Hilltop Fortresses and Castles

Introduction 

Since ages past, Architecture has flourished worldwide. From flat lands to forested and hilly lands, architecture has never failed to conquer every possible landscape. Hill architecture is one of the styles that portrays the diversity of landscapes covered by the architecture. If we look back to the sands of time, we will notice how architecture has adapted every landscape perfectly. But compared with flat lands, construction in hilly landscapes is difficult as it requires construction techniques and consideration of various other aspects like slope, geology, vegetation, and many other factors of the particular region. These factors have been taken into consideration since ancient times. This was the time when Hindu temple architecture flourished all around India. This specific style is  dominant in the Garhwal, Kumaon, and Himachal regions, where hill architecture flourished, which also gave a headstart to this particular style. The major features of the temple include – wooden construction, a sloping roof, a high plinth, and stone construction. 

To carry out construction in hilly regions efficiently, various strategies are introduced from time to time. These all techniques should be incorporated during the design phase before moving towards the construction phase. Some points considered while going with hilly construction are discussed below.  

1. CONSTRUCTION SITE SELECTION:  Before initiating any project, one should study about the construction site. Many aspects like slope, water table, existing features, depth of the rock bed, soil structure, and vegetation, need to be analyzed before starting the construction process. Other aspects included in the study are the and so on. Apart from these, the socio-economic condition of the people around the site should also be studied properly. 

1. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING: After selecting the site and analyzing it properly, then come sthe phase of planning. But before starting the planning, there are some basic characteristics that should be known of. These are:
2. Topographical Data: As construction in Hilly Landscapes includes dealing with contours, a study of the geological condition of the site should be studied thoroughly. Also, the history of the site should be well documented and compared to the existing condition to carry out various observations. 
3. Site Investigation: Site investigation is a step later to the analysis stage, which includes defining general conditions of the site like the depth of the bed road, the structure of the stratum layer, or the depth of the bedrock. These processes are carried out in areas requiring the cut-and-fill method, or including construction of retaining walls. Yet, despite these processes being an option, the cut-and-fill method is usually avoided for construction to prevent the loss of the natural character of the site.  

3.   DESIGN OF SLOPES: While designing in a hilly terrain one should properly analyze the characteristics of the slope. This slope assessment is carried out also focusing on the soil’s texture. Various technical terms like the dip are taken into the study group for this assessment. These geological and hydrological properties, especially along the slope, need to be studied before moving ahead to the construction process.

4.   SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: Sustainability is quite a popular term nowadays. But is it being applied while constructing hills? Is not this something to ponder upon? But if we look closely, much of our usual practices in hill construction are non-sustainable, especially the cut-and-fill method. This particular practice weakens the soil’s composition, ultimately leading to the building collapse. Thus, as designers and architects, it is our duty to produce efficient design processes through a sustainable method.

Fortresses and Castles

Much after the introduction of hill temples in India, Hill architecture started to be known in several foreign nations. An example of this style can be seen in the Greek empire, with Pantheneon on a hilltop, demonstrating the high stature of the king. Similarly, in other countries, castles and various fortresses flourished especially in Switzerland. 

After hill architecture flourished, a new genre of buildings flourished known as – ‘Fortresses and castles.’ Fortresses are huge structures constructed by the king to secure their kingdom from foreign attacks. Castles are a mini version of the fortresses built by rich merchants and kingsmen. The region which holds the richest history of fairytale fortresses and castles is Switzerland. The country comprises several historic castles, each whispering a new story.  Some of the ionic examples of such castles are:

1. CHILLON CASTLE, SWITZERLAND: The current castle is a redeveloped structure whose excavation was carried out at the end of the 19th century and is believed to have been built in the bronze age. The island on which the castle sits is surrounded by Geneva Lake from all sides, owing to which it is also known as “Waterside Castle.” The castle was designed in the Savoyard style, which bloomed in the 12th and 16th centuries. Chillon castle also serves as a defensive fort with its arrowslits along the north side of the facade. On the south lies the princely residence, giving a breathtaking view of the lake and the mountains. 

1. NEUSCHWASTEIN CASTLE IN SCHWANGAU, GERMANY: Neuschwanstein castle was built in 1873 as commanded by the then king – King Louis II. The castle was built after replacing the ruins of the two smaller castles on the same site. Even though the castle was inhabited in 1873, most of the portion was still under construction and remained uncompleted for a long time afterward. Neuschwanstein Castle has a medieval design with an indoor garden, tower, spires, and an artificial cave. The castle was built to romanticize medieval architecture and is now one of the major tourist attractions of the place. 

1. AMBER FORT, RAJASTHAN, INDIA: Amber Fort lies in Amber, a town 11km away from the Pink City Jaipur. Initially, the fort was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families. Amber Palace has big incarnated entryways leading into the palace, which can easily commute elephants. Amber Fort very well reflects the beauty of Hindu architecture including intricate designs and carvings. Also, to further increase its beauty, The Fort is adorned with several landscaped gardens. The major materials used are sandstone and marble, providing a royal look to the palace. The fort has been a major tourist attraction for ages and continues to do so. 

1. EDINBURG CASTLE, EDINBURG, SCOTLAND: Edinburg Castle is believed to have been built around the 6th century AD when it was more than just a small fort constructed on a hilltop for a few families. After the 10th century, when it became the capital of Scotland, the castle became the royal residence of the kings and queens. The castle also withstood the battle of Bannockburn where the army guarding the castle gained victory over a larger English army. This did make Edinburg known as an iconic symbol of Scottish Nationhood. Currently, Edinburg attracts over a million visitors each year from all over the world. The castle is also regarded for its astounding architecture that reflects the Gothic, Renaissance, and Norman eras.

References:

1. Hill Temples – Art and Culture notes (8 May, 2023) Prepp, Available at: https://prepp.in/news/e-492-hill-temples-art-and-culture-notes (Accessed: 6 August, 2023)
2. Building Construction in Hilly Regions and Design (2009 – 2021) the constructor, Available at: https://theconstructor.org/construction/building-construction-hilly-region/13519/ (Accessed: 6 August, 2023)
3. Castle Architecture – Elements of Castle structures (8 May, 2023) Articontext, Available at: https://artincontext.org/castle-architecture/ (Accessed: 7 August, 2023) 
4. Understanding Hill Architecture (3 May, 2017) Issuu, Available at: https://issuu.com/ankitarana56/docs/understanding_hill_architecture_3-5-17, (Accessed: 8 August, 2023) 
5. Switzerland Architecture: The traditional and Modern (9 April, 2021) Studyinginswitzerland, Available at: https://studyinginswitzerland.com/switzerland-architecture/ (Accessed: 8 August, 2023)
6. The castle (2023) Chillon, Available at: https://www.chillon.ch/en/castle/ (Accessed: 8 August, 2023)
7. Neuschwanstein Castle (2023) Britanica, Available at: https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/Resources-and-power (Accessed: 8 August, 2023) 

1. History of Amber Fort (August 19, 2019) Swantour, Available at: https://www.swantour.com/blogs/history-of-amer-fort (Accessed: 8 August, 2023)

1. Edinburg Castle – History, Architecture, Wedding and Facts (9 September, 2022) Casteumtocastle, Available at: https://castrumtocastle.com/scottish-castles/castlehill-edinburgh-castle/#:~:text=The%20architecture%20of%20this%20castle,Norman%2C%20Gothic%2C%20and%20Renaissance. (Accessed: 8 August, 2022)