Exploring the Potential of Vernacular Construction Materials for Prefabrication Without Losing Cultural Authenticity

This dissertation investigates how vernacular construction materials in the Eastern Himalayas—particularly locally known Icra/Ikra bamboo-based structures in Darjeeling—can be adapted into prefabricated systems without losing cultural authenticity. The study responds to the growing urgency of disaster displacement in India and globally, where prolonged post-disaster shelter conditions expose communities to social, climatic, and psychological vulnerability. Through field-informed analysis, material studies, stakeholder observations, and design prototyping, this research proposes a hybrid prefabricated framework rooted in vernacular logic rather than imposed industrial standardization. The study demonstrates that cultural continuity, climatic intelligence, and scalability are not mutually exclusive when prefabrication evolves from local knowledge systems.