Vernacular structures endure because guthi communities maintain them through seasonal rituals and generational repairs. True disaster resilience combines local artisan wisdom with rigorous empirical engineering.
Three research pathways
Our institute operates across documentation, engineering analysis, and direct civic guild engagement to keep historic settlements structurally sound.
Empirical documentation
Vernacular seismic retrofit
Guthi knowledge exchange
Systematic 3D scanning and structural drafting of historic bahal courtyards, traditional timber joints, and layered brick foundations under seismic strain.
Testing non-invasive wooden collar ties and lime-surkhi mortar stabilization that preserve historic integrity while resisting tectonic shear forces.
Convening master carvers, stone masons, and local heritage trustees to formally record oral building traditions and train emerging conservationists.
Measurable conservation impact
42
historic settlements surveyed
180+
master craftspeople documented
65
measured timber joinery models
Review open-source joinery surveys, seismic engineering briefs, and ongoing valley restoration case studies.