Essays
Khanabadosh or Nomad Camps
This book is on traditional residential architecture but it is interesting to explore how nomadic and itinerant tribes and castes of India organize camps for their living – a part of their interesting lifestyles and a form of temporary residence for many such people of India.
Vernacular Architecture in History and Heritage Sites
Though not much remains of residential dwellings in historical times, archaeological excavations and Indian art history give many clues about the vernacular architecture in those times. The excavation reports of Mohenjodaro, Taxila, Sikrap and other sites mention very orderly planning of structures in the towns. Visible today in the excavations at Dholavira are remains of residential dwellings in circular and rectangular designs, complete with stepwells and water storage tanks.
Vernacular Form, Design, Spaces and Relevance
Vernacular architecture can best be defined as indigenous architecture of a people or locale, based on social and environmental needs and preferences, and made from locally available building material with available skills. It would include not only individual structures but collective areas like the pols of Ahmedabad and other areas of Gujarat or the mohallas of cities of northern India – complete facilities for the inhabitants, which could be group or caste specific. The concentric temple towns of the south are other such clusters. Within a repetitive format of a community template though, there was sufficient room for individual expression.
Living Traditions and the Future of Vernacular Architecture
To hope that vernacular architecture in India will stage a spectacular comeback would be
quixotic. In addition to urban areas, rural towns and even large villages have started getting
multi-storeyed concrete residences due to shortage and high price of land, along with the
natural division of families. Shortage of natural building material like timber and stone has
not helped either. It is futile to think that there can be a mass revival of vernacular styles with
their easy use of space and lesser density of residents.
A traditional Indian courtyard form adapted into a modern house, Trivandrum
