Havelis In Context

to Shekhawati Region
DEPT. OF ARCHITECTURE, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF RAJASTHAN
ARC 710 -Seminar Course
Submitted by:
SURAJ PAL SINGH SHEKHAWAT
M. ARCH. II SEM. I YEAR
2020MARCH016
 Introduction

• Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India.

• This region has been recognised as the "open art galleryofRajasthan" having the largest
concentration offrescosin the world.
• The architecture of Shekhawati region has made a distinct contrast clearly reflected in the
architecture and also the socio- economic status of people living there.
• In the basic functional zoning courtyard was very evidently seen in the general layout of the
houses and havelis.
• the ‘courtyard ‘ typology has exhisted for thousands of years in our country and can be trac
back to the indus valley civilization, traditionally used as a central space
• Courtyard served as a focal point of a settlement and strengthened interior realationships
while keeping the outside seprate
TYPOLOGY OF HAVELIS
In Shekhawati havelis have courtyards from one to four. The number of courtyards are directly
proportional to the size and wealth of family. It reflects their socio economic status.

One Courtyard Haveli – There are very rare havelis with one courtyard system. In this type of
haveli, all the activities are carried in and around the courtyard. There is no as such men or
women separate space. There is a concept of centralization with balanced spaces on all the sides
of courtyard. The main activity areas of women were not concealed behind.

Two Courtyard Haveli – These types of havelis are in abundance. These were actually preferred at
that time because it provides flexibility to the spaces and ease the workability. The outer
courtyard was reserved for the men and the inner courtyard was for women. These courtyards
were the center of activities for both the genders.

Three Courtyard – It is the addition of one courtyard after two which was used by the servants for
profane and storage space. The outer courtyard is used by men, the middle by the women and
the last by the servants. A polio is designed between any two of the courtyards so as to increase
the privacy.

Four Courtyard Haveli – These are the richest and the largest havelis of the town. They are the
havelis of the wealthiest merchants amongst all, thus reflects the economic status of the family.
Almost all the havelis are the amalgamation of two courtyard havelis placed next to each other.
PASSIVE COOLING DESIGN STRATEGY

• Compact settlement plan, introvert buildings (in case the heat

production of buildings is low as in traditional buildings).
• Narrow north-south streets with tall buildings on both sides
to cut off sun.
• Plantation of deciduous trees near or inside the building.
• Ground surface should preferably be green and soft, but in
case of hard surfaces, rough and light colored paving shall be
used.
• Perimeter/Area ratio shall be less.
• Shaded courtyards to facilitate ventilation and lower daytime
temperatures inside.
• Reduction of exposed surfaces and shading of all the exposed
surfaces, thus common walls between houses. Narrow north south
streets cutting off the sun
• Least exposure to east and west orientation.
PASSIVE COOLING DESIGN STRATEGY
• Minimal surface area to volume ratio thus resulting in taller
buildings with shared wall surfaces.
• Flat or Domical roof forms.
• Appropriate shading to openings using thick wooden shutters
or materials with low thermal capacity.
• Bottle neck openings or Jalis to enhance ventilation and
reduce temperatures.  Fenestration shall be oriented north
• Shading devices such as louvers or Jharookhas to shade
openings from sun.
• Materials having high thermal capacity and low conductivity
for structure.
• Heavy thermal mass of structure.
• Insulation layer not directly exposed to the sun. Effect of Surface area to
volume ratio
• Light colours on exterior.
• Smooth reflective surface on roof to reduce direct heat gain.
PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS -

Ground Floor Plan and First Floor Plan of a Small Haveli, Dundlod,
Shekhawati, Rajasthan
PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS -

COMPACT SETTLEMENT PLAN - The heat production

from the buildings is very low thus a compact
planning helps in reducing heat gain. It also allows
mutual shading by buildings. It reduces the area of
exposed surfaces .

NARROW STREETS WITH TALL BUILDINGS AROUND - It helps in shading the streets thus allowing
less of direct sunlight during daytime and makes the movement easy for people. It also helps in
lowering the ambient air temperature surrounding the building envelope by shading.

COURTYARD PLANNING - Internal courtyard with high building mass all around it leads to induced
ventilation, lowering of temperatures by convective cooling and natural lighting.

HEAVY STRUCTURE - Heavy building envelope stores larger amount of heat due to large heat
capacities and creates a larger time lag. This helps in keeping the inside cool during daytime when
it is most inconvenient outside
PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS -

CEILING HEIGHTS - The habitable rooms were found to have ceiling height larger than 3.5 m while
the other spaces like the ones made as viewing gallery for women which were to be used
temporarily and occasionally, were only 2.5 – 1.8 m high. This meant a larger air mass resulting in
lower temperatures.

SHADED COLONNADES AND SEMI OPEN AREAS - All buildings are planned with some areas being
semi open. These spaces are used during the daytime and in rains. Such areas received fairly good
light and natural ventilation induced by combination of courtyards and wind towers.

FLAT ROOFS WITH INSULATION LAYER - The roofs are constructed flat with stone slabs jointed
with lime mortar. Above that a layer of inverted earthen pots to create an air layer for insulation.
On the top of it again a layer of lime mortar finished with reflective smooth material like broken
pieces of porcelain pots of white wash to reflect most of the sunlight falling on it.
PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS -

CEILING HEIGHTS - The habitable rooms were found to have ceiling height larger than 3.5 m while
the other spaces like the ones made as viewing gallery for women which were to be used
temporarily and occasionally, were only 2.5 – 1.8 m high. This meant a larger air mass resulting in
lower temperatures.

SHADED COLONNADES AND

SEMI OPEN AREAS - All buildings
are planned with some areas
being semi open. These spaces
are used during the daytime and
in rains. Such areas received
fairly good light and natural
ventilation induced by
combination of courtyards and
wind towers. Transverse Section Through Internal courtyard
PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS -

FLAT ROOFS WITH INSULATION LAYER - The roofs are constructed flat with stone slabs jointed
with lime mortar. Above that a layer of inverted earthen pots to create an air layer for insulation.
On the top of it again a layer of lime mortar finished with reflective smooth material like broken
pieces of porcelain pots of white wash to reflect most of the sunlight falling on it.

SMALL OPENINGS WITH THICK SHUTTERS, JALI

SCREENS AND JHAROOKHAS - Due to hot and dusty
winds, natural ventilation inside the building during
day is not desirable. Thus small openings are
provided. These openings are opened during
nighttime to allow convective cooling. During
daytime the thick wooden shutters having low
thermal capacity are closed. All the openings are
shaded with projections covered all around with
Jharokha
perforated stone screens known as Jharookhas. This
allows cooling of air by venturi effect phenomenon.
PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS -

WIND TOWERS - The staircase mumty was taken higher and each room was provided an opening
from it to allow forced ventilation. This allowed convective cooling during night and induced
ventilation during day.

MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION - The stone was used along with lime mortar. Lime mortar
allowed keeping lower temperatures inside the building. Stone helped in creating time lag due to
high thermal capacities.

EXTERNAL SMOOTH SURFACE PAINTED IN LIGHT COLOURS Carving was not possible on the local
stone available around Shekhawati. Thus instead of providing a rough surface, which would also
have allowed inter granular shading, a smooth surface was created. To break the monotony of the
flat white surfaces, painting was done with variety of colours all obtained from natural stones or
vegetables.
PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS -

DIFFERENCE IN THE PAVING OF INNER AND OUTER COURTYARD - Inner courtyard was generally
kept soft with some vegetation (generally Tulsi) in the centre while the outer courtyard was paved
with stones. In between the two was a transitory space with deferred entry and a small
opening .All activities of washing, bathing etc were performed in the inner court and also since it
was more shaded, it remained cooler than the outer hard one. This heated the air in the outer
courtyard and the lighter air rose up. This induced draft of cooler air from the inner courtyard.
Thus the transition space always received cool air draft and was generally called the Barsati and
was the favourite place to sit during day and rainy season.

Longitudinal Section Through Both Courtyards

The Nomenclature and basic layout of Havelis with one courtyard planning
CONCLUSION -

• The Havelis respond most appropriately to the climate and society of the place in terms of
material selection, spatial organization, construction techniques and use of passive design
features.
• With the combined effect of all features, the inside of the building always provided a comfortable
environment when the environment outside was uncomfortable (throughout the year).
• The same space could not provide the desired comfort in all seasons. Thus there were a variety of
spaces (open, semi open and enclosed), which were used, in different seasons and times of day.
• Winters - Courtyards are the center of activities during the entire days. During night, the enclosed
rooms are preferred as they have higher temperature than the ambient air outside.
• Summers - Semi-open spaces and enclosed rooms are used more during the daytime. High ceiling
and the nature of stone to heat slowly contribute to the thermal comfort during the daytime.
Courtyards are used during the nighttimes as the rooms inside become hotter than the outside
temperatures.
• Rains- Movement of air in the Semi open spaces and the transition spaces more comfortable
than the rooms.
 Bibliography

• https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/fresh-perspectives/a1192-how-the-concept-of-courty
ards-is-used-in-modern-architecture/
• https://fountainink.in/photostory/treasures-of-shekhawati
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327100507_Impact_of_Courtyard_Planning_On_S
patial_Design
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339643187_Evolution_of_courtyards_of_Kolkata
• Shekhawati – Wikipedia
• Shekhawati: urbanism in the semi-desert of India A climatic study - Avlokita Agrawal, Prof.
R.K. Jain and Prof. Rita Ahuja – IIT Roorke.