this is about India's prestigious culture... and traditional practices followed since ages...

1. Dabhoi, Vadodara- location plan
Gujarat
Archana tayal
Amity school of architecture and planning

2. the city of Dabhoi 1
• Its planned according to
the principle of Vaastu
Shastra. With its four
gates set on the cardinal
N, S, E and W sides.
• the city plan has it 2
observable "center” and 4
“cross road”.
N
3
• Here people are settled in
different areas according to
their castes.

3. the city of Dabhoi
• Planning system
-organic
-naturally happened balconies
• Community relationship
-social network
-sense of belonging
• Climate
-hot and dry
-Extreme weather
Solution:
- Narrow streets with high buildings
on either side to block out the sun.
- Windows only on the front facade
-verandah on upper floor
-materials: lime
mortar, wood, brick, cement.

4. Eclectic architecture
• Certain typical elements and principles
of different time periods can be seen
together in a single structure. Hindu
deities
• entrance gate:
-one with a Mughal arch colonnades
-other with huge brackets to transfer the
load .
• brackets are done with vertical and
horizontal elements possessing Indian
details of carving with some religious
story.
• facades : front and back have different structural
systems and construction technology.
front back

5. the inside and outside of housing
• people put symbols and images of
gods on the lintels of entrance and
back door to define the border
between the inside and outside to
represent a protected inner
space.
• Here a taboo is followed that
when you go inside the
interior, you can’t step on the
threshold but just walk across
it.
threshold

6. THE PLAY OF LEVELS - HOUSE
Topology
• ground floor:
Living room kitchen
bathroom
olta.
• first floor:
Bedroom, study
balcony

7. THE PLAY OF LEVELS - HOUSE
• HOUSES ARE AT A LOWER LEVEL HAVING THE
TYPICAL OLTA.
• THERE ARE THREE MAIN ROOMS:
OLTA
LIVING ROOM
KITCHEN
• THESE HOUSES ARE CLUSTERED AROUND
COURTYARDS AND NARROW SPACES
FACILITATING GATHERINGS

8. THE DOORSTEP SACRED SPACE WITHIN THE
HOUSE
• The doorstep or threshold
belongs to neither inside nor • It is generally observed
the outside space of house.
as a niche in the walls
• It has religious significance.
where various gods and
• It is considered to ward off all
evils and protect the house. goddesses are being
worshipped together.

9. STAIRCASES PANIYARO
• High risers using minimum • It is a special space to
space on ground and store drinking water
hence making the staircase generally observed in the
steep. inner (private) area of the
house

10. THE BALCONY
• an interesting feature on
the facades of the
house.
• They attempt to create
some sort of
participation on street
activities.
• act as weather shades
protecting openings on
ground floor.

11. The play of level- shops
• The shops are at a slightly
lower or higher level
compared to the street
above 50cms higher or
1.5m lower.
• The rear wall is retaining
wall which has openings on
it for sunlight from the back.
• the owner's of these shops
lived in the houses above.

12. The Play of levels- market
• The lake is integral part of the city
layout.
• The market is at much lower level
accessed by steep steps from the
street level.
• It runs along the banks of the lake
manifesting an interactive connection
with it.

13. The play of levels- streets
• The intersection of roads is based
on the Pompeian cities i.e. cardo
and decumano.
• Shops have developed on either
side of this stretch to form
commercial area.
• important
landmarks
- Chowk which are
places where
shops
people congregate
around a tree on
olta.
-a temple.
-a bird feeder
called chabutra

14. Community- chowk
• community areas are
called chowk and
have a double
function:
-for the circulation of
vehicles and person
-a place of a quick
meeting and talks.

15. Community- black board
• blackboard near this
community space
provides people with a
white sheet where the
community writes
whatever they want, to
inform other people
about new events.

16. Community- temples
• People identify
themselves in the
friendly of their
neighbors, which feel
like their own family with
the cult of a god.
• These temples are the
representation of a
specific god.