Matra is an intensive research generated from the two study trips conducted by faculty members and students of the School of Interior Design (SID), CEPT University to the remote villages and famous temples of Himalayan India. The houses, granaries and temples of this region are described in detail through extensive fieldwork, measure drawings and a comprehensive study of the kath-khuni (wood-and-stone) houses that define the material culture of these mountainous communities.
The houses are the core examples of built forms of daily life, while the granaries are the transitional built forms and the temples are the celebration of the intersection of community aesthetics with great connections to the Gods. The exhaustive analysis and portfolio of a wood and stone house and a wooden temple represented through two and three dimensional drawings and illustrations are the spirit of matra. The book also gives an insight into the typology of local built forms. The social use of spaces and the study of interior elements are illustrated through the personal interpretations.
The specialized craft of wood carving as both folk and classical forms is revealed through direct encounters with contemporary carvers and documentation of ancient examples. The seismic and practical advantages of kath-khuni construction are described to reinforce the fundamental soundness of vernacular built forms in this mountainous region. Matra is an invitation to experience vernacular built forms of Himachal Pradesh from inside the life of local people.
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