Two Naga workers are seen actively involved in a construction work using bamboo in Nihoto village. The duo received specialised training in bamboo craftsmanship from the Bamboo Resource Centre in Sovima. (Morung Photo)
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Local architects share insights, challenges & progress
Kanili Kiho
Dimapur | November 13
Construction practices and techniques in Nagaland have been rapidly evolving over the years.
In the past, Naga houses were made of timber, bamboo, thatch and other locally available materials and close-knit community constructed dwellings with traditional expertise, reflecting the culture’s resourcefulness and sustainable practices.
This gradually progressed to semi-pukka houses with half-wall brick structures and ikra houses, made from bamboo, wood, and mud plaster.
As people’s aspirations grew, the last decade has witnessed a huge rise in multi-storeyed brick and mortar buildings, with the RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) framed structures becoming the norm.
Sharing these observation in an interview with The Morung Express, Architect Apokla Jamir noted that the urban areas are witnessing a major upsurge of modern commercial buildings with expansive glass facades.
With a BArch degree from Bangalore University and MPlan (Urban Planning) degree from SPA, Jamir has over a decade of experience in design and planning and co-partner of Dimapur-based architectural firm ‘ARiio Designs.’
Since its formation in 2015, the team has completed a large number of residential, commercial, institutional and church projects
Jamir further highlighted that in cities like Dimapur and Kohima, the use of steel structures is on the rise due to their faster construction time and better performance in high seismic zones.
However, she noted that these structures require specialised engineering and precision in their execution.
Advances in materials and technology are enabling construction professionals to build faster, taller, and with wider spans, she added.
For instance, bamboo, once seen as a simple building material, is now used not only for temporary structures but also to create iconic, sustainable buildings—“something that our forefathers could not have possibly imagined,” she cited.
With ever evolving technology construction practices and techniques are rapidly advancing and these days, everyone wants a home that is modern in style with interiors that is mostly inspired by what we see in the digital media, Jamir explained.
It is moving from a contextual approach to a more global approach, considered universally appealing and acceptable, she added.
Innovations transforming projects
In terms of technological innovations, construction professionals are able to execute projects faster and with more accuracy because of advancements in building programmes and software.
Possible bottlenecks and loopholes are identified and rectified during the design stage, before the projectbegins on-site, thereby saving time and costs during the execution phase, Jamir shared.
The look and feel of the finished building can be previewed in advance, while coordination between the contractor, consultant, and client has become seamless, she added.
The Architect highlighted that other innovations, such as using modern materials like steel and drywall, are reducing dependence on scarce resources like water and sand in cities like Kohima, positively impacting overall construction costs.
Meanwhile, she advocated for the need to be intentional in building structures that are contextually responsive to ‘our’ time, place and location, while still honouring ‘our’ vernacular roots.
“So that in the near future our towns and cities do not end up looking like carbon copies of one another,” she stated.
Lack of regulations
For Architect Chubakumla Pongener, although Nagaland’s construction sector is one of the fastest growing industries, it is currently operating in a disorganised and uncontrolled manner as well as facing hurdles due to the absence of official building by-laws.
Among many key challenges faced by professionals, she highlighted unskilled labour, lack of local resources, delays in material supply, and limited awareness on building regulations, all of which impact project timelines and costs.
Pongener graduated in 2016 and began her career as an intern architect in Mumbai in 2015, where she worked for a year. After graduation, she freelanced in Nagaland for several months before joining the renowned Bhumiputra Architecture firm in Bangalore as a junior architect.
After almost a year, she returned to Nagaland in 2018 and has since been practising as a freelance architect, completing various projects in interior design, landscape, and architecture. In 2024, she launched her firm, 'Atelier Nuri,' in Dimapur.
Echoing similar concerns about the lack of regulations, Jamir noted that many projects proceed without consulting architects or engineers, a practice she described as both dangerous and costly.
To this end, both the architects called for a control mechanism to ensure safe development of towns and cities that aligns with sustainability goals and minimise the negative environment impact.
Educating clients and workers the importance of adhering to by-laws to enhance project quality and safety, they concurred.
However, Pongener pointed out that convincing clients to adhere to basic building by-laws is challenging due to a significant knowledge gap, making it difficult to ensure safety and compliance.
To her knowledge, while there are no specialised training programmes for labourers in advanced tools like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), she trains her team to access digital drawings, enhancing their understanding and accuracy before starting any project.
As labourers she has worked with mostly rely on their practical, hands-on experience on-site, she maintained that such trainings bridges the gap between traditional methods and modern technology, improving overall project efficiency.
Empowering Labourers
Emphasising the vital role of construction workers, Pongener stated that they are the backbone of hands-on project execution.
While architects, engineers, and designers focus on digital planning and design, labourers handle the physical aspects of construction, the on-site experience and practical knowledge of labourers are essential in turning architectural visions into reality, she added.
Accordingly, she opined that when labourers are trained to use innovative solutions, they can contribute significantly to problem solving. Their blend of traditional practices and new technologies fosters creative solutions that enhance efficiency and productivity, saving time and reducing the risk of costly delays, she elaborated.
The 'Atelier Nuri’ founder also maintained that empowerment of labourers with knowledge of modern tools would improve safety standards on construction sites, adding: “They are often the first to identify potential hazards, and with access to digital resources and training, they can better assess risks and implement safety measures.”
Hence, she called for investing in the training and resources for labourers, which is essential for advancing the construction industry.
Fostering an environment where workers thrive with new technologies enhances communication, promotes innovation, saves time, improves safety, and leads to more successful projects and a resilient construction sector, she added.
This is the third report of the four-part series highlighting the experiences and challenges faced by the construction industry in Nagaland as part of the KPC-NBOCWWB Media Fellowship 2024.
