Vernacular Rajasthan

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF

RAJASTHAN
• With time a lot of settlements were developed around the area of Rajasthan
having different kind of construction techniques, design features using locally
available materials like mud, stone, thatch. Different techniques were evolved to
sustain in the hot and humid region.
• Each region mostly composed of small villages. Surrounded by a fence of
thorns and stacks of chaff the Rajasthan village is like a small fort.
• Generally houses in villages are made in mud and locally available
material.
• But the huts do not have a uniform shape. Mud mixed with dry grass is
commonly used for walls and there is thatched roof made of bamboo,
grass and twigs.
• Some houses have roofs made of tiles or unbaked bricks
Planning:
Houses are provided with small openings as
sandy winds generally blows. Rooms are on the
periphery of the court. Front has two raised
surface (chabootara) on either side of
entrance. The door height
is generally 5 feet.
Construction:
Walls are made of bricks and plastered in mud mortar.
The thatch roof has bamboo as purlins and rafters.
MATERIALS USED IN VERNACULAR BUILDINGS
1. COB:-
Cob is a technique of building monolithic walls using
“cobs” of moist earth
and straw. To make cob mixing of local earth with
sand and/or clay (depending on the composition of
the base earth) and straw or other fibrous materials
is done to create a stiff mud which is formed into
small loaves (cobs). They are then mashed together
to form a monolithic wall on top concrete foundation
or stone. It is fireproof, resistant to seismic activity,
and inexpensive. It can be used to create artistic,
sculptural forms and has been revived in recent years
by the natural building and sustainability movements.
2. Adobes :-
Adobes are sun-dried mud bricks stacked
with a mud mortar to create thick-walled
structures. Adobe bricks are made with a
completely saturated mixture of clay and
sand , poured or pressed into forms, which
are then removed. After the bricks have
dried for several days, they are turned on
edge for further drying, and then stacked for
transport or for use on site.
3. Earthen Floors
The technique involves pouring or tamping one or
several layers of an earth mixture over a substrate
of gravel, or sand . Hardening agents such as lime
or glue may be added.
•VERNACULAR ASPECTS OF A TOWN

• Security in towns was ensured by the means of strong walls and
hills.
• The town was divided into wards connected by narrow streets
and lanes.
• The temples, wells, gardens and palaces were important parts of
these towns.
• Narrow lanes and compact buildings meant more shade in the
pathways and eased movement in extreme climatic conditions.
• Height of buildings is large compared to the street width to create
shaded zones on the ground.
• Mostly blank walls and small openings to protect from dusty
winds, windows had small perforations and often screened by
jaalis.
• Orientation was mainly along east-west
• Havelis were generally located in the region.
VERNACULAR ASPECTS OF A HAVELI

•The haveli or residence defined the private space of the people

and formed the bulk
of properties in a town.
• Havelis have a common architectural pattern which serves the
purpose of utility,
durability, safety and beauty.
•In its simplest form a haveli comprises of a central courtyard with a
high building
mass all around.
•Most of the havelis have an outer and an inner chowk (court).
•Havelis can have more than two courtyards also.
•Large number of jharokas and chajjas on the façade
•Deeply carved pattern on the façade
The main entrance or “toran dwar” on a raised plinth
defined by a huge gateway
with two gokhas (arched space with pillars) provided
access to the haveli.
• The outer poli (transtional space) leads to the outer
chowk having a baithak on either side used as a
reception and sitting room.
• The inner poli leads to the inner chowk having several
sets of rooms known as sal attached to a semi covered
space known as tibari.
• Rasoi or kitchen and a parinda or water room are
arranged around the chowk.
• There was a separate room where images of family
deities were kept for daily worship.
The centre of the courtyard had a small square which was kept kachcha for
draining the water
and at times had the Tulasi Chaura (sacred basil).
• Nisherni or stairs provided access to the upper floors. The upper storey
consisted of bigger
rooms which were sometimes beautifully painted.
• Small storage spaces called Duchhati were included in the rooms. Chhat or
terrace had
structures for storing bedding for sleeping on the terrace.
• A separate nohra or space for facilities like keeping domestic animals and
rooms for servants
or guests was also part of the haveli.
•The built form of the haveli continuously evolved. Depending upon affluence and size
of the family the number of chowks or courts in the havelis varied.
•There exist havelis with one, two, three and four courts. However one and two
chowk havelis are most common.
1. COURTYARDS
The havelis of Rajasthan used chowks and
their elements as the perfect architectural
response to the state’s diverse culture and
climate. A courtyard continues to define
the perfect spatial organisation of
those times, being the heart of the haveli,
it also served as a micro-climate modifier.
2. RESPONSE TO CLIMATE
In hot climates where cooling is a
necessity,buildings with internal courtyards were
considered the most appropriate. It acted as a perfect
shading technique, while also allowing light inside.
The arcade along the court, or the high wall around
it, kept the interiors cool.
3. JHAROKHA
Jharokha is a projecting window from the wall, in
an upper floor, overlooking a market, courtyard
any other open space decorated with intricate
lattice work and carvings. They bring in light and
filter out dust because of jaalis and small
openings.These openings are shaded with
projections covered all around with perforations
allows cooling of air. It also helps to shade the
building facade.
THANK YOU
REFERENCE:-
 THE MANUAL OF TROPICAL BUILDING AND HOUSING
 http://talkarchitecture.in/indian-vernacular-architect
ure-rajasthan/
 https://www.google.co.in/search?q=VERNACULAR+A
RCHITECTURE+OF+RAJASTHAN&tbm=isch&tbo=u&so
urce=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjnjYy1p5XXAhXMP48
KHch9C7oQsAQIKw&biw=1366&bih=662
 http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1992/the-
vernacular-architecture-of-rajasthan

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VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF

•The haveli or residence defined the private space of the people

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