This showcases how Tibetans developed their architectural skills and way of living while facing natural disasters. In the Tubo period, the Yumbulagang Palace was built, followed by the Chingwa Thaktse Palace and the Potala Palace. The first Samye Monastery was then constructed during Trisong Detsan’s reign, marking the foundation of Tibetan housing style and construction practices.
Different styles of a Tibetan house
In pastures, people live in yak-hair tents made from spun and woven hair. These square tents have eight pillars and are tied with yak hair to create a sturdy structure. With a ventilator at the top and a door curtain that can be propped up for airflow, the tent is both practical and comfortable. Made from durable yak hair, it can withstand harsh weather and is easily transported.
In Tibetan customs, male guests sit on the right and female guests on the left. Rural houses in southern Tibet are flat-roofed with stone walls. They have girders, round wooden columns, and various wooden items. Some houses use local earth for rain protection. Most houses are single-story and U-shaped, with parapet walls and stacks on the roof corners.
Celebration in Tibetan House
During Tibetan New Year, tables are decorated with scripture streamers and tree branches. Incense burners are placed outside homes for offerings. A small Buddha niche above the entrance door protects against negative influences. Houses have flat roofs and bounding walls. The scripture hall is in the centre, with living rooms on either side. The kitchen is next to the living rooms, and the toilets are at the corners of the bounding wall. Colourful eaves protect the windowsills. Doors and windows are painted black against white walls. Rural courtyards have tool and forage storage rooms, and sheep and cow pens.
In eastern Tibet, villages are located halfway up hillsides. Houses are made of wood or irregular stone walls. They typically have two stories, with the upper level accessed by a wooden ladder. The main room has a cooking range in the middle. Tibetan houses have unique local characteristics, such as castle-like houses in the south and tents in the north. Along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, people live in distinct wooden buildings. In the Ali plateau, people reside in cave dwellings. Tibetan residential buildings have a long history, dating back 4,000 years. Notable buildings include the Kanuo New Stone Age relics.
Castle House
Castle-like houses in Tibet, located in Lhasa, Shigatse, Chamdo, and surrounding villages, are constructed using earth, stone, and wood. They bear a resemblance to castles and are renowned for their simplicity and durability. The walls are inward-sloping to provide additional support during tremors, even when situated alongside a hillside.
Typically, these houses consist of two to three stories, featuring a circular corridor within. They offer protection against wind and cold, as well as potential defensive capabilities. The ground floor functions as both a stable and a storeroom, while the second floor serves as the living quarters. If a third floor exists, it is utilized for Buddhist chanting or drying clothes. Additionally, these houses include wells and lavatories within the yard. In the rural region of Shannan, sliding doors are incorporated into the outer corridor, adding a distinctive touch to the structures. Farmers meticulously plan the layout of their living spaces, barns, and lavatories to optimize functionality.
Some houses have a unique design with a lower level for animals and an upper level for living. This allows people to avoid animal smells and disturbances. The houses have square-shaped living rooms that are 2X2 meters, with composite furniture that is short, multifunctional, and easy to assemble. The furniture includes a cushion bed, a small table, and a Tibet cupboard. The houses are made of wood, earth, and stone with thick adobe or stone walls. The roofs are flat and covered with Aga earth, making the houses warm in winter and cool in summer, perfect for the plateau climate.
Residential Buildings
The residential buildings in the eastern forest area have a unique style. The houses in Nyingzhi consist of a multipurpose living room, storage room, stables, outer corridor, lavatory, and an independent courtyard. The room has a square or rectangular shape, made up of smaller square units at the base. The furniture and bed are placed around the fireplace. The building has a height of 2 to 2.2 meters. Due to the high amount of rainfall in the forest area, most houses have sloping roofs. Additionally, the space beneath the sloping roof is used for storing forage and miscellaneous items. People in the forest area utilize local resources, resulting in predominantly wooden structures. The walls are constructed using stone, slate, cobble, lumber, thin bamboo strips, and wicker strips. The roofs are closely covered with wooden tiles, which are kept stable by stones.
Tent
Tibetan tents are a unique form of architecture, favoured by nomads and travellers. They are small and elegant, with a square or rectangular base. The frame is made with sticks, covered in black yak felt, leaving a small opening for smoke and sunlight. The tent is secured to the ground with yak wool ropes. Inside, there is a grass-earth-block wall, a fireplace, and a worshipping area with a Buddha statue. The tent is sparsely furnished, with a sheepskin rug on the floor. It is easy to set up and dismantle, making it popular in cities and agricultural areas. Pastoral areas prefer yak wool tents.
Cave dwelling
In Ali, houses are separate and made of earth and wood. In summer, people live on the second floor, and in winter, they move to the warmer first floor. Some prefer cave dwellings, built by hills or mountains, in various shapes. Most are square, 16 square meters with a height of 2 to 2.2 meters and a flat ceiling. Cave dwellings are a unique form of housing on the Tibetan plateau. People wear silk or cloth robes with long sleeves and long boots. They expose their arms for work by tying the sleeves around their waist. Both men and women have pigtails, but men coil them up while women have multiple small pigtails with ornaments. Women also wear patterned aprons.
