Bricks in Nepalese Architecture

Architecture best dictated by material can be best exemplified in Nepalese context, where the alluvial soil deposits have resulted in a classic development of brick architecture.  Brick has become spirit of Nepalese architecture since Kirat period. The extensive use of brick in Nepalese context might be the availability of good soil, more flexibility in casting of desired shape and size in easy way and of course the workability due to its size.

            Bricks in Nepalese Architecture have been used as structural and decorative purpose and for construction of private dwellings, tired temples, shikhara, temple, stupas, water conduits, wells, paving, for plinth etc.

            Fast development of bricks in Nepalese architecture is renowned for its advanced structural, ornamental and structural works. This was made possible by good workmanship, specialization in brick making needs of different types of shaped and sized and plentiful availability of raw material.

            The architecture of brick proceeded that of stone in Nepal which have been observed from the archeological foundation unearthed at Satya Narayan site of Hadigaun and that of Lumbini of 2050 B.C and so on. Archeological finds proof beyond doubts that bricks based architecture was flourishing in various parts of Nepal more than 500 years before the Guptas. Primarily bricks are sun-baked or kiln-fired. When the bricks are sun dried and when the house itself stands, weathered, unpainted the appearance of wall is very dull so that they appear to have no aesthetic value, only functional necessity. But when walls are constructed of baked bricks they bring up gleaming solidarity to the form of temple palace and home.

            Baked bricks, which are strong and readily available, are used in pavements of streets that pass by or border upon the temples and courtyards of temples. Baked bricks, which are strong and readily available, are generally found to be more satisfactory as pavement than are stone slabs for the latter become very slippery when wet. The bricks that are used for paving such areas are usually small (9”x9”) and square with some variations- covering a finer quality belong liked for interior used – the same material are employed to pave the floor of inner shrine are used in courtyard. Early temples reveal the use of telia or chikappa for internal flooring.

            Interlocking bricks of later Malla period is a self-sealing pavement bricks (40.5cm x 27.7 cm x 7 cm), which can be seen beside a well near Nagpokhari of Naksal. Bricks with vertical grooves were also used in pavements.

            Bricks are used in foundations also. Foundation of a structure is usually shallow. The basic foundation consist of a few layers of natural stone (large pebbles of broken stone) ; this is followed by brickwork which gradually attains wall thickness of ground floor and which continues into the superstructure without damp-proof of layer. It is said that temples have no foundation. It is the plinth (incase of temples) which actually acts as a foundation. A plinth infront of houses and palaces are not structural but acts as a protection against damp penetration and to give lifting appearance above road level. In similar way stepped plinth of temple not only serve as protection against damp penetration but also for aggrandizement of temples.

            The plinth of the temple is of symbolic importance not only for its geometric shape that relates to total temple plan but for its bricks that are moulded into forms both decorative and meaningful ornamental bricks have been found in the ruin of early Buddhist monument in Terai including examples of patterns as part of the plinth of the temple of Mayadevi at Lumbini and Lotus bearing brick that cover a relic casket in the stupa/ bihar construction at Sagarwa. Recent finds of bricks are of intended check board design ( in Patan Museum). Their pattern reflects those of plinth decoration. The base of shrine of Mayadeva at Pachali as unusual construction with 3 bricks. Shikhara is especially elaborated with several rows of moulded bricks on each of its foundation. Bricks walls are usually perform the structural function.

Walls are generally thick (up to 70 cm) but the walls of some temples and certain palace building tends to be much thicker often up to 2m. Construction of wall is done in three leafing – the outer, middle and inner. This kind of walling was done to save cost for climatic suitability. Normally variation of temperature (between maximum and minimum is 24 C winter and 12 C in summer) so this variation is very uncomfortable and to cope with this problem, thick wall was done. Thick walls means heat takes long time (8 to 12 hrs) to reach outer to inner side i.e. time lag is 10 hours average. So the building becomes cold in summer and hot in winter. This type of treatment of bricks certainly comfort desired.

            Outer bricks are of many types and names. Simple ba appa, ma appa, appa are rectangular and dachi appa is conical bricks. Society with naming of bricks of many kinds refers the elaborate society. Dachi appa are used in such a way that mortar cannot be seen from outside. This was for the prevention of moisture / dampness/ rain. That is virtually used mortar for this purpose since it acts as a black cotton soil.

            Many types of bricks are used depending upon financial standing and importance of the building. Some name of bricks used for various purposes  are listed below.

1)      Nagol

2)      Kasimo

3)      Dachi appa

4)      Ma appa, ba appa

5)      Pha butta jhallar

6)      Phalho appa

7)      Jhallar butta

8)      Nag appa

9)      Mikha fusi

10)  Karnesh

11)  Telia brick

12)  Chikappa

13)  Kachi appa

14)  Tu appa

However in malla period bricks were named as

appa- simplest type of fire brick

 ma appa – telia bricks

 ba appa – decorated bricks

 dachi appa- conical brick

kachi apa –unbaked bricks

 tu appa – brick for round well.

Thick bricks utilized for water conduits and long well brunt brick (58cm x 20cm x 4cm) in covering drainage channel show large application of bricks in Malla period.

Conclusion: -

            From above discussion we can conclude that bricks play a great role in day-to-day usable space that is becoming social object of prime importance in architectural view. Its use ranges from water conduits, drainage covering, and foundation to wall and decorative items.