Techniques (a): Collection and Processing of Material

Material, the prime element of the construction, is a very important facet of the vernacular architecture study. The technique, durability, and tradition are largely dependent on materials. Materials count an important aspect of the vernacular architecture tradition as “the material from which the buildings are made, and the way the materials are handled, can also tell us a great deal” (Ballantyne:2002).

The process of construction virtually starts with the collection and subsequent processing of the different construction materials. A few decades back, the traditional architectures of Assam were extensively constructed with local natural materials. Thus, the bamboo, thatch, wood, reed, cane, mud etc. were the main building materials used in the construction of houses in the state. And in respect of the building materials, almost every Assamese household was nearly self-sufficient. These materials, either growing in the wild or cultivated in own land are collected, processed in traditional manner, and finally prepares the raw materials for the construction of houses. Generally, the riverbanks and nearby places, forests and the grazing reserves were the main source of the wild building materials such as thatch and reed. Simultaneously, many a family used to have a plot of land left out to grow the necessary thatch known as kher-toli / kherani / or bakra. Simultaneously, almost every Assamese household produce all the other materials like varieties of bamboo, tree etc. in the orchard (bari) itself that are necessary for construction.

The materials are collected on prescribed time and manner and subsequently dried and processed through traditional technique before employed in construction. While wood is sometimes used in construction in the valley, bamboo is the most extensively used material. Thus, the structure of the house or different items such as post (khuta), purlin (marali), rafter (rua) , bamboo lath (kami) , fine weaving splint (kathi), bamboo split (chuch / gadhoi), tying strands (tamal) are prepared from bamboo. These items are usually kept under water for days for processing that wash away the starch content. Thus, the kami or chuch are kept in such fashion for seven to ten days. The bamboos for the preparation of tamal are also often processed in similar manner. This process of keeping materials under water is known as gorowa. It is said that bamboo items processed through the system of gorowa lasts for longer period while it simultaneously prevents the attack of woodworm.