Bhutanese Architecture and the dynamics of tradition: an architectural study of identity and change in traditional dwelling culture and built environment

The cultural milieu investigated in this study is Bhutan, one of the world's most secluded, well-preserved and so far unexplored 'living' architectural traditions. Bhutan is a small independent Himalayan Buddhist kingdom where one can still observe the encounter of centuries-old (rural) architectural traditions, and the first attempts to introduce and structure urban space as the materialization of a ‘modern’ (urban) condition. Bhutan is at present being confronted with the consequences of a modernization process that is, slowly but rather effectively, affecting its built environment. This modernization is a recent phenomenon, resulting from the opening up since the sixties and seventies of the country. Up till now its effects are most visible in the urban area of the capital Thimphu. This valley is urbanizing at a rather fast pace, giving rise to all kinds of interactions between modernity and tradition. Throughout these interactions, however, Bhutanese people are very concerned about preserving their cultural identity. Tradition for them is a living entity, which they do not wish to give up in favour of imported values or goods. They thus seek a negotiation between tradition and modernity that will allow them to preserve their identity while at the same time taking advantage of some selected aspects of modernization. This process of negotiation is facilitated by the fact that Bhutanese tradition is not a fossilized body of habits and conventions, but is based on an outlook that permits and even stimulates change. This dynamic feature of Bhutanese tradition is particularly obvious in it’s building and dwelling culture, which presents us with remarkable evidence of the intimate relation between culture and architecture and this is the focus of the publication. Bhutan is an immensely rich field of study for the student of architectural anthropology and for investigating the interrelation between culture and architecture.

Publication year:2013