Evolution of Indian Houses
Man has always attempted to tame nature. He conquered the uncertainty of food by taming wild plants into crops, tamed rivers using dams, domesticated animals to cater to his needs. He has also fortified himself against unpredictable weather conditions by constructing a shelter, using local materials. Houses have grown and evolved along with humankind, molding themselves to culture and necessities.
As a sub-continent spanning two climate zones, India has always experienced a diverse range of temperatures and climatic activity. Therefore, it is safe to assume that houses build in different parts of the country to showcase different architectural styles meant to sustain a variety of purposes.
In older eras, houses were meant to act as a shelter against weather conditions. As villages and towns developed, houses held a more social meaning. In a collectivist society, family and housing go hand-in-hand. They were meant to sustain joint families and were passed down from generation to generation. Houses were essentially commodities; a larger, refined house reflected wealth and tradition. The common people ensured minimal cost and maximum utility, thus, constructed their houses using local materials.
Soon, each region developed its own form of local architecture. When regions were conquered and invaded, architectural styles merged to form even more complex designs. As the eras passed by and the European companies invaded India, they brought in Eurocentric ideas and colonized the regional architecture as well. Houses could now be mass-produced using machines.
Now, globalisation and urbanisation have brought forth rapid changes in the Indian housing pattern. It is no longer feasible to sustain a joint family in a city so nuclear family styles have taken over. Houses are meant to take up lesser space but provide more luxury. Cities are meant to house a huge population which cuts down on the aesthetic appeal of most neighbourhoods.
I would like to expand on a few types of indigenous houses that existed before urbanisation claimed the country:
Havelis
The Rajasthani Haveli (Mansion) was a prominent style of housing adopted by the Marwari community.
In Persian, Hawli means “an enclosed space”. The etymology is fitting since at the heart of every Haveli, was a courtyard, sometimes two! It served as a dry well and provided ventilation in the arid climate. The floors were built according to the size of the family living there.
The common building material used was baked bricks, sandstone, marble, wood, plaster and granite. The external surfaces were covered in exquisite carvings, which provided self-shade to the building and helped keep it cool. It also added aesthetic pleasantness.
Bhunga
The Kutch region of Gujrat has an extreme range of temperature; the shallow wetland submerges during the monsoon and dries up during the summers and winters. It also falls into zone 5 of seismic activity in India.
The traditional architecture of Kutch which was created to withstand all the aforementioned phenomena is called the Bhunga. The houses are circular with thatched conical roofs that protect against sandstorms and cyclonic winds. They do not share walls with other buildings which increases structural strength. The thick walls also provide thermal comfort while structurally stabilizing the house. Shelves are built into the walls to minimize wastage of floor space, and vibrant motifs and mirror work decorate the inner walls of the Bhunga. These mirrors also help light up the room.
Locally available soft stone is broken down into rectangular blocks, local soil is used to make mud mortar, bamboo and straw are used to build the thatched roofs. These ductile materials make the Bhunga lightweight and flexible.
Chang/Ikra
Just like the Kutchi architecture, Assamese houses focus on eliminating damage inflicted by seismic activity. Small, lightweight houses are constructed, one storey high. The material used to construct these houses also give it its name, Ikra, derived from the reeds used to build the walls. The roof is thatched with bamboo and timber, or build using metal sheets. Modern implements have been added to balance luxury with safety.
Another popular architectural form is the Chang house, found typically in the hilly regions. It features bamboo walls raised by stilts, which protects the houses in case of frequent flooding or landslides. These houses are always one storey high due to the threat of earthquakes. It is meant to be a socializing space, with the kitchen taking up the heart of the house. Several houses also have gardens in the front, where they cultivate their crops.
Naalukettu
Kerala had a very strong trade relationship with China. Heavily inspired by Chinese architecture, it catered to the large matrilineal family structures in Kerala. Each basic layout of this traditional mansion had 4 blocks along with the cardinal directions, arranged around a central courtyard which was exposed to the sky. This basic layout could be multiplied into 8 rooms with 2 central courtyards (Ettukettu) and 16 rooms with 4 central courtyards (Pathinarukettu). Naalukettus can be entirely built on the ground floor or can go up to three storeys high, often representing themselves as a symbol of aristocratic power.
They were constructed with teak wood or the wood from jackfruit trees as well as brick and local mud. These houses had superior ventilation that kept the house well aerated at all times, to combat the heat. Gabled windows ensured cross-ventilation and let in enough light into the attic while extended rafters protected from the heavy monsoon rains.
Agraharam
These traditional, Brahmin houses were the epitome of Tamilian Architecture. It derives its name from the garland style arrangement of the houses in the village.
Each house had a wide verandah called a thinnai, where you could socialise while being sheltered from the heat. Traditionally, only rich families used terracotta rooftops and had to seek out permission from the royal families to do so. Other families constructed a humble thatched roof.
The roof was supported by large, ornate, wooden pillars. The most striking feature of these houses is their front doors- they were always intricately carved. The flooring was coated with a red oxide that helped cool down the house. The construction of these houses largely revolved around minimizing the impact of the tropical heat.
Traditional Punjabi Bungalows
Typically showcased in Bollywood movies, these bungalows are built to sustain large, joint families. Some houses have doors leading to the neighbours’ courtyards. The nucleus of the bungalow is a courtyard, with small flower beds with an orchard in the centre of it. Major celebrations and Pujas take place within the courtyard.
The construction material used is largely composed of baked bricks with timber doors, ideal for the sweltering heat. All other rooms lie laterally to the courtyard, leading off it and a verandah runs all around the house. This is where most household activities take place.
Bengali Villas
Developed at the prime of colonial Bengal, these villas developed as an amalgamation of both European and Indian architecture. Typically one-storeyed, these villas had a wide verandah, used as a shelter from the humid days of the Bengal summer. Corinthian columns, adopted from colonial architecture, ran alongside the verandah.
The central courtyard had a Tulsi (holy basil) or a Vrindavan plant set in the middle. On one side of this courtyard is the puja mandap, set behind ornate arches where idols are placed. The woman’s pavilion is right next to this- a balcony from which women could watch street-processions from high above. Various floors were connected using stairways. Extravagant furniture, canopies, carved sandalwood chairs and tables, four-poster beds, multicoloured murals on the walls added to the lavish atmosphere.
Modern, Urban houses have access to electricity, which also allows access to artificial cooling systems, heating systems, lighting, etc. Concrete buildings with steel foundations are incredibly strong and can stand tall against the onslaught of heavy rain and wind. Anti-seismic architecture protects buildings in high-risk areas. Flats in skyscrapers allow for a larger population to reside in a smaller space, without sacrificing on luxury, comfort or amenities.
Of course, one cannot forget that globalisation has introduced a multitude of architectural styles to our nation. This has also led explains why several families attempt to design their houses with a fusion of tradition and modern architectural aspects — to connect with their cultures. In the modern era, your house reflects your identity, it is an extension of yourself. It is easy to lose your identity in urbanized cities, so we hold onto it by expressing it in our houses — adding designs, carvings, motifs, textures until its a perfect representation of who we are, as individuals, as families.
