainability issues, minimising the impact of the structure on the delicate
mountain environment, and creating a model of sustainability that can be replicated elsewhere in
the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan, which has extreme cold climate. Innovative solutions that
balance efficiency and functionality with sustainability have been used in designing and
execution of the project. Sustainability has been achieved by:
• Minimised the carbon footprint of the building, both in operation and as embodied carbon
by using green wood and less use of cement for its construction as well as local rubble stone.
• Maximised energy efficiency of the building by reducing heating and cooling costs through
passive means and with the use of low cost insulation techniques. Double glazing thick stone
walls and thick mud roofs and plaster will ensure the insulation. In addition use of rock wool on
top roof and on the wooden floors will ensure sound control and reduction of heating cost.
• Maximised use of sustainable materials, by using only locally available material, like Poplar
wood,mud,stone etc
• Minimised electricity usage for lighting by orienting the buildings towards south as well by
the core atrium in the building. In addition, building has been oriented in a manner that maximise
solar gain in the winter and makes use of natural ventilation.
• Maximised thermal efficiency by use of indigenous materials and detailing to maximise
thermal efficiency of the building, high u-values, minimise thermal bridges, double glazing,
insulating materials, Air tightness in order to minimise heat loss in winter.
• Minimised building failure during earthquake by introducing earthquake resistant
technology which is a synthesis of traditional and modern techniques. Like use of horizontal
wooden cators by fusing it with low cost vertical bars

View of centralized Atrium and internal corridor

Material Used for Construction.

Use of poplar. The timber used in the construction of the building is exclusively Poplar wood
available locally in abundance, as a result of massive arboriculture of this species carried out by a
sister agency (AKRSP) of AKCSP. Between 1980 and 1997 some 15 million saplings were
planted in the Gilgit-Baltistan. The practice has now passed into the hands of individual farms
and poplars are now continuously being planted in relatively short farming cycles (average age of
trees at the time of harvesting is 15 years). As a result of the popularization of poplar,
considerable slowing down of the deforestation of coniferous resources of the region has
happened. Furthermore poplar trees are grown in locations not suitable for other crops but where
water is available in large quantities, such as in river beds and the edges of water channels. This
increases the sustainability of this wood, and renders it financially far more viable than other
wood alternatives, and impedes erosion. In this subject project, poplar has been used for
structural purposes (wooden trusses, beams etc) and for doors and windows, as well as a finishing
product for furniture.

Poplar wood Trusses and vertical steel bars are used

Additionally, local stone is used in massed random rubble masonry work, instead of cement
concrete and other imported material. The stone has high heat sink capacity resulting in
minimal extra heating loads as it relies on its diurnal cycle in preventing heat loss from or heat
gain into the building. As a result of the stone being used in its natural, undressed form,
considerable cost savings are achieved. Stabilized earth mortars and earthen plasters are
another indigenous insulation material. Earthen plasters 2 to 3 inches thick – provide excellent
insulation to buildings. Earthen mortars used in the random stone masonry also add resistance
to heat transfer from one piece of stone to another, making the stone wall a very effective heat
shield.
Double glazed windows- Double glazed window will be used in all windows to ensure low heat
losses. In addition double glazed windows will provide sound insulation against the noisy
exterior environment, and render the teaching environment suitably quiet. By demonstrating use
of double glazing in the region we can achieve a greater impact to save environmental issues.

Detailing of Wood and Stone in the wall construction

View of Classroom
View of School Building
Khaplu Palace Complex Project.
AKCSP technical team reviewed the traditional construction technique Post and ring
beams structure (square in section) and executed the new building with the modified
version. In a traditional way, wooden frame is used in both vertical and horizontal
directions on an outer side of the wall. To give the building more strength to resist
earthquakes an inner wooden bracing was proposed so that the structure system should
complete as well as it would give some aesthetic ambience inside the building.

Drawing Showing modified version of Post and ring

beam construction at Khaplu Palace Complex.

Execution of Post and ring beam construction technique

at Khaplu Palace Complex.
Room interiors of a building constructed with Post and ring
beam construction technique at Khaplu Palace Complex.
KAA-Khingfiyong Structure (Timber Post and Beam)
AKCSP also built a building in Khaplu Palace complex with the traditional technique
where roof is supported by means of four or more wooden columns. Interestingly, the
posts take loads separately from the first and second floor door to the foundations. The
walls are effectively infill panels, some what independently working at each floor level,
able to deform in an earthquake and to be replaced if damaged.

Drawing showing traditional KAA-Khingfiyong

Structural System.

Photo showing
new columns erected for traditional KAA-
Khingfiyong Structural System.

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Photographs showing traditional KAA-Khingfiyong
Structural System used in Khaplu Palace Complex

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5.Conclusion

The prevailing building activities in mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan have resulted in new

architectural styles and structural technologies related those found around in southern
parts of Pakistan. The more sophisticated buildings are typically built with concrete
frames of columns and beams with infilled panels. New houses are typically built with
concrete block load bearing walls; new roofs are made of corrugated galvanized sheet
steel. These new structures commonly show poor architectural and engineering design as
well as crude craftsmanship. Since little construction practices is being transferred from
previous vernacular crafts skills. At the same time traditional building materials and
construction techniques are becoming rare day by day. AKCSP’s efforts to revive
traditional material and techniques are quite successful so far. The architectural spaces
and design of the traditional architecture are sensitive to environmental aspects such as
harsh winter climates and earthquake. The unique cator and cribbage wooden
construction enable the building to resist again the earthquake so does the other
techniques used in traditional architecture throughout Gilgit-Baltistan. However modern
engineering solutions which are also economical and these could also be fused with these
techniques to the apt results as demonstrated by AKCSP in the above stated description.
By fusing modern and traditional techniques we still design and create nice aesthetic
buildings which will be safer to dwell in Earthquake prone mountainous areas.
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Architectural Research Ltd.

Coburn, Andrew, Spence Robin., 2002. Earthquake Protection, Chichester: John Wiley
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Dani, Ahmed Hassan, 1989. Islamic Architecture: The wooden Style of Northern
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Articles, Periodicals and Reports

ADB-WB, 2005, Pakistan 2005 Earthquake: Preliminary Damage and

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Hughes, Richard, 1991. Cator and Cribbage Construction of Northern Area, London.

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