Tibet Architecture

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

Tibet has produced one of the world's most unique and easily-recognizable forms of architecture. Nevertheless, systematic study of Tibetan architecture is still a comparatively unexplored field.Tibetan construction activities can be traced back over 1300 years, when the first Buddhist temples were built in central Tibet. One of these, the Lhasa Jokhang, still exists and yields important information about the origins and early development of Tibetan architecture.

Tibetan buildings are not only a fascinating blend of man-made structure and nature, but they are well-suited for local climatic and geographic conditions. After they have outlived their usefulness, every part can be re-used, and if lived to decay, they simply become hills of earth and stones again. Buildings are generally made from locally available construction materials, and are often embellished with symbols of Tibetan Buddhism.

Example unique building in Tibet
Source from google image

For example, private homes often have Buddhist prayer flags flying from the rooftop.Walls that are constructed of stone or rammed earth may be up to a meter thick at the base. In large structures such as temples and manor homes, walls slope inward to create an illusion of greater height. Windows are usually small because the walls are so heavy that large openings would make the structure weak and unstable. In the past, windows featured paper-covered wooden latticework, but nowadays almost universally use glass.