Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper reports a unique lime construction technology practiced to create natural air cooling in late 15th century Mughal’s summer palace in western India, Farah Bagh. The materials used in construction were characterized through analytical examinations; sieve analysis, petrological thin section, XRF, XRD, FTIR, EDX and SEM photomicrographs. The lime plaster is made up of lithologically heterogeneous clasts and embedded with porous potsherds/brick pieces. The special type of plaster is capable of absorbing moisture from surrounding fountains that escaped slowly through the outerplaster layer in dry hot season leading to a cool environment. The heterogeneous aggregates, local sand and organic additives like jute fibers and dry paddy stem provided desired porosity, strength, durability and flexibility to the plaster. The high open porosity of air lime and hygric nature of potsherds contributed towards the exchange of moisture from the underlying materials without causing any functional instability. Moreover, the large brick pieces and potsherds mainly worked as aggregates and did not contribute towards hydrolicity of the plaster. The analytical results are important to prepare compatible materials for major restoration of the site.
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