Vernacular Architecture of India: A profound Homogenization of Unfiltered Art & Culture

Mud &Timber Architecture of Ladakh

The traditional houses of Ladakh are made of mud and sun dried bricks. The mud walls are supported with horizontally positioned timber sections. It has a huge room with an oven in the corner which is used for cooling as well as heating the interior spaces and is made entirely of mud. The walls are covered in 15–25 mm thick wet mud plaster, and they are typically thick at the bottom and progressively get thinner as they ascend. The ceiling of the house is mainly constructed with mud and wood because of their insulation-enhancing qualities and widespread availability. Slate is used to cover the ceiling to endure the extreme dry and cold climate of Ladakh. The ceilings of the houses are kept low to offer proper insulation in the area. This traps the heat and makes the temperature of the room comfortable naturally. 

Traditional Bamboo house & Ikra house of Assam

Being located in the Brahmaputra valley, Assam witnesses heavy flood almost every year. Keeping this factor in mind, the houses of Assam are made with high level of Plinth. The walls of these houses are made of timber frames inserted with Ikra panels, which is covered with 3 layers of mud and mortar plaster. The open spaces are seen in the front and backside of the house. These houses are stilted to prevent gentle floods, and it also helps to protect from heavy rains. In some parts of rural part of Assam mud houses with thatched roof are also seen.

Havelis of Rajasthan

The architectural design of the havelis of Rajasthan is the homogenous mixture of practicality and beauty. The detailing of its designs reflects the tremendous skillfulness of the artisans who were working at that time. The architecture of the haveli is characterized by central courtyard, which helps to maintain a proper lighting and ventilation and the social center for the family, Jaalis are thin transparent screen made of stone of wood offers privacy and ventilation, ornate projecting balconies or Jharokhas featured with jaali screens, used by women of the house. The exterior part of the house was built with stones mainly lime stone and sandstone. The interior of the havelis are rich in royal grandeur with precious decorative elements reflecting the royal tradition. The walls and ceilings were adorned with artifacts and paintings.

Bhunga of Kutchh in Gujarat

The typical design of the Bhunga houses of Gujarat includes a single cylindrical-shaped room topped with a conical thatch roof supported by a wooden post and rafter. The walls of these kind of houses are made up of mud bricks with three openings, one for the door and two for windows which are set at a lower level to draw a cooling breeze inside the room. The circular form of these houses offers insulation against the external environment through preventing the house from high-velocity desert winds and also it reduces the exposure to heat. This structure is earthquake resistant as it prevents the lateral forces of earthquake.