{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1808488"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1808488/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1808488","accessionNumber":"E.260-2026","objectType":"Digital file","titles":[{"title":"Wall section materials drawing for the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh Staff Quarters Building","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) in Ladakh, India, is a new university that promotes locally rooted, sustainable design practices and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). HIAL is a pioneering higher education and  masterplan design project, driven by a mission to train local young people and support future mountain communities adapting to  climate change.\r\n\t  \r\nFounded by a pair of award-winning Indian educators and entrepreneurs, Sonam Wanghuck and Gitanjali JB, the HIAL project is being delivered under the patronage of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpochey, one of the foremost leaders in Tibetan Buddhism after HH the Dalai Lama, together with significant involvement from local Ladakhi communities. The vision for the university campus was first set out in 2015 during a summer school held at the SECMOL (Students Educational and Cultural Movement of  Ladakh), with initial seed funding being secured through a successful crowdfunding campaign. While rooted in Ladakh, HIAL is  committed to sharing its design strategies and education programmes with other high attitude regions around the world and actively collaborates with partners in Europe and South America. \n\nThe HIAL project and design philosophy promotes hands-on learning, revisiting Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and open-source design systems, and is underpinned by significant architectural and engineering design innovations in natural building construction and water infrastructure design. The groundbreaking design for the HIAL masterplan is creating a new university and township in the Phyang Valley in Ladakh, northern India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. The holistic design scheme draws on learnings from indigenous Indian architecture practices and traditional engineering technologies (notably centuries-old rammed earth building techniques and human-made, artificial glacier water management systems), reinventing these for contemporary needs through new research and digital technologies. The scheme’s core aim is to transform a cold mountain desert (desertified as a result of accelerating climate change) into a habitable, resilient, and future-facing eco-campus. \n\nThe Staff Quarters Buidling, built between 2018-1019 exemplifies HIAL's committment to hands on learning, indiginous knowledge and resilient architectue that is responsive to the realities of climate crisis in mountain regions. It was the first successfully completed building on the HIAL campus and remains a focal point for ongoing research and student teaching, operating both as a model of environmentally sustainable architecture and a classroom headquarter. \n\nIn keeping with HIAL’s educational philosophy of ‘reclaiming indigenous wisdom and combining it with modern technology’, the design of the Staff Quarters building combines centuries-old, local rammed earth architecture techniques with Passive Solar House (PSH) systems to create a sustainable residential unit with a minimal carbon footprint. Its design is strictly limited to using locally sourced, natural building materials (earth, timber and straw) and relies on solar energy for its heating system. The building is conceived across two floors and employs three types of earth architecture techniques: adobe bricks, rammed earth walls, and straw clay walls. The latter were developed in response to heightened insulation needs during wintertime. The building’s south aspect has a trombe wall that uses a combination of thermal mass and glazing to collect and store solar radiation that is used to heat the building. In keeping with the PSH system, the building is also self-regulating with consideration for ventilation and comfortable interior temperatures during summertime. ","physicalDescription":"Wall section drawing for the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) Staff Quarters Building. The drawing illustrates the various materials used in different methods of construction including adobe, straw and clay, and rammed earth.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh","id":"AUTH380016"},"association":{"text":"architects","id":"AAT24987"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Digital file, PDF format","categories":[{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"},{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"},{"text":"Environment","id":"THES252687"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"DAMS","id":"THES280561"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"digital file","id":"THES396085"}],[{"text":"architectural drawing","id":"AAT34787"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Ladakh","id":"x34230"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2019","earliest":"2019-01-01","latest":"2019-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sonam Wangchuk and Gitanjali J Angmo, the founders of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Wall section materials drawing for the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) Staff Quarters Building, produced by HIAL, PDF, Ladakh, India, 2019","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.260-2026"],"accessionNumberNum":"260","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2026,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2026PR4002"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-16","recordCreationDate":"2025-09-04","availableToBook":false}}