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Contents
Certificate i
Dedication ii
Acknowledgements iii
Abstract iv-v
List of Tables x
List of Figures xi-xv
Contents of Compact Disc xvi
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Preamble 1
1.2 Background 2
1.3 Broad Goal and Objectives 5
1.4 Scope and Limitations of the Study 6
1.5 Choice of Study Area 7
1.6 Structure of the Thesis 9
1.7 Need for Review of Literature 10
Chapter 2 Literature Review 12
2.1 Overview 12
2.2 Conceptual Ideas Arising Out of Earlier Studies 13
2.3 Changes in Design Process 19
2.4 Domestic Architecture of the Region – Coorg 22
2.4.1 Orientation and Space System 23
2.4.2 Spaces and Built Components of Ainamane 23 2.5 Domestic Architecture of Kerala 26
2.5.1 Overview 26
2.5.2 Salient Features 27
2.5.3 Nomenclature in Domestic Architecture 29
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2.5.4 Description of Built Forms 29
2.6 Impact of Social, Economic Technological Changes 37
2.7 Inferences and Basic Considerations 38
Chapter 3 Methodology 44
3.1 Overview 44
3.1.1 Towards a Post-Traditional House in India 45
3.1.2 Traditional and Modern 45
3.2 Study of Space Systems and Identification of Design
Elements for Adaptation as Linkages 50
3.2.1 ‘Analysis of Site’ (Vastuvinyasavidhi) 50
3.2.1.1 Divisions of Plot 50
3.2.1.2 Vithivinyasa and Padavinyasa 51 3.2.2 Dimensional and Orientation Systems
(Maanabhedayonyadinirnayah) 53 3.2.3 ‘Layout and Planning of Salas’(Salavidhanam) 54 3.3 Physical Design Elements as Linkages 56
3.3.1 ‘Minimal Opening’ (Sootram) 58
3.3.2 Shape of Roof and Role of Air Vents at
‘Roof Slab Level’ (Thattummukal) 59 3.3.3 ‘Grill’ (Azhi) as a Feature Over the Openings 61 3.3.4 Charupadi (Seat for Reclining) as a Feature 62 3.4 Linkages from Traditional Systems Applied in Design
and Construction of a “Post-Traditional’ House 63 3.4.1 Traditional Concept of ‘Centrality’ 63 3.4.2 Dimensional Coordination with ‘Human Standard’
(Manusyapramanam) 65
3.4.3 The ‘Courtyard Enclosure’ (Nadumuttam) 66
3.4.4 ‘Minimal Openings’ (Sootram) 67
3.4.5 Air Vents at ‘Roof Slab Level’ (Thattummukal) 67 3.4.6 Traditional Inclined ‘Grill’ (Azhi) for openings 69
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3.4.7 ‘Traditional Seats’ (Charupadi) 70
3.5 Summary 70
Chapter 4 Experiment and Evaluation through Design and Construction of a ‘Post-Traditional’ House 74
4.1 Overview 74
4.2 Designing ‘Post-Traditional’ House 74
4.2.1 Needs of the Occupants 74
4.2.2 Description of the Site 75
4.2.3 Plot Analysis 76
4.2.4 Developing Design Footprint (Vastumandala) 77 4.2.5 Analyzing Design Footprint (Vastumandala) 79
4.2.6 Developing Floor Plans 81
4.2.7 Elements Adapted from Traditions as Linkages 83 4.3 Material and Construction System of a Post Traditional House 90 4.3.1 Laterite Stone as Material System 90 4.3.2 Dressing of Laterite Stone and Masonry Work 91 4.3.3 Views of ‘Post Traditional’ House 93 4.4 Experiments, Evaluation and Analyses 94
4.4.1 Assessing Comfort Conditions 94
4.4.2 Wind Movements in Built Form 96
4.4.2.1 Wind Movements on the Ground Floor 98 4.4.2.2 Wind Movements on the First Floor 103 4.4.2.3 Wind Movements on the Terrace 106 4.4.2.4 Temperature Variations at Ground Floor 108 4.4.2.5 Temperature Variations at First Floor 108 4.4.2.6 Illumination Levels at Ground Floor 110 4.4.2.7 Illumination Levels at First Floor 115 4.4.2.8 Comparison with Standard Illumination
Levels 119
4.4.2.9 Evaluation by Comparison with a
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Traditional Built Form 120
4.4.2.10 Evaluation by Comparison with a
Modern Built Form 121
4.4.3 Response Survey on Adapting Linkages 122 4.5 Results and Discussions 125
4.5.1 Comfort Conditions 125
4.5.2 Results of Wind Movement Study 126
4.5.3 Comparisons of temperatures in Three Built-forms 127
4.5.4 Discussions 128
Chapter 5 Conclusion 130
5.1 Introductory Remarks 130
5.2 General Findings, Conclusion and Discussions 130
5.2.1 Study of Traditional Systems for Continuity 130
5.2.2 Designing a Modern House as ‘Post-Traditional’ 131
5.2.3 Comfort Conditions Achieved 131
5.2.4 Public Response to Planned Adaptation of Linkages from Traditions 131
5.3 Utility of the Research 131
5.4 Scope for Further Research 132
References 133
Appendix A Documentation Images – Traditional Architecture of Kerala 140
Appendix B ‘Post Traditional’ House Construction 150
Appendix C Glossary of Traditional Terminology 163
Appendix D Response Survey Sheets 166
Appendix E POE – Equipments Used 174
Appendix F Window Options 178
Curriculum Vita 185
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List of Tables
Table: 3.1 Octal System of Dimensions (Thampuran and Prabhu 1991) 54
Table: 4.1 Comparisons of Costs of Masonry Units Used Construction in Kerala (Source: Schedule of Rates, Public Works Department, Kerala State, India.
PWD Manual, 1980). 91
Table: 4.2 ASHRAE scale of thermal comfort (Krishan A., 2001) 94
Table: 4.3 Minimum and Maximum Illumination Levels Recorded on a day 119 (Source: Author)
Table: 4.4 Comparison of temperature difference- Post traditional vs. Traditional 120 (Source: Author)
Table: 4.5 Comparison of temperature difference- Post traditional vs. Modern 121 (Source: Author)
Table 4.6: Response survey sample form based on Malcom Wells’
Evaluation Method (Source: Author) 122
Table 4.7: Statements Incorporated in Response Survey Form (Source: Author) 123
Table: 4.8 Sample Responses Received in Survey (Source: Author) 124
Table: 4.9 Comparison of temperature levels in three built form types 127 (Source: Author)
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List of Figures
(All figures, unless otherwise mentioned, are made/drawn by the author.)
Chapter 1 Page
Figure 1.1: Traditional Residential Built Forms in Kerala, India 2 Figure 1.2: Architectural change through cultural periods 3
Chapter 2 Page
Figure 2.1: Architectural change in one cultural period 14 Figure 2.2: Diagrammatic representation of architectural change as a phenomenon 16 Figure 2.3: Comparison of Traditional and Modern Design Process 19 Figure 2.4: Traditional Architecture of Coorg- A Typical Ainemane
(Author, Based on Somaya B., Mascarenhas, P.V., (2005),
Silent Sentinels – Traditional Architecture of Coorg, The HECAR Foundation) 22 Figure 2.5: Traditional Architecture of Coorg- Space System on Site
(Author, Based on Somaya B., Mascarenhas, P.V., (2005),
Silent Sentinels – Traditional Architecture of Coorg, The HECAR Foundation) 24 Figure 2.6: Traditional Design Grammar, Sense of Proportion and
Craftsmanship 27
Figure 2.7: Padippura, Poomukhom and Nadumuttam 27
Figure 2.8: Traditional Built Form Types – Salas 28 Figure 2.9: Types of Ekasalas (Single Built Form) 29 Figure 2.10: Types of Dvisalas (Double Built Form) 30 Figure 2.11: Types of Thrisalas (Triple Built Form) 30 Figure 2.12: Types of Chatussalas (Four Built Forms) 31
Figure 2.13: Types of Padippuras (Gate House) 32
Figure 2.14: Poomukhom (Reception at Entrance) 32
Figure 2.15: Nedumcheri Mana – A typical Ettukettu
(Source: Students’ Documentation) 34
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Figure 2.16: List of Built Forms and ancillary structures in Nedumcheri Mana 34 (Source: Students’ Documentation)
Figure 2.17: Patthayappura – The Granary 35
Figure 2.18: Kulappura – The Bath House attached to the private pond 35 Figure 2.19: Access space for women folks, Shed for thrashing grain 36 Figure 2.20: Sarpakkavu – The Sacred Grove for Snake Worship 36 Figure 2.21: Architectural Change in Kerala as a Lifestyle Statement 38
Figure 2.22: Discontinuity in use of built forms 38
Figure 2.23: Transformations in nomenclature from traditional to modern 39
Figure 2.24: Architectural Authenticity 40
Chapter 3 Page
Figure: 3.1 Methodology Chart 44
Figure: 3.2 Division of Plot and Preferred Location for House 51
Figure: 3.3 Vithivinyasa and Padavinyasa 52
Figure: 3.3(a) Manusyapramanam – Human Standards 53
(Source: A Text Book of Vastuvidya, Vastuvidyapratisthanam, Calicut)
Figure: 3.4 Traditional Built Form Types – Salas 55 Figure: 3.5 Location of Physical Design Elements in Traditional House Form 57 Figure: 3.6 Location of Minimal Opening (Sootram) 58 Figure: 3.7(1) Shapes of Roofs and their details in Kerala 59
(Source:Thampuran, A., (2001), Traditional Architectural Forms of Malabar Coast, Calicut: Vastuvidyapratisthanam)
Figure: 3.7(2) Floor level ventilations in attic below roof 60
Figure: 3.8 Traditional and Modern Roofs 60
Figure: 3.9 Articulation of Openings in Traditional Systems 61
Figure: 3.10 Articulation of Resting Spaces 62
Figure: 3.11(1) Analysis of Site as Linkage 63
Figure: 3.11(2) Analysis of Site as Linkage 64
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Figure: 3.11(3) Analysis of Site as Linkage 64
Figure: 3.11(4) Analysis of Site as Linkage 65
Figure: 3.12(1) Manusyapramanam as Linkage 65
Figure: 3.12(2) Manusyapramanam as Linkage 66
Figure: 3.13 Nadumuttam (Courtyard) as a linkage 66 Figure: 3.14 Soothram (Minimal Opening) as a linkage 67 Figure: 3.15 Air vents at roof slab level as a linkage 67 Figure: 3.16 Connecting air vents at various levels 68
Figure: 3.17 Inclined grills 69
Figure: 3.18 Charupadi- the traditional built in seat 70 Figure: 3.19 Linkages applied on ground floor in ‘Post-Traditional’ Built form 71 Figure: 3.20 Linkages applied on first floor and roof in ‘Post-Traditional’ 72 Built form
Chapter 4 Page
Figure 4.1: Location Plan of the Plot for Proposed Post Traditional House 75 Figure 4.2: Kerala Building Rules applicable to the plot 76 Figure 4.3: Plot Analysis – Setbacks and Available Area 77 Figure 4.4: Developing Vastumandala (Design Footprint) – Step 1 77 Figure 4.5: Manusyapramana – Traditional Human Dimensional System 78 (Source: Prabhu and Achyuthan (1996), Vastuvidyapravesika –
A Text Book of Vastuvidya, Calicut: Vastuvidyapratisthanam)
Figure 4.6: Developing Vastumandala (Design Footprint) – Step 2 78 Figure 4.7: Developing Vastumandala (Design Footprint) – Step 3 79
Figure 4.8: Vithivinyasa and Padavinyasa 79
Figure 4.9: Vithivinyasa and Padavinyasa of plot and proposed design footprint 80 Figure 4.10: Overlapping zones of permitted area and proposed area of built form 80
Figure 4.11: Ground Floor Plan 81
Figure 4.12: First Floor Plan 82
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Figure 4.13: Terrace Floor Plan 82
Figure 4.14: Linkage – Sootram ‘Minimal Opening’ 84
Figure 4.15: Linkage – Nadumuttam ‘Central Court’ 84
Figure 4.16: Linkage – Nilavara ‘Sacred Space and Store’ 85 Figure 4.17: Linkage – Charupadi ‘Seats for Reclining and Rest’ 85 Figure 4.18: Linkage – Multi Shuttered Corner Windows 86 Figure 4.19: Linkage – Azhi – Grills for Openings 86 Figure 4.20: Linkage – Thattummukal – Vents at Slab Level 86 Figure 4.21: Design Element Linkages from Traditions on Ground Floor 88 Figure 4.22: Design Element Linkages from Traditions on Upper Floors 89 Figure 4.23: Dressing of Laterite Stone and Masonry Work 92 Figure 4.24: Views of the Post Traditional House 93 Figure: 4.25 Locations of Wind Movement Recordings on Ground Floor 98 Figure: 4.26 Anemometer recordings on different types of openings 98 Figure: 4.27(1) - Wind through North Openings at 10.00 AM 99 Figure: 4.27(2) - Wind through East Openings at 10.00 AM 99 Figure: 4.27(3) - Wind through South Openings at 10.00 AM 100 Figure: 4.27(4) - Wind through West Openings at 10.00 AM 100 Figure: 4.28 Wind flow pattern on ground floor, Brahmasthanam and the
cut out above 101
Figure: 4.29 Locations of Wind Movement Recordings on First Floor 103 Figure: 4.30(1) - Wind through North Openings at 10.00 AM 103 Figure: 4.30(2) - Wind through East Openings at 10.00 AM 104 Figure: 4.30(3) - Wind through South Openings at 10.00 AM 104 Figure: 4.30(4) - Wind through West Openings at 10.00 AM 104 Figure: 4.31 - Wind through West Openings at 10.00 AM 105 Figure: 4.32(a) - Wind patterns caused by the sequence of openings
from lower floors 106
Figure: 4.32(b) - Wind patterns caused by the sequence of openings
from floor to floor 107
Figure: 4.33 Temperature readings for Ground Floor 108
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Figure: 4.34 Temperature readings for First Floor 108 Figure: 4.35 Locations of illumination level readings on ground floor 110 Figure: 4.36(1) - Illumination Levels W1 to E1 grid at 10.00 AM 110 Figure: 4.36(2) - Illumination Levels W2 to E2 grid at 10.00 AM 111 Figure: 4.36(3) - Illumination Levels W3 to E3 grid at 10.00 AM 111 Figure: 4.36(4) - Illumination Levels W4 to E4 grid at 10.00 AM 111 Figure: 4.36(5) - Illumination Levels W5 to E5 grid at 10.00 AM 112 Figure: 4.37(1) - Illumination Levels W1 to E1 grid at 1.00 PM 112 Figure: 4.37(2) - Illumination Levels W2 to E2 grid at 1.00 PM 112 Figure: 4.37(3) - Illumination Levels W3 to E3 grid at 1.00 PM 113 Figure: 4.37(4) - Illumination Levels W4 to E4 grid at 1.00 PM 113 Figure: 4.37(5) - Illumination Levels W5 to E5 grid at 1.00 PM 113 Figure: 4.38(1) - Illumination Levels W1 to E1 grid at 4.00 PM 114 Figure: 4.38(2) - Illumination Levels W2 to E2 grid at 4.00 PM 114 Figure: 4.38(3) - Illumination Levels W3 to E3 grid at 4.00 PM 114 Figure: 4.38(4) - Illumination Levels W4 to E4 grid at 4.00 PM 115 Figure: 4.38(5) - Illumination Levels W5 to E5 grid at 4.00 PM 115 Figure: 4.39 - Illumination Levels Recording Spots on First Floor 115 Figure: 4.40(1) - Illumination Bedroom-Dining-Kitchen at 10.00 AM 116 Figure: 4.40(2) - Illumination Puja-Living-Entry at 10.00 AM 116 Figure: 4.40(3) - Illumination Bedroom – Living - Stairs at 10.00 AM 116 Figure: 4.41(1) - Illumination Bedroom – Dining - Kitchen at 1.00 PM 117 Figure: 4.41(2) - Illumination Puja – Living - Entry at 1.00 PM 117 Figure: 4.41(3) - Illumination Bedroom – Living - Stairs at 1.00 PM 117 Figure: 4.42(1) - Illumination Bedroom – Dining - Kitchen at 4.00 PM 118 Figure: 4.42(2) - Illumination Puja – Living - Entry at 4.00 PM 118 Figure: 4.42(3) - Illumination Bedroom – Living - Stairs at 4.00 PM 118 Figure: 4.43 – Readings of Temperature and Illumination in Cheloor House 120 Figure: 4.44 – Readings of Temperature and Illumination in a Modern House 121 Figure 4.45 Wind flow pattern on ground floor due to ‘minimal openings’ 126
Figure: 4.46 Linkages as a Visual Statement 128
