Kashmir’s new classification into Seismic Zone VI marks a pivotal moment for architecture, urban planning, and housing across the valley. This highest seismic risk level means that the next major earthquake could be catastrophic unless building practices evolve rapidly from just strong to sustainably strong.

But sustainable architecture in Kashmir is not only about withstanding quakes but it is about reviving traditional ecological wisdom while integrating modern engineering solutions, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing community wellbeing.

The Ancient Wisdom of Resilience

Long before modern structural engineering, Kashmiri communities developed building systems that inherently resisted earthquakes.

Two routine techniques used by the citizens in building houses and homes are:

Taaq Construction

This is a timber-laced masonry system where wooden beams run horizontally through walls at regular intervals, tying masonry and providing ductility (flexibility). This technique helps walls flex during seismic shaking instead of cracking catastrophically.

Dhajji Dewari

This meaning patchwork quilt wall which is a timber frame with small panels of masonry infill. The wooden frame absorbs and distributes seismic energy, while the infill provides mass and insulation. Its performance in past earthquakes has shown higher resilience than heavy unreinforced masonry.

These techniques used locally available materials of stone, timber and clay mortar which was........

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