APPROPRIATE APPROACH FOR DESIGNING BUILDINGS IN UTTARANCHAL

Abstract

The designing of buildings is a challenge whether it is in a plain or elevated land. But in the hills the major influencing factor among many others is climate, which determines the building configuration and form and gives advantage of passive designing. In addition, the designing of buildings becomes more challenging mainly due to its topography. The vulnerability aspects raise more critical conditions for designing of buildings in hills, as in the case of Uttaranchal, since it lies in the active seismic belt of Himalayas. As new state, it is developing fast and expected to carry on lot of building construction activities. In hills buildings have to be constructed on sloped topography and scarce plain areas are necessarily left for playgrounds and social gatherings. Buildings on slopes need different architectural forms & configurations, which are guided by many factors in hills, such as contours, orientation of buildings and sites, slopes and earthquake resistant considerations etc. Unfortunately these factors are not given due importance as non-engineered construction is in practice. This is increasing, risk of failures and damages of buildings and hill slopes causing loss to human life and property. Thus, there is urgent need for an appropriate approach for designing buildings in hills. Appropriate Approach aims to identify the factors affecting the building designing in hills mainly evolve out of topography, climate and disaster, and preparing guidelines for planning and designing of buildings....