Don't Tear It Down! Preserving the Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture of Kashmir [Paperback]

Randolph Langenbach (Author), Minja Yang (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0979680719 | ISBN-13: 978-0979680717 | Publication Date: June 16, 2009 | Edition: 1

DON'T TEAR IT DOWN! Preserving the Earthquake-Resistant Vernacular Architecture of Kashmir, makes the case for the preservation of the traditional domestic architecture that make up the urban form of Srinagar and the other cities in Kashmir. Published initially by UNESCO's New Delhi Office for distribution in Indian and Pakistan Administered Kashmir, the book is a product of UNESCO's mission to advance scientific understanding following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake which affected both Pakistan and India. The author, international heritage preservation consultant Randolph Langenbach, brings to it a vision of how the heritage buildings of Kashmir can become an armature on which to help rebuild people's pride of place after years of civil unrest. The work makes the case for preservation, not in spite of the antiquated construction of these buildings, but because of it. It is framed on the capacity of the best examples of Kashmiri traditional construction to resist one of Nature's most prodigious forces - earthquakes. By discussing two traditional forms of construction found in Kashmir: taq and dhajji dewari, this book documents an often ignored architectural heritage and a construction tradition that has demonstrated a level of earthquake-resistance that has led experts to introduce their attributes into the Indian and Pakistan building codes and to use features of them as the basis of ideas for how to improve the earthquake performance of modern structures of reinforced concrete.

Product Details

• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: Oinfroin Media; 1 edition (June 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979680719
• ISBN-13: 978-0979680717
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,815,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars An Engineers view, December 16, 2009

By 

Kubilay Hicyilmaz - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't Tear It Down! Preserving the Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture of Kashmir (Paperback)

Great photos and passion within the book. Amazing what can be achieved with good quality craftmanship.

5.0 out of 5 stars A celebration of vernacular architecture with earthquake resistance, November 12, 2009

By 

Andrew Charleson (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't Tear It Down! Preserving the Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture of Kashmir (Paperback)

The first thing that strikes you about this book is the stunning colour photographs that highlight why the two housing types focused upon are so worthy of preservation. These houses possess a richness of materiality (masonry, stone and wood), colours and structural patterns that are of another world (Kashmir).

Not only are Taq and Dhajji Dewari buildings of great aesthetic, cultural and historic interest, they also happen to perform well during earthquakes - out performing (poorly built) modern reinforced concrete structures. Taq construction consists of timber-laced masonry bearing-walls while Dhajji Dewari's structure comprises timber frame with infill masonry.

After describing the two types of construction, basic material about how buildings resist earthquake shaking is provided to prepare the reader for more detailed explorations of how these ancient systems perform relatively well during earthquakes. Due to their structural complexity advanced structural analysis has yet to reveal the secret of their seismic success although the likely reasons are offered.

Repair and strengthening issues are dwelt with in some detail and lavishly illustrated before the concluding section which discusses the seismic vulnerability of contemporary construction. The case is then made for the conservation and vitalization of these traditional buildings.

This book is essential reading for builders and designers (architects and engineers) working in the Kasmir region and fascinating and informative for any others interested in vernacular architecture, particularly in seismic areas.

5.0 out of 5 stars All is not lost, October 12, 2009

By 

J. C. Hurd (UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't Tear It Down! Preserving the Earthquake Resistant Vernacular Architecture of Kashmir (Paperback)

This excellently presented, well illustrated and rationally formed book satisfies both the need for a description of vernacular structures in Kashmir and region, and also offers solutions to the often seemingly insurmountable problems facing those responsible for the restoration of damaged houses post earthquake and from many other causes of damage.

The pointers to disaster reduction described in "Don't Tear it Down" carefully inform and open valuable windows on a worldwide problem which allows for the preservation of disappearing built heritage and perhaps more importantly the less tangible culture that lies behind it.

The many illustrations are immensely informative, demonstrating little known and less published architectural forms and explaining types of damage in great detail.