AN EXPLORATION OF PUNJAB’S VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
- B.Arch student at Lovely School of Architecture and Design, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India.
Punjab is India’s northernmost state, covering 50,362 square kilometres. It is situated in the middle Indian plains. It is bordered on the north by Jammu and Kashmir, on the east by Himachal Pradesh, and on the south by Haryana and Rajasthan. Pakistan is located to the west of the Punjab province. The plains, which cover the majority of Punjab, are fertile. This has aided in the development of large farmlands. The Shivalik range begins in Punjab’s northern districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot. Many canals have been dug out of the rivers Beas, Sutlej, and Ravi due to a lack of rainfall in Punjab. Punjab is renowned as the country’s granary and the nucleus of the green revolution.
Punjab’s history stretches from the Harappan civilization to the founding of the Sikh empire. And, as a result of this history, the state’s architectural history has evolved as well.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
- • Indo-Aryans
- • Vedic Era
- Punjab during Buddhist times
- Paninian and Kautiliyan Punjab -Empires
- Achaemenid Empire o Alexander’s invasion
- Maurya Empire
- Indo-Greek kingdom o Kushan Empire
- Gupta Empire
- Hunas
- Pala Empire — The Shahi Kingdoms and Muslim Invasion
- Ghaznavid Dynasty
- Delhi Sultanate
- Mughal Empire
- Durrani Empire & Maratha Empire
- • Sikh Rule
- Sikh Empire (1799–1849)
- •Colonial Period
ARCHITECTURAL FORMS
• Built form — Harappan civilization
Katcha houses - Semi Pucca houses- Pucca houses - Havelies — Gujur khan - Havelies — Bidowali
HARAPPAN CIVILISATION HOUSES
According to historical data, the first courtyard dwellings seem to have arisen in India around 6500–6000 BC. Mehergarh has evidence of the first village (6500–6000 BC). The settlement was made up of an irregular scatter of mud brick dwellings, and the building material was mud bricks. At Harappa, the concept of settlement planning was firmly established from the start, according to Kot Diji (prior to 2600 BC). The orientation of the streets to cardinal points distinguishes the fundamental overall structure of the towns. Both rooms are available Entrance Rooms were arranged around a central courtyard in most private dwellings. Side lanes were accessible by doors and windows. Stairs led to the second storey or roof. Shutters and latticework were used on the windows.
KATCHA HOUSES
Rooms are organized around a courtyard in a single cell (single room).In vernacular architecture, space is conceptualized as a single shelter that is subsequently divided or built to into a number of areas based on activities. It consists of a central court and rooms set at the perimeter, with one or two rectangular spaces used for cooking and other activities, with some open area around it featuring open kitchen (chulla) and a bathing area without roof.
Multiple cells were built up of a unit with two or more rooms, with space segregation arranged in such a way that the cattle were given the area closest to the entrance. After that, there’s the courtyard or semi-formal area, which is used for most of the daily chores in the evening, and then there’s the private section, which consists of bedrooms and a kitchen. All kutcha houses feature a central courtyard with a toka to feed their livestock; the rooms are modest in height and the kutcha houses have thatch roofs. A sky-lit kitchen with hara and chulla, as well as a handpump for water.
BIDOWALI — HAVELIS
The Haveli of Bidowali features a number of courtyards, the main entrance has the large wooden doors with a smaller window gate for usage while the big gate is locked. Passing through it leads to the outer courtyard, which is open to the public and contains the baithak. This is also where the tractor and trolley might be stored. In the front yard, cows and buffaloes would also be tethered. After passing through a second gate, one is in the residential sections, which includes the Zenana women’s area. A well or an underground tank in the courtyard is replenished by a water cart from a nearby river.
Material: Previously, it was mortar and a thin brick. • The number of storeys in such constructions in rural areas is usually three.
HAVELIS GUJUR KHAN
Potohar plateau is where you’ll find yourself.
During the British rule, Bakhshi Ram Singh erected this Haveli in a small village 15 kilometres from Gujur Khan. It has four stories, 32 large and small rooms, a basement, and two view towers. The following inscription can be found on the entry beam of the haveli: “This haveli was established in honour of Bakhshi Ram in 1886.” The haveli’s porch is topped by a balcony that features beautiful wood carving.
The double wooden balcony of the haveli grabs notice before entering the haveli. The balconies are distinguished by their exquisite workmanship. Both balconies’ wooden ceilings are exquisitely carved out.
The haveli’s outer front also features magnificent Jharokas, where women used to sit and watch the local bustle while remaining hidden from view of those being watched. As one enters the haveli, one notices the courtyard, which was once the major space for family gatherings and is a unique aspect of this area’s architecture.
The rooms on the first level are all large, with curved arches and fireplaces. One of the rooms also has a hidden basement that can be used as storage.
The three storeys were all built in roughly the same pattern. As one ascends the stairwell to the fourth story, though. Two towers are constructed on opposing sides of the settlement to enjoy the view. One tower was designed in the shape of a sun chamber, with windows on all sides. The other has an open platform where you can look about and smoke hukka in the evening or morning. On warm evenings, there are also large stoves constructed into the roof for cooking.
COURTYARD
In Punjab, courtyard house architecture was more than just a style. How to make a house was a way of life. Apart from being a gathering place in the evening or major hubs of activity throughout the day, they are also crucial from a climate perspective. They don’t let direct sunlight into the rooms. It also traps air in the summer, resulting in a cool interior, and the flooring is kutcha mud, which stays cool even in scorching summers because they are good thermal insulators. To prevent cracking, they are first covered with chikni mitti and then with a mixture of cow dung and mud phuska.
THE EARTHEN STOVE(CHULLA) OR OPEN TO SKY KITCHEN
This sort of stove (Chulla) is used as a secondary or primary means of cooking food in most Punjabi houses. Chulla is constructed of a unique kind of clay. You won’t need any natural gas or power; simply use wood and dung cakes to heat the stove. From the days of the earthen burner (chulla) to today’s microwaves, modern kitchens have gone a long way. Tandoors’ value and significance have not diminished despite the modifications. They are a vital and integral element of Punjabi culture. However, we rarely consider the hand.
SCALE AND PROPORTION
The court is defined by a low wall with an entrance, which also determines the scale of the house.
The dwellings’ modest profile approximates the human scale. The man’s head is almost touching or just above the bottom of the roof. The inside dimensions are adequate to accommodate the charpais, although the personal quarters are small in comparison to the court’s size. People simply built to the bare minimum of what was required, resulting in very minimal waste.
LINTELS AND DOORS
- To support the upper load, wooden pieces are placed horizontally on the top of the opening used as a doorway.
- SUPPORT WOODEN PIECES FOR THE UPPER LOAD
- • Different designs and sizes of doors were employed in residences based on the needs of the owners.
- • The main building materials were wood and iron nails, and the panels and frame were both constructed of wood.
MATERIALS
Traditional building materials such as • Nanak Shahi Bricks, • Lime • Mud • Surkhi • Carved wood • Timbers were utilised to create buildings in the city, giving the constructions a unique character.
- Nowadays, new building materials such as steel and glass bricks of various diameters are used in construction. The Nanak Shahi bricks were exceedingly thin, with a thickness of roughly 2", and have been replaced with modern bricks that are 472" thick. This gives the structure a completely different aspect.
Punjab, in Northern India, is home to a plethora of historical legends that have been carefully maintained inside its borders. So many Kings have explored Punjab’s richness and left their mark on the land through spectacular structures.The Sikh religion blossomed in Punjab many years ago, and it was the birthplace of a magnificent spiritual movement. It’s difficult to overlook the compassion and zeal displayed in the Punjabi (Punjabis) way of life. While the Punjabis are famed for their tenacity, their culture reflects a diverse range of historical civilizations.
References
https://designarchitects.art/vernacular-architecture-of-punjab