A Review on Vernacular Architecture of Chhattisgarh

Shanta Dash1, a) and Mahendra Joshi2, 3, b)

1
Research Scholar, Lovely School of Architecture and Design, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab,
India.
2
Professor, Lovely School of Architecture and Design, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India.

a) [email protected]
b) [email protected]
a)
Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract. Vernacular Architecture of Chhattisgarh is characterised by climate, geography and locally available
materials which are diverse in terms of their layouts, forms, building materials, method of construction and
structural analysis. The objective is to investigate the materials, construction techniques, and built forms of various
dwelling units in villages across Chhattisgarh using Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra principles. The
purpose of this study is to determine whether or not dwelling unit planning is based on common parameters and
concepts of Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra. Analysis of case studies of vernacular architecture is
included in the methodology along with the literature review and documentation for the same. The conclusions state
that a few similar parameters and principles of Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra have been used in the
design and construction of vernacular dwelling units, and that they can be beneficial if they are combined with
modern practices through an innovative and holistic design approach.

Keywords: Vernacular Architecture, Building Materials, Courtyard, Site Planning

INTRODUCTION

Chhattisgarh is a state in eastern India. Chhattisgarh is known as India's "rice bowl," as it grows a wide variety of
rice varieties. It is located between 17°46’ north to 24°5’ north latitude and from 80°15’east to 80°20’east longitude.
It has a total area of 1, 35,194 square kilometres. It is bordered on the north by Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, on the
east by Orissa, on the south by Andhra Pradesh, on the west by Maharashtra, and on the north by Madhya Pradesh.
Despite the fact that the newly constituted state was established on November 1, 2000, its cultural legacy dates back
to the Stone Age. Dakshin Koshal was the name given to Chhattisgarh in ancient times. The Ramayana and the
Mahabharat have geographical proof of the location. Lord Rama arrived in Dandkarnaya from the north-east of
Koshal, where he spent part of his exile (for the time being). The description of Dagshin Koshal may be found in
Mahabharat's Rajsoorya Yagya episode. Various documents, copper plaques, coins, and archaeological artefacts
provide information on the time's cultural heritage and political history. The people of Chhattisgarh come from a
wide range of ethnic, social, religious, and linguistic backgrounds. Three-quarters of the people in Chhattisgarh live
in rural areas. However, the population distribution is unequal, with the extreme southern region of the state having
much fewer individuals than the northern half. It's a topographically varied structural plain caused by extensive
denudation. Various soil types can be found in the state. The dark, clayey soils and the red-to-yellow soils are the
most common. The latter are less fertile and have a lot of sand in them.
 CLIMATE OF CHHATTISGARH

The monsoon weather pattern governs the climate of Chhattisgarh. Summer (March to May), winter (November
to February), and the rainy southwest monsoon months in between are the separate seasons (June to September).
Summers are hot, dry, and windy, with high temperatures averaging at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately
30 degrees Celsius) in all sections of the state; in some areas, temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit
(upper 30s C). Winters are normally mild and dry, with highs in the upper 70s Fahrenheit (mid-20s C). Although the
state as a whole receives most of its precipitation during the southwest monsoon, the northern region of the state
receives a lot of rain in December and January. Annual rainfall is normally between 47 and 60 inches (1,200 and
1,500 mm).

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF CHHATTISGARH

Vernacular architecture refers to structures that are built with local knowledge and workmanship, using locally
available building materials, while also providing climatic comfort for the users. The word "vernacular" comes from
the Latin word "vernaculus," which meaning "domestic," "local," or "indigenous." It grew out of local demands,
construction materials, and local customs. It tends to change over time to reflect the surrounding environment,
cultural, technological, economic, and historical context. However, it has been criticised as rough and unpolished,
but proponents argue that it is crucial in the contemporary period.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this architecture is the way they scale their spaces. Construction takes place
here without the use of yardsticks or blueprints. People talk amongst themselves to decide on design. The structure's
dimensions are determined with the help of their own bodies. One hand is nearly equal to one and a half feet in
terms of measurement. In India's rural areas, one hand is defined as the space between the wrists and the elbow.
Typically, the spaces are in multiples of one hand. In fact, practically every measurement in the building is made by
hand, from the foundations to the thickness of the walls and roof. He locals are responsible for envisioning,
designing, obtaining materials, and constructing. It's a completely different method to design and construction, in
which design decisions are made solely through discussions among family members. Surprisingly, some people
assign functions to places only after they've been established.

A DWELLING UNIT IN CHHATTISGARH

In India, there are some underlying dwelling units patterns. In Chattishgarh, the practise of building in a straight
line is still practised. New spaces are built as needed, eventually forming a centre courtyard. A few common
elements can be found in all Chattishgarh houses, such as the otla and kothi (granary).

(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 1. (a) Otla, (b) Entrance of dwelling unit, (c) View of Kothi.

Unlike urban homes, where privacy is a primary design consideration, rural India happily brings a piece of their
private life to the edge and allows it to merge in with their social lives. At otla, it's not unusual to see people
communicating, playing kids, and women preparing veggies. Outside the home, there is a raised platform known as
Otla. It is fundamentally present in every home, albeit in varying degrees. Sometimes it is as large as 2.1 metres,
allowing a person to comfortably sleep in the area, while other times it is as little as 0.3 metres, allowing merely for
sitting. It's unclear what drives this design.
Kothi is another aspect that is usually found in Chattishgarhi dwellings. Kothi is a granary with suspended floors
to allow for air circulation and to keep rodents and insects out. To prevent moisture entry, these are always removed
from the exterior walls. A granary can also be used to partition the space. The storage area from the living area, or
the cooking area from the living area, is separated by a granary, depending on its placement. Small vents can also be
seen in the space beneath the granary, which could be used to provide oxygen to the cooking area.
In the Chattishgarhi rural dwellings, windows are almost non-existent. The climate of the region is the primary
reason for this. Summer temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius; therefore strong walls without windows are
desirable. The perforated roofs, as well as the gap between the roof and the wall, provide ventilation. A kitchen
filled with smoke from burning wood fuel is an unusual sight because there are no windows.
The use of solar energy to meet a home’s heating and cooling needs while lowering energy consumption is
known as Solar Passive Architecture. It's also the architectural design of structures whose orientation, forms,
shading, materials, fenestration (door/window openings), and site planning allow them to store heat energy from the
sun naturally, resulting in unimpeded air circulation. In order to save energy, the location of the building, the
temperature, and the materials utilised are all considered. Energy-efficiency methods are used to reduce the
building's heating and cooling demand by utilising free renewable energy sources such as solar energy. Humans
have relied on passive solar majors from the beginning of time. This is reflected in India's classical architecture.
Passive solar techniques are as varied as architecture, and they differ depending on the climate.
Vastu Shastra, or architectural science, is a classical Indian architectural framework. Vastu is a Sanskrit word
that refers to a structure or a living space. It focuses on the site and location, the soil condition, the structure's
foundation, the building or dwelling-place, the surrounds, and so on. Vastu Shastra is an ancient mystical science for
the design and construction of structures that brings together science, art, astronomy, and astrology. Vastu Shastra
assists us in making positive changes in our lives and preventing things from going wrong.
The Sun is a crucial aspect in Vastu Shastra, and it must be considered while planning dwelling units. Because
the strength of the sun varies from morning to evening, from location to location, and from season to season,
buildings must be designed such that people living inside receive beneficial solar rays while going about their daily
activities. Residents engage in various activities in various rooms at various times during the day, while the sun's
position changes. As a result, the major goal of Vastu Shastra is to arrange rooms in accordance with the position of
the sun and various activities carried out in order to expose its occupants to sunshine at all times, even if they are
inside the house for the entire day.
The Sun is the primary factor in both the concepts, so analysis of dwelling units in villages across Chhattisgarh
has been carried out using Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra principles to find out whether the planning
of dwelling unit is based on common parameters of both concepts or not. Some of the common parameters of
Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra principles which are chosen for the study are courtyard type of
planning, site Planning, shape of dwelling unit, materials used, allocation and size of openings, day lighting, internal
space arrangement, thermal mass, open spaces and built form, landscaping and shading device.

(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 2. (a) Typical floor plan, (b) Front façade of house at Kodia Chhattisgarh, (c) Entrance Door.
 CASE STUDY 1

The dwelling unit is located in Kodia, Chhattisgarh. It is approached by 40’ wide road. It is oriented towards
east. There is a shaded raised platform at the entrance which is 2’0” high from the road level. There is a double leaf
traditionally designed entrance door at the center of the dwelling unit. The courtyard is present at the centre and the
rooms were arranged all around. Two shops at the right hand side and one room with two double leaf doors on the
left hand side are placed at the entrance of the dwelling unit. There is a shaded corridor all around the courtyard
which connects all the rooms. It is a two storied unit on North and South sides of the courtyard while it is single
storied on East and West side. There are four rooms with staircase on the Southern side and one room, kitchen,
washing space on the Northern side in the ground floor. The building is approximately 100 years old and was
renovated from time to time as per the requirements of the residents.

(d) (e) (f)

(g) (h) (i)

(j) (k) (l)

FIGURE 2. d) View of Courtyard, e) Decorative Column, (f) View of Courtyard from the top, (g) Dwelling Unit on West side,
(h) Wooden columns supporting beams, (i) 6’0” high Roof, (j) GI Sheets roofing, (k) View of North side of dwelling, (l) Space
for Washing.
 (m) (n) (o) (p)

FIGURE 2. m) Slate Flooring, (n) Door with Fanlight, (o) Multi panel door, (p) Tulsi Plant at courtyard.

The Western part of the building consists of five rooms with a roof height of 6’0” and door height of 4’0”. It
contains small doors and windows facing towards the corridor and courtyard. The floor of the corridor is made of
slate tiles. This is the oldest of all the structures present and its roof has been replaced by GI Sheets. It has a wall
thickness of 2’0” and constructed with mud and bricks. The rooms on the Western side have mud flooring whereas
all the rooms in the dwelling unit are replaced with tiles recently. Toilets are placed at Northwest corner of the
house. Even the courtyard is covered with clay tiles with Tulsi plant shifted towards its southern part. There is a
projection of 2’6”on all the four sides of corridor at roof level. The corridor contains decorative round and square
columns of size 1’0” diameter and 1’6”x1’6” with a small horizontal projection at the lintel level towards the
courtyard. On the Southern side there is flat lintel present in the corridor with square columns where as in the
Northern side arches are built between two circular columns. The Eastern, Southern, and Northern part of the
building has been renovated whereas the rear part i.e. the Western part of the building remains same with the little
alteration in roofing sheets. The Southern part of the building has a wall thickness of 1’4” and constructed of mud
and bricks. Five years back the mud flooring is being replaced by tile flooring and RCC roof has been constructed.
There is a small staircase at the south west corner of 12 steps and it is 2’0” wide. New rooms were constructed on
the first floor of South and North sides while East side remains open. The doors on the first floor are 6’0” high and
is double leaf containing traditional design with hollow portion above the frame at the top which serves as windows
or means for air circulation inside the room.

TABLE 1. Typical features of vernacular architecture (Case study -1)

S No. Aspects Description Analysis

1. Climate Composite Climate Due to excessive heat on summer and cold in winter
the dwelling unit must be designed in such a way
that it can withstand both heat and cold.
2. Surroundings The dwelling unit has 40’0” wide Easily approached from main road.
approach road and narrow lanes on
South and West side.
3. Topography It has a flat land. NA
4. Occupation of Shopkeeper Designed as per the occupation of resident. Two
Resident shops are placed at the entrance.
5. Form of Dwelling unit It is cuboidal in shape with void in Mutual shading and proper ventilation is achieved in
the form of courtyard at the centre. design.
 TABLE 2. Architectural features of Dwelling unit in Kodia, Chhattisgarh

S No. Items /Particulars Description Analysis

1. Orientation East Facing The dwelling unit receives beneficial rays of
morning sun.
2. Raised platform Shaded platform is present at the It is protected from sun by constructing projections
entrance and used as informal sitting at the roof level.
and congregation area.
3. Planning Type Courtyard type of planning is seen. Enhances air circulation and retards heat penetration
into the building.
4. Floor Mud and slate flooring is being Ceramic tiles possess high thermal conductivity.
replaced by tiles flooring.
5. Walls Old walls are constructed of mud Old walls restrict the penetration of heat into the
and their thickness varies from 2’0” building and keep the building cool whereas new
to 6’0”bricks whereas new walls are walls are brick walls and constructed of bricks.
made of bricks with 9” thickness.
6. Plaster Mud and cement is used for plaster Plaster retards the penetration of water into the
of old and new buildings structure.
respectively.
7. Doors Wooden double and single leaf doors Doors are placed according to the function and
of height varying from 5’0” to 7’0” height of roof.
height. PVC doors are used in
bathrooms.
8. Windows Small windows open up to the Allow daylight to enter inside and accelerates
courtyard. circulation of air.
9. Small Openings Not present NA
10. Roof Combination of sloping and flat roof Roof can withstand excessive heat, moisture and
is found. Sloping roof constructed rains.
with timber, bamboo and clay tiles
whereas flat roof is constructed of
RCC.
11. Structure Load bearing structure. Brick piers and timber post used to carry the load.
12. Building Materials Mud, brick, timber, bamboo, cement, Materials possess good thermal insulation
RCC, GI Sheets, tiles and lime. properties.
13. Compound Wall Not present NA
14. Animal Shelter Not present NA

TABLE 3. Common features of Dwelling unit according to Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra.

S No. Aspects Description Analysis

1. Courtyard type of Presence of courtyard at the centre Courtyard enhances the penetration of air and
planning of the dwelling unit with Tulsi plant daylight into the building.
on the South side.
2. Site Planning Planning is done according to the Alterations are done according to need and choices
user changing requirements. of user.
3. Shape of Dwelling Cuboid with presence of void at the Effective use of light and ventilation.
unit centre.
4. Materials used Locally available materials are used Materials with good thermal insulation properties
in the construction of dwelling unit. are used.
5. Allocation of Openings are placed according to the Well placed openings supply sufficient daylight.
 Openings use.
6. Size of Openings Size of doors varies from 2’6” x 5’6” Size of doors varies according to the height of roofs.
to 4’6” x 7’0” whereas size of Size of windows is dependent on length and height
windows varies from 2’6”x3’0” to of wall.
3’0”x 3’6”.
7. Day Lighting Provision of daylight is made from Ample provision of daylight present.
courtyard and windows.
8. Internal space Compact size of planning is done. It follows a regular pattern.
arrangement
9. Thermal mass Materials with high thermal mass are The dwelling unit in totality is very cool due to the
used. effective use of materials.
10. Open spaces and built Courtyard is present in the form of Enhances natural ventilation.
form open spaces at the centre and rooms
were arranged all around.
11. Landscaping Some form of vegetation is found. Waste water from washing is used for watering
plants.
12. Appropriate shading Sufficient projections at lintel and Projections in the form of shading devices provide
design roof level are found. shade and protects from heat and rain.

CASE STUDY 2

The second dwelling unit which has been chosen for the study is located in village named Borsi, Chhattisgarh. It
is owned by a milk man. It is at a distance of 60’0” from the main road and has east facing. The open space at the
entrance is used for keeping animals. A raised platform is seen on both the sides of the entrance door for carrying
out daily activities. There is a doorway at the centre of the unit which opens to a small passage of 2’0”. The small
passage is of slate stone and broken tiles flooring. The height of entrance door is 5’6” whereas the height of the
passage is around 7’0”.

(a) (b) (c)

 (d) (e) (f)

(g) (h) (i) (j)

(k) (l) (m)

FIGURE 3. a) Typical floor plan, (b) Front view of dwelling unit at Borsi, Chhattisgarh, (c) Raised platform at the entrance,
(d) Narrow passage with broken tiles flooring, (e) Central courtyard with Tulsi at centre, (f) Kitchen walls covered with cloth, (g)
Timber Roof supported by wooden post, (h) Timber column, (i) Entrance door highlighted with lime Wash, (j) Storage space for
animal food, (k) Hut on West side, (l) Timber trusses of roof, (m) Informal sitting area.

The passage opens to a small courtyard which contains a Tulsi plant at the centre. There are two rooms on both
the sides of the passage. One has the entry from the road side and the other from inside of passage on the south side.
The room with door at the entrance has a small projection made of two wooden post and bamboo and polythene
sheets are used to make its roof. A string is tied on both the wooden post for drying clothes. Mud wash is used for
painting of walls and the entrance doors are being highlighted with lime wash on both the sides of the door. The
courtyard has space for keeping animals on the South side and there is another hut on the West side of the courtyard.
It has a door of 4’0” height. The walls have a thickness of 2’0” and are constructed with mud and bricks. It has a
small roof made of bamboo, sticks and clay tiles. The courtyard was used as a private sitting space and has mud
flooring. It has a space for storing food i.e. hay for animals at the Northwest corner. The kitchen opens to the
courtyard and its walls from two sides are made with cloth. Toilets are constructed outside near the entrance and are
segregated from the whole dwelling unit by a 2’0” wide passage.
 TABLE 4. Typical features of vernacular architecture (Case study -2)

S No. Aspects Description Analysis

1. Climate Composite Climate Because of the extreme heat in the summer and the
extreme cold in the winter, the living unit must be
designed to withstand both heat and cold.
2. Surroundings The dwelling unit has 40’0” wide Easily approached from main road.
approach road and narrow lanes on
South and West side.
3. Topography It has a flat land. NA
4. Occupation of Shopkeeper Open space in the front and courtyard has been used for
Resident keeping animals.
5. Form of Dwelling unit It is cuboidal in shape with void in Proper Day lighting is achieved.
the form of courtyard at the centre.

TABLE 5. Architectural features of Dwelling unit at Borsi, Chhattisgarh

S No. Items /Particulars Description Analysis

1. Orientation East Facing The morning sun provides beneficial rays to the
dwelling unit.
2. Raised platform Raised platform is present at the Raised platform is shaded with projecting eaves and
entrance all along the East side. additional projections.
3. Planning Type Planning in the style of a courtyard Prevents heat from entering the building.
can be noticed.
4. Floor Broken tiles and slate flooring are Flooring material possesses high thermal conductivity.
used as flooring.
5. Walls Walls are constructed of mud, bricks, The building's walls keep it cool by preventing heat
sheets and cloth and the thickness of from penetrating it.
mud walls varies from 1’0” to 1’6”
6. Plaster Mud is used for plaster. Plaster prevents water from penetrating the building.
7. Doors Double leaf door with multi panels The purpose and height of the roof determine where
of nearly 2’6” width and varying doors are positioned.
heights are used.
8. Windows Not present NA
9. Small Openings Small voids are present Allow circulation of smoke and air.
10. Roof The roof is sloping and made of Roofs can tolerate temperatures, wetness, and rain to a
wood, bamboo, corrugated sheets, certain extent.
and clay tiles.
11. Structure Load bearing structure The load is carried by timber posts and walls.
12. Building Materials Mud, brick, timber, bamboo, broken Materials possess good thermal insulation properties.
tiles, corrugated sheets, cloth and
plastic sheets.
13. Compound Wall Present inside of courtyard. For security and privacy.
14. Animal Shelter Present inside and outside in the Allow animals to expose to the sun partly and fully.
form of open spaces and courtyard.

TABLE 6. Common features of Dwelling unit according to Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra.

S No. Aspects Description Analysis

1. Courtyard type of Courtyard is present at the centre of The courtyard increases the amount of air and light that
planning the dwelling unit with Tulsi plant at enters the structure.
the centre.
2. Site Planning The dwelling unit's elongated sides Provisions are made according to affordability of the
 are faced towards East and West user.
sides.
3. Shape of Dwelling Rectangular. Penetration of heat is retared through the form of unit.
unit
4. Materials used The construction of the dwelling unit The materials utilised have good thermal insulation
is done with waste and locally qualities.
available materials.
5. Allocation of The placement of openings is Openings provide access and allow smoke to pass.
Openings determined by the intended usage.
6. Size of Openings Size of doors varies from extremely Small openings are present according to function.
small to 2’6” x 5’6” whereas no
windows present.
7. Day Lighting The courtyard serves as a source of There is a lot of natural light.
natural light.
8. Internal space There are rooms that are small in It has a predictable pattern.
arrangement size.
9. Thermal mass The usage of materials with a high The entire living unit is quite cool.
thermal mass is employed
unknowingly.
10. Open spaces and built The courtyard lies in the centre, with Open space in the form of courtyard is used as private
form rooms on the east and west sides. sitting and performing puja. It improves natural
The North and South side remains ventilation.
open for animal keeping and storage
of hay.
11. Landscaping There is some kind of greenery Tulsi plant present at the centre of courtyard purifies the
present in the courtyard. surrounding air and also used for performing puja.
12. Appropriate shading There are projections in the form of Shade and protection from heat and rain are provided by
design eaves at lintel and roof level. projections in the form of shading devices.

CASE STUDY 3

The hut of Gupchup seller is selected which is located at village Padmabhpur, Village. The hut has an orientation
along East. It has the entrance gate from North east side. There is an open space at the entrance gate surrounded by
boundary walls on three sides and rooms on one side. Some type of vegetation is found in the South side at the
entrance where as in the North side, the open space is used for preparing Gupchup and separate toilet is placed at the
back of this preparation zone. There is an entrance door of 4’0” height and is 2’6” wide. After entering from door
there is kitchen on the right hand side for cooking of the family and room on the other side. The kitchen has small
shelves made of slate stone and brick wall covered with mud plaster.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

 (e) (f) (g)

FIGURE 4. a) Typical floor plan, (b) Entrance Gate of dwelling unit at Padmanabhpur, Chhattisgarh, (c) Low height Entrance
door, (d) Narrow passage with steel door, (e) Room supported with wooden post, (f) Small void for ventilation, (g) Cooking
space at open.
The room can only be used for sleeping because of its low height and cannot be used for carrying out any kind of
work in standing position. There is a small passage like area after kitchen leading to a 3’0” wide rectangular room
with a roof height of 3’6”. The passage area is being used as a storage space for keeping Gupchup and other eatables
ready for sale. The internal walls have thickness of 1’3”. Mud flooring is seen all around. There is no window
present because of its low height. The roof is constructed with bamboo, sticks and clay tiles arranged in regular
pattern. Moreover the total unit was very cold and no additional means of cooling seems to be required even in
summer season.

TABLE 7: Typical features of vernacular architecture (Case study - 3)

S No. Aspects Description Analysis

1. Climate Composite Climate The dwelling unit must be designed to handle both heat
and cold because of the excessive heat in the summer
and the extreme cold in the winter.
2. Surroundings The dwelling unit can be approached Attached with similar units from North and South sides.
by main road.
3. Topography It has a flat land NA
4. Occupation of Gupchup sellor Open space in the front is used for preparing Gupchup to
Resident avoid smoke to entre inside rooms.
5. Form of Dwelling unit It is rectangular in shape, with the It is possible to obtain proper day lighting.
longer face facing East.

TABLE 8: Architectural features of Dwelling unit at Borsi, Chhattisgarh

S No. Items /Particulars Description Analysis

1. Orientation East Facing The sun shines brightly in the morning, providing the
housing unit with helpful rays.
2. Raised platform Not present NA
3. Planning Type Single hut Compact with cool rooms.
4. Floor Mud flooring is used. The material used for flooring has a high thermal
conductivity.
5. Walls Walls are constructed of mud and The walls of the structure keep it cool by preventing heat
bricks and its thickness varies from from passing through.
1’0” to 1’6”
6. Plaster Mud is used for plaster. Plaster prevents water from penetrating the building.
7. Doors Single leaf door of steel with low Height of the roof determines where doors are
heights are used. positioned.
8. Windows Not present NA
9. Small Openings Single small void is present Allow passage of smoke.
10. Roof The roof is sloping and made of Roofs can withstand a particular amount of heat,
wood, bamboo and clay tiles. moisture, and rain.
11. Structure Load bearing structure The load is carried by walls.
12. Building Materials Mud, brick, timber, bamboo, broken Materials possess good thermal insulation properties.
tiles and clay tiles.
13. Compound Wall Present outside of hut. For enclosing the structure.
14. Animal Shelter Not present NA

TABLE 9: Common features of Dwelling unit according to Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra.

S No. Aspects Description Analysis

1. Courtyard type of Open space is present in the front It allows light to enter the structure.
planning which is enclosed with L shaped hut
on one side and boundary wall on
other sides.
2. Site Planning Single hut with joint walls of other Spaces are used according to cooking requirements.
units on North and South side
3. Shape of Dwelling Rectangular. Heat penetration is retared through the unit form.
unit
4. Materials used Mud, bricks tiles, timber, bamboo The materials used provide excellent thermal insulation.
and cement flooring.
5. Allocation of The placement of openings is Openings provide access and allow smoke to pass.
Openings determined by the intended usage.
6. Size of Openings Size of doors varies from extremely Small openings are present according to function.
small to 2’3” x 4’6” whereas no
windows present.
7. Day Lighting The open space at the front is a There is a lot of natural light.
source of natural light.
8. Internal space There are rooms that are very small It has an unpredictable pattern.
arrangement in size.
9. Thermal mass The use of materials having a high The entire unit is quite cool.
thermal mass is unwittingly
employed.
10. Open spaces and built The open space lies in the front and Open space improves natural ventilation.
form surrounded by structure from North
and West side.
11. Landscaping There is some kind of greenery Tulsi plant present at the side of open space purifies the
present at the entrance. surrounding air.
12. Appropriate shading Green sheets supported with walls This green sheet protects from heat and rain also the
design on two sides and tied with string are smoke disperses into the air without causing any
used for shading purpose and pollution.
cooking is done below this.

It is clear from the above case studies that most of the similar aspects of Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu
Shastra were used in the design and construction of vernacular dwelling units and leads to enhance the thermal
comfort of occupants. The similar aspect of courtyard planning is seen in all the three case studies which enhance
the flow of light and air into the structure. Also the presence of Tulsi plant in the courtyard contributes for
purification of air. The site planning is done according to the need and affordability of user keeping in mind the
vernacular techniques for construction. Toilets were built outside, separate from the main construction to keep the
occupants hygienic. The locally available and waste materials used for construction, possess good thermal insulation
qualities. Due to excessive heat in the summer, small openings in the form of voids are placed to allow smoke to
escape and air to circulate freely. Buffer spaces like passage and corridors retard the penetration of heat into
buildings. Projections in the form of eaves, green sun shade net and chajjas provide shade to the building.
 CONCLUSION

Vernacular houses were built with some underlying principles that were passed down from generation to
generation, allowing them to respond positively to the existing climatic circumstances and therefore aiding in the
attainment of thermal comfort without the need of mechanical methods. These lessons are always current in nature,
and they can aid in the construction of modern structures that are thermally efficient. In a broader sense, this can aid
in the reduction of energy consumption and so contribute to a more sustainable future. The study reveals that the
similar aspects of Passive Solar Architecture and Vastu Shastra have been utilised in the design and building of
vernacular dwelling units, and that they can be helpful when coupled with modern practises through a creative and
holistic design approach.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am extremely thankful to Dr. Mahendra Joshi, Professor, Lovely School of Architecture & Design, Lovely
Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab for his valuable guidance. Since my initial exposure with the subject, his
excitement, knowledge, and meticulous attention to detail have served as a motivator and kept my work on track. I
also appreciate Mrs. Yasoda Dash and Dr. Prakash Kulkarni's moral support and assistance. I'd also like to thank
everyone with whom I've had the pleasure of collaborating on this and other projects.

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