Vernacular architecture of PUNJAB

CAYSER HUSSAIN

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311211251007

MARG INSTITUTE OF DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE SWARNABHO OMI (MIDAS)

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PUNJAB – VERNACULAR STUDY

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LOCATION MAP

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GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION

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HISTORICAL BACKROUND

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BUILTFORMS • HARAPPAN HOUSES • KUTCHA HOUSES • HAVELIS

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ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

CONTENTS

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LOCATION AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

Located in northern part of Indian sub continent. This region is enclosed between Himalayas in the north, rajputana desert in the south, Chandigarh in the east and Pakistan in the west.

INDIA ARABIAN SEA

BAY OF BENGAL

SOURCE : Physical geography of Punjab, Gosal .G.S, professor of geography , Punjab university

GURDASPUR FIROZPUR AMRITSAR HOSHIARPUR KAPURTHALA JALANDHAR NAWANSHAHR FARIDKOT MOGA MUKTSAR BATHINDA MANSA SANGRUR PATIALA FATEHGARH SAHIB RUPNAGARH LUDHIANA

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SUB DIVISIONS

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GEOGARPHICAL and CLIMATIC CONDITION AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

INDIA ARABIAN SEA

BAY OF BENGAL

Climate type: Semi Arid JANUARY Mean maxima : 20-25 0 C Mean minima : 5 0 C JUNE Mean maxima : 40-45 0 C Mean minima : 20 0 C Annual rainfall : 60 Cms

SOURCE : (i) Physical geography of Punjab, Gosal .G.S, professor of geography , Punjab university (ii) Geology of India , Wadia

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Area : 50.362 sq.km Extents : 29 O 30’ N to 32 O 32’ N Latitude 73 O 55’ E to 76 O 50’ E Longitude Its rich alluvial plain is composed of silt deposited by rivers – Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum The southwestern fringe of this region is desert and undulating, but has gradually been becoming level with the extension of irrigation and cultivation.

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AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

INDIA ARABIAN SEA

BAY OF BENGAL

SOURCE : A constitutional History of India in Hindu Times Ayaswal, Kashi Prasad (1978).

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Pre-Aryan civilization • Indo-Aryans • Vedic Era o Punjab during Buddhist times o Paninian and Kautiliyan Punjab • Empires o Achaemenid Empire o Alexander's invasion o Maurya Empire o Indo-Greek kingdom o Kushan Empire o Gupta Empire o Hunas o Pala Empire • The Shahi Kingdoms and the Muslim invasions o Ghaznavid Dynasty o Delhi Sultanate o Mughal Empire o Durrani Empire & Maratha Empire • Sikh Rule o Sikh Empire (1799–1849) • Colonial period

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ARCHITECTURAL FORMS AFGHANISTAN

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Built form – Harappan civilization

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Katcha houses

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Semi Pucca houses

•

INDIAhouses Pucca

PAKISTAN

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ARABIAN SEA

oHavelies - Gujur khan BAY OF oHavelies - Bidowali BENGAL

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HARAPPAN CIVILISATION HOUSES •

AFGHANISTAN

The first courtyard houses, according to historical evidence, appeared to have originated in India probably around 6500-6000 BC. PAKISTAN

•

Evidence of the earliest village is from Mehergarh (6500-6000 BC).

The settlement consisted of an irregular scatter of mud brick houses

INDIAfor house construction The idea of settlement and the material

planning was well established at Harappa at a very early phase, Kot

•

The basic overall layout of the settlements is distinguished by the orientation of the streets to cardinal points.

•

Most private houses had rooms arranged around a central courtyard.

Doors and windows opened out into side lanes. Stairs led up to the roof or the second storey. Windows had shutters and latticework.

PLAN

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ARABIAN BAY OF Diji SEA (prior to 2600 BC).

BENGAL

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REFERENCE : PRESENTAION ON ‘Punjab vernacular architecture ’ . Mohan, Gautam

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KATCHA HOUSES- Single room

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KATCHA HOUSES AFGHANISTAN

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Single cell (single room) houses room is arranged around courtyard PAKISTAN

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In vernacular architecture conception of space begins with

a single shelter Which eventually either, gets divided or added, intoINDIA number of spaces as per activities.

Single cell is basically a single room dwelling in which all ARABIAN SEA functions

are

BAY OF BENGAL incorporated,

with some open area around it

having open kitchen (chulla) and a bathing area without roof.

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It is composed of central court and rooms arranged at boundary, with one or two rectangular spaces used for cooking and other activities.

•

The spaces were never interconnected directly.

PLAN PRIVATE PLACES

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REFERENCE : PRESENTAION ON ‘Punjab vernacular architecture ’ . Mohan, Gautam

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KATCHA HOUSES- Multiple room

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KATCHA HOUSES •

AFGHANISTAN

Multiple cells were consisted of a unit having two or more rooms.

• Segregation PAKISTAN

of spaces is again made in a manner that the area

near the entrance is allocated to the cattle.

Next in the line comes the courtyard or semi formal area used for INDIA sitting out in evening for most of the daily chore .

ARABIAN lies • Finally SEA

BAY OF the private area comprising of bedrooms and kitchen BENGAL

area.

•

The rooms are at a low height and the kutcha houses have roofs made of thatch.

•

All houses have a central courtyard with a toka to feed their cattle

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An open to sky kitchen with hara and chulla and a handpump for water needs.

PLAN

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KATCHA HOUSES AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN OPEN CHULLA

INDIA BAY OF BENGAL MURGI KHANA

TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ARE MADE TO INCREASE COVERED SPACE AND TO AVOID HARSH SUN AND WIND.

TEMPORARY STRUCTURE MADE NEAR ENTRANCE TO BE USED AS BATHING AREA

HAND PUMP NEAR THE BATHING AREA

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ARABIAN SEA

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REFERENCE : PRESENTAION ON ‘Climatic response in vernacular architecture ’ . Sharma, suman

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BIDOWALI - HAVELIS

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HAVELIES BIDOWALI AFGHANISTAN MAIN OCCUPATION

SPATIAL ORGANISATION

o Farming PAKISTAN o Cattle Dairy •

The Haveli of Bidowali has a no. of courtyards, the primary entrance has

INDIA

Baithak (General use – Gathering, Parking, tethering)

Central courtyard ( Residential use – Well or STORAGE SPACE underground tank)

the massive wooden doors with a smaller window gate ,for the use when ARABIAN BAY OF whichSEA is for the general useBENGAL and has the baithak. This is also the area

where the tractor and trolley could be parked. Cows and buffaloes would also be tethered in the frontyard.

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After passing through the another gate one enters in the residential quarters, with the zenana women’s area.

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There is a well in the courtyard or a underground tank that is filled by the

water cart from near by river.

Barrak (Zenana - Women’s area) VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE | A R 1 0 0 1

the main gate is bolted. Passing through it one enters the outer courtyard

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HAVELIES BIDOWALI SPATIAL ANALYSIS PAKISTAN

LIVING ROOMS STORAGE SPACE

INDIA BAY OF BENGAL

BARRAK

BAITHAK COURTYARD

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ARABIAN SEA

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HAVELIES BIDOWALI SPATIAL ANALYSIS PAKISTAN

LIVING ROOMS

Public space

BAITHAK

Private space

COURTYARD

BARRAK BARRAK

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Semi-Public space

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HAVELIES BIDOWALI AFGHANISTAN

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ROOMS

HIERARCHY IN SPACES

LIVING ROOMS

Material : Earlier it was mortar and a form of thin

STORAGE SPACE

PAKISTAN

brick.

No. of floors in such structures in the rural areas is INDIA normally 3.

ARABIAN SEA

BAY OF BENGAL

View Of the courtyard

INFLUENCES

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MUGHAL INFLUENCE

COLONIAL INFLUENCE

CULTURAL INFLUENCE

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HAVELIES BIDOWALI CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

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LIVING ROOMS

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REFERENCE : Paper on ‘ Restoration of Havelis (2012)‘ Fathima, Qurathulain

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GUJUR KHAN - HAVELIS

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HAVELIES GUJUR KHAN AFGHANISTAN

Location : Potohar plateau PAKISTAN

•

This Haveli was built by Bakhshi Ram Singh in a small village 15km

from the city of Gujur khan during british period INDIA • The haveli is four storied with 32 big and small rooms, a basement and two view towers. inscription: “This haveli in honour of Bakhshi Ram was erected in 1886”

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The portico of the haveli is surmounted with balcony which displays intricate wood carving. Before entering the haveli, the double wooden balcony of the haveli attracts attention.

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The distinctive feature of the balconies is remarkable carving. The wooden ceilings of both the balconies are beautifully carved out.

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ARABIAN BAY OF SEA of the entranceBENGAL • The beam of the haveli bear the following

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HAVELIES GUJUR KHAN •

TheAFGHANISTAN outer façade of the haveli also boasts beautiful Jharokas, here women used to sit and view the village hustle bustle while being hiddenPAKISTAN from the view of the ones being viewed.

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The intricate wood carving of the Jharokas and the balconies are one of the most beautiful that can be seen in the Potohar Plateau.

One notices the INDIA courtyard as ones enters the haveli, this used to be the main area for family gatherings and is a peculiar feature of architecture ARABIAN of this areaBAY OF SEA

BENGAL

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The first floor rooms all are spacious and have curved arches and fireplaces

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One room has a hidden basement as well to use it as a storage space

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HAVELIES GUJUR KHAN •

All of the three floors were built more or less on the same pattern. However, as one alights the stairs towards the fourth floor. Two towers AFGHANISTAN oppositely placed to enjoy the view of the village

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One tower has been built on the shape of a sun room and have windows all around. The other has an open platform to view around and smoke PAKISTAN hukka in the leisure time of evening or morning.

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There are also big stoves built at the roof for cooking on pleasant evenings.

INDIA BAY OF BENGAL VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE | A R 1 0 0 1

ARABIAN SEA

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HAVELIES GUJUR KHAN AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

INDIA BAY OF BENGAL VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE | A R 1 0 0 1

ARABIAN SEA

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REFERENCE : Paper on ‘ Restoration of Havelis (2012)‘ Fathima, Qurathulain

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ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

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COURTYARD AFGHANISTAN  Courtyard house

architecture in Punjab was not just an

architectural PAKISTAN style. It was a way of life – how to make a home.  Other

than being a place of assemblage in the evening or major

hubs of activity throughout the day are also very important from INDIA climate point of view. 

TheyARABIAN don’t allow the direct sun to enter the rooms. It also traps BAY OF

 Flooring is also kutcha mud floors that remain cool even in the hot

summers as they are excellent thermal insulators. They are coated with chikni mitti and then with a mixture of cow dung and mud phuska to avoid development of cracks.

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BENGAL air inSEA the summer that forms a cool air in the interior.

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THE EARTHEN STOVE(CHULLA) OR OPEN TO SKY KITCHEN •

AFGHANISTAN

Most households in Punjab have this type of Stove (Chulla) as a secondary or primary source of cooking food. Chulla is made out of special type of clay. You don’t need natural gas or electricity, just fire up the stove with wood and dung cakes.

PAKISTAN Modern kitchens have come a long way from the days of the earthen stove (chulla) to the present day microwaves. Despite the changes,

importance and significance of tandoors has not diminished. They are still relevant and inseparable part of Punjabi culture. But we hardly INDIA give a thought to the hand.

ARABIAN SEA

OPEN CHULLA

BAY OF BENGAL

TANDOOR –STILL PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CULTURE OF PUNJAB

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OPEN KTCHEN SPACE

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SCALE AND PROPORTION A

AFGHANISTAN

low wall with an entrance defines the court and also determines the scale of the house.

 The low profile of the houses approximates the human scale. The bottom of the roof almost touches or just above the head of the man.

PAKISTAN  The inside dimensions are sufficient to hold the charpais.

 The personal

little.

BAY OF BENGAL VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE | A R 1 0 0 1

ARABIAN SEA

rooms are small compared to the size of the court. People built only to the minimum extent required and therefore waste very INDIA

LOW HEIGHT BOUNDARY WALL

BOUNDARY WALL

BOUNDARY WALL

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LINTELS AND DOORS Wooden pieces are placed horizontally on the top of the opening used as doorways to support the upper load.

AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

INDIA BAY OF BENGAL

WOODEN PIECES USED TO SUPPORT THE UPPER LOAD

• Different design and sizes of doors were used in dwellings as per requirement from owner.

• Main construction materials was wood with iron nails.

• Panels and Frame was both made from wood.

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MATERIALS For the construction of buildings in the city, traditional building materials were used such as AFGHANISTAN

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Nanak Shahi Bricks, PAKISTAN

Lime

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Mud

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Surkhi

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Carved wood

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Timbers

INDIA MUD FLOOR

TIMBERS

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which provide a different character to the structures.

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The new building materials such as steel, glass bricks of different dimensions are used for construction now-a-days

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The Nanakshahi brick was very thin having thickness around 2” is replaced by new bricks which is 4½” thick. This gives a totally different appearance to the structure.

CARVED WOOD

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