ActivitiesDirectory of Traditional Building Crafts
In India, there has been a long tradition of master masons and artisans and it is indeed these individuals and groups to whom India’s spectacular heritage is credited. With these rests a large repository of traditional and vernacular skills of knowledge related to building crafts.
It is the CCHD’s endeavour to document the traditional building craft skills and identify these artisans and create a data base that can be accessed by architects, builders, designers, and other individuals that can utilize their skills.
Some features
INTACH Documentation of Papier Mache as a Building Craft featured in Indian Express
Click here to view the article.
HCCD Film – World Heritage Day 2022
Heritage Craft and Community Division celebrates the World Heritage Day.
As part of the INTACH’s endeavors for promoting the traditional crafts and craftmanship, Heritage Craft and Community Division is working towards Revival of Himroo Handloom. The film documents the history of Himroo, the process of weaving and the contribution of the INTACH LoomKatha project.
Click here to view the documentary.
Kagzipura Natural Dye Workshop Film
On the occasion of Holi, HCCD is pleased to release another film on Kagzipura Paper Craft Revival Initiative.
As part of the INTACH’s endeavors for promoting the traditional crafts and craftmanship, Heritage Craft and Community Division is working towards promoting paper making craft of Kagzipura. The film documents workshop on natural dyes and paper manufacturing using natural dyes.
Click here to view the documentary.
Lime Mortar and Plaster- JAISALMER
Lime mortar and Lime renders have traditionally been used to give protection to walls built with stone or porous bricks or mud especially in locations facing driving winds. Lime mortar was used to construct some of the world’s most renowned buildings.
In Jaisalmer, time-honoured practices were based on tradition, folklore and trade knowledge, vindicated by the vast number of old buildings that still remain standing. Only during the last few decades has empirical testing provided a scientific understanding of its remarkable durability. Conservationists prefer to use lime for the repair and restoration of heritage structures.
Click here to view the documentary.
Stone carving- JAISALMER
The story of Jaisalmer would be incomplete without a mention of the creative genius of its skilled stone carvers and their exquisite craftsmanship. The creative precision of the stone carvers brings a nuance in the drab environs of the desert city.
The true beauty of Jaisalmer lies in the richness of its stone carvings and ornamentation exhibiting a plethora of floral patterns intermingled with innumerable geometric motifs. The exquisitely carved façades and intricately patterned screens serve to diffuse the harsh desert sunlight while allowing fresh air to enter.
Click here to view the documentary.
The Madras Terrace Roof
The Madras terrace roofing is a traditional roof building technique using handmade ‘achikal’ brick, wood and lime plaster. The word ‘achi’ regionally means ‘half’ therefore this locally produced ‘achikal’ brick is essentially a half brick, in terms of thickness.
The system is commonly used for small spans, where wooden beams are laid at intervals of less than 45cm. The next layer consists of masonry laid on edge, across in a diagonal fashion, held together with lime plaster. The design is an interpretation of basic traditional architectural patterns to suit modern needs, while searching for a ‘timeless’ architecture which is beyond the ‘new’ and ‘inventive’.
Click here to view the documentary.
