Sangye Menla School

The structure of the villages reflects centuries of organic growth. The buildings are flat roofed, of a mud and stone construction, strengthened by timber beamed floors and roofs. Crafted timber windows, doors and ‘staircases’ are carved out of one big piece of timber.

Houses are made mainly from rammed earth, but adobe bricks can be seen occasionally. Rough local stones are often used on the outside wall at ground floor level.

The colours you will notice areterracotta, white, blue and the natural colour of the mud.

Local materials: timber, stone and mud.
The timber is mostly from poplar trees which are rapid growing but relatively short-lived. Poplar wood is lighter and more porous than hardwood, it is however flexible and durable. The wood doesn’t split easily. It is mainly sold as an inexpensive timber, but also widely used for manufacturing paper.