Global Architecture Structure Model: Pati

By Sabin Chakradhar

Last week on Global Architecture class we had this assignment to make a physical model of the structure (or part of the structure) that belongs to non-western traditional architecture. I wanted to build something relating to the research paper that I was preparing for the same subject. I was writing the research paper on traditional Newari houses in Kathmandu valley, so I chose to build the ‘Pati’ which belong to Newari Style Architecture.

The word Pati generated from the Sanskrit word ‘Pattika’ which is a resting place for travelers. As well as being a shelter for travelers, it serves the closely interwoven Newari society living in its neighborhood, as a meeting place for games or social and religious gatherings. Sometimes it is also used as the place for women to do their laundry and even used as barn.

The Pati consist of the raised platform that is covered with the sloped roof. Some of the Patis are free standing and some are incorporated into a residential house or attached to an existing building like a lean-to and named dupat (two corner Pati). The layout of each Pati is practically identical and consists of a rectangular brick platform raised about 60cm and covered with wooden floorboards. As it is sited to overlook roads ponds and streams the front is always of a post and lintel construction. Generally the same construction is also used for he side walls. The rear wall is of solid brickwork, returning along each side for about 30cm to act as a brace for the rear wall.

To make the model, I used the 6mm thick balsa wood as it is roughly the thickness of the wooden posts for the scale of 1:25. The elevations and plan of a typical Pati was traced into AutoCAD from the book. From the digital drawings I prepared the surface development for each side and used the laser cutter from DFL to cut the balsa wood. All the pieces were then glue into right places to build the model of the Pati. Brick, Timber and Jhingati tiles are three main building materials used in Pati. To represent these different materials in the model, I used the laser engraving to give the texture and painted it with acrylic color to separate the materials.

References

Korn, W. (1979). The traditional architecture of the Kathmandu valley. Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar.

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