The BOHRA PARIKRAMA DESIGN PROJECT 2 56 days
ADITYA D CHIPLUNKAR Sem 5 Under the Guidance of Anuya Naik Andrea Noronha
A GLANCE AT THE BOHRAS
Bohrā, also spelled Bohorā, in general, any Shīaī Ismaīlī Muslim of the Mustalī sect, living in western India. The name is a corruption of a Gujarati word, vahaurau, meaning “to trade.” The Bohrās include, in addition to this Shīaī majority, often of the merchant class, a Sunnī minority who are usually peasant farmers. The Mustalī sect (see Ismāīlīte), which originated in Egypt and later moved its religious centre to Yemen, gained a foothold in India through missionaries of the 11th century. After 1539, by which time the Indian community had grown quite large, the seat of the sect was moved from Yemen to Sidhpur, India. A split resulted in 1588 in the Bohrā community between followers of Dāoūd ibn Quib Shāh and Sulaymān, who both claimed leadership of the community. The followers of Dāoūd and Sulaymān have since remained the two major groups within the Bohrās, with no significant dogmatic differences, the dāī, or leader, of the Dāūdīs residing in Bombay, the leader of the Sulaymānī in Yemen
Bohra Topi
From YEMEN to the WORLD
Bohras, Known by their name is a trading community, Trading since the time the community was ever born and it was only trading that took them from Yemen to the world. It all starts from Yemen, which was their cultural head, from which they took and set up on a mission for trade, sending missionaries and traders for trading purposes and well, to propagate ISLAM. Their Trading skills facilitated their settlement in the countries of Western Europe, Northern America and South West Asia.
BANASKANTHA
AHMEDABAD
PORT OF CANBAY VADODARA (KHAMBAT) Bohras – And Gujarat Port of Cambay now known as Khambat in Gujarat was their gateway to India. It was in the year 1067 A.D when the Shia Sect of Muslims, sent their missionaries, saints , and traders to India and this was followed by large numbers then after. The Shias of Gujarat are mainly Bohras. The Present Bohras are descendants an refuges from Arabia and Egypt, but converted Hindu, mostly believed to be Brahmins and Banias.
SURAT
Bohras have a very unique housing pattern, the entire space is been divided into number of small small places based on its functional and traditional aspect. The dimensions of these spaces vary from house to house. The interesting part is, every space has its own story to tell.
What is a Chowk? In the house one sees the real charechteristic quality. Chowk defines the nature of the houses. It’s a fairly good open space covered with grill which allows the natural light to play and ventilate in the house. Chowk is considered to be the transitional place. It connects you to the entire house. The chowk is culturally very important and relevant as it has a small opening for natural light and all the activities in and around the house take place here. Activities like kitchen, washing drinking water storage are important determinants of “chowk”. Attached to this is a small living space called baharni parcal. The chowk is a transitional space beteen the kitchen, ordi, mohri and bahrni parcal. Chowk is a very important space in a bohras muslim houses as it acts like an opening to the other parts of the house. Its even joins you to the staircase and a place to store things called as “ordi”. Chowk is a welcoming place. Bohras muslims being introverts make it point to spends lavishly on the home décor. They like living king size and thus they want the chowk to reveal their status.
CLIENT STUDY -
Home owners - Mr Yusufbhai Attarwala Mrs Attarwala Location - 84, Kuthbi Mohalla, Kalupur Tower road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Occupation - Business in cane furniture Wheel making. Age - Fifties
Language - Gujarati, Hindi , English, Arabic(during prayer)
Family interactions - Frequent Children- 2 sons One studying CA, One working as an Engineer.
REQUIREMENTS -
DRAWINGS
A WALK THROUGH -
This is the very first view you would be clashing with once you enter the houses. The elements introduced in the space are blending well with each other. The chest, the shoe rack and the seating are very comfortably settled and there is still the same peace as it was earlier. The activities have increased but the calmness is still the same. The Chowk has got an altogether new look and its surprising to see that a place still reflects it charachter.
After
Before
Considering all the requirements by the client and summarizing the traditional and the ethnic values of the religion I created this plan where in I tried giving the client all what she wants but also tried giving her a sense of culture through it.
The yellow lights and the darkwood, the beige walls and the brass metallic light fittings, the forst textured glass and the serene marble flooring seems mingling very well with each other. The environment create serves the lavish need of the client and the cater to the Bohra tradition.
I have introduced a small seating near the shoe rack, firstly it will be beneficial for the person while wearing his shoes, secondly all trespassers like salesman and other vendors can be accommodated there.
Pushing the block beneath the window on either sides of the houses gave me a possibility of providing a storage space for footwear. Giving them shutters gave them the proper bohra look as well as served the function. Bohras carry the tradition of putting shutters since old times. They took tis from Yemen where they used Venetian screens in their bathrooms.
I thought of adding a chest sort of furniture at the entrance that will not only add a different type of character to the space but will also prove to be functionally very important. It can be a good storage space for keeping things like bill books, newspaper piles. This furniture piece will be a good introduction in the space as it won’t eat more space and will make the space look more lavish.
The wall opposite to the staircase was vacant. I added a big mirror on it, just a thought to make the space bigger and since the staircase is considerably long a big mirror with a pleasant Bohra frame can surely make the space look worthy. The metallic shade on this wall is again an element of surprise which adds a shine to the wall.
After The storage space under the staircase has been enhanced with the help of the frost glass and the brass knobs which certainly excels than the previous design. The redesigned staircase can be a great display right in front of your eyes when you enter the house. The rich dark walnut wood with the light frost glass doesn’t look heavy and thus will be a great expression of display.
Before
I wanted a strong visual connection to happen just the moment a visitor enters the house. I wanted to attract all the attention of the guest’s eyes above the ground floor. And hence I have painted he very opposite wall in fade scarlet. it just not only connects the guests eyes but also adds a lot of visual balance to the space.
The light fittings adds a lot to the aesthetic beauty of the space. It changes the entire atmosphere of the space. The brass light fittings adds a lot to the Bohras tradition. The light make With yellow light this space looks like a lavish palace, the lights and the light fittings reflect the bohra culture and thus serve the cliental needs as wells caters to the Bohra tradition
Looking up at the sky from the chowk provided me with a possibility of extracting more sunlight through the jali, as well to add a sense of aesthetic to it. This new jail will not only serve the function of providing more sunlight but aesthetically also look better than the previous one. Replacing this Jali makes the space look more taller and spacious.
Before
After
There were some visual connections which I thought would add a sense of Bohra feeling and the lavish air to the space. I wanted my space to be seen not only from the bottom but even from a considerable height. Adding a chandelier to the jail up can emit light and lit the balusters so beautifully that looking at it from a height can actually attract your attention. With the arc coming on top of it can reduce the spark but, the yellow emission will surely grasp your attention.
This view had the maximum visual connections, take it the form of colours, in the form of visuals. This is the first place you look at when you enter he house, and it had to look good. Adding a light source makes the space elegant and rich. The scarlet colour wall balances the entire space of beiges and creams. And the gloss on it reflects the light as well.
With the day light and shadows, the space looks neat and clean, care had to be taken that the scarlet wall doesn’t look too attractive and loses the essence of the space, because bohras prefer creams and beiges, but I wanted to give this house one element of surprise which doesn’t eat up the essence but gradually adds a variety to the space.
Before
Not much of the change is been done to the main entrance of the houses as it was at its best. The faรงade of the houses was culturally very strong and had a strong resemblance to the status of the people staying in. Some minor changes like the grill of the security door is been changed to an intricate latticed grill from the normal one and iIchanged the colour of the faรงade and added a ceiling spot light as it used to be too dark at the khadki and dehlij.
After
Grill work for the safety door.
COLOUR, MATERIALS AND FINISHES -
COLOUR PALETTE -
MOOD BOARD -
There are some elements which I would like to retain, the intricate patterns on wood are the symbol of richness and heritage. The dark wood acts like a catalyst to emit them out. The patterns are age old and still give the same feeling as they might be giving years back.
The wooden balusters with the intricate pattern work are the big determinants in distinguishing this house with any other normal house.
The colour, material and finish was been closely scrutinysed to achieve the desired essence of the place. Care was been taken to achieve maximum closure with the help of the material and finishes used in the space. Bohras being introverts, spend lavishly on their home decor and furnishings Being a business community , they like showcasting their status, through the furniture and the interior finishes.
I have introduced two false ceilings with an intricate wooden pattern on it. The jali pattern caters the traditional as well the aesthetic funtion very well. The false ceiling give the perfect light as there is light control. Though they are termed as “false ceilings� they cater a true shelter of tradition to the space.
The mirror in front of the staircase is been given a proper bohra inspired pattern. Its in brass and gives the glass an ethnic finish. Brass with the contrast of the silver metallic wall looks elegant and gives an altogether new look to the wall.
I tried introducing a centre tile on the floor. The centre tile is just the core area which gets the maximum sunlight. Its like a visual connection between the sky and the ground. Its not only adds to the flooring beauty but also resembles the communication pattern of the Bohras. The design of the centre tile is been inspired with the intricate wooden patterns on the staircase. Just to show the relation between the wooden staircase and the floor. The centre tile is made up of brown and white marble.