The heart of the Museum itself is a restored three-storied, traditional rammed mud and timber house, which dates back to the mid 18th century. The design and form of the house are those of an average household in the Wang (present day Thimphu) area during that era. The age of the structure demonstrates the durability of our materials, design and the skills of our construction workers.
The main features of the Bhutanese architecture are a result of natural conditions, and especially the climate. This particular climate has produced an alpine type vegetation with forest containing many species of trees such as oak, rhododendron, cypress, juniper, pine and fir. Naturally, this plentiful supply of timber has given birth to an architecture in which wood plays a major role. Shingle roofs and half timbering are very common, as the raw materials are easy to find.
Bhutanese roofs are made of pine shingles, and have a gentle slope. Stones are placed at regular intervals on laths running across the loose shingles. The weight of the stone holds them down, even during the severe windstorms at the end of winter.