Vernacular architecture refers to structures built by local people using traditional designs and materials from their region. Indian vernacular architecture can be classified into kachcha, pukka, and semi-pukka based on the materials used. Kachcha uses natural materials like mud and grass that require maintenance, while pukka uses durable materials like stone and brick. Semi-pukka combines both styles. Vernacular architecture can be studied through functional, ethnographic, sociological, geographic, and anthropological approaches. Key features of Kerala vernacular include dimensional standardization in temple construction and influences from temple architecture on domestic designs that evolved based on climate and available materials.

1. Vernacular
ASSIGNMENT 2
AJITH KUMAR M M
ROLL : 4
S3 B.ARCH
TCA
27-11-2017

2. 1. What is vernacular architecture ?
 Vernacular architecture is of the common people but may be built by
trained professionals such as through an apprenticeship, but still using
local, traditional designs and materials.
 The word vernacular derived from the latin root vernaculus – refers to a
native language – commonly used, recognized, understood (speech)
pattern.
 Buildings of the people. Related to their environmental contexts and
available resources they are customarily owner-or community-built
,utilizing traditional technologies. All forms of vernacular architecture are
built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies and
ways of life of the cultures that produce them.

3. 2. Classify Indian vernacular architecture.
 Indian vernacular architecture can be classified into three broad
categories despite its rich diversity.
 Kachcha
 Pukka
 Semi-pukka
Based on the building materials used for construction and the
stability of the structure.

4. KACHCHA
 Kachcha means non-permanent
 The natural materials such as mud, grass,
bamboo, thatch or sticks are used for
construction.
 Because of the use of these natural materials,
it requires constant maintenance and
replacement.
 Advantage of kachcha houses is that the
construction materials are cheap and available
in abundance as well as it does not require
skilled labour.

5. PUKKA
 Pukka houses are constructed from
materials that are resistant to wear and
tear because of the natural conditions of
the environment.
 The materials used for construction are
stone or brick, clay tiles, metal or other
durable materials. Mortar is used as the
binding material.
 A pukka may be elaborated in contrast to
a kachcha.
 These structures are expensive to
construct and also require skilled labour.

6. SEMI-PUKKA
 Semi-pukka house which is the
combination of the kachcha and pukka
style.
 It evolved when the villagers started
acquiring the resources to add elements
constructed of the durable materials giving
it a characteristic feature of a pukka house.
 In short, addition of pukka materials
elements to a kachcha house can be termed
as semi-pukka house.

7. The functional approach
● The forms taken are assumed to have
direct correspondence to their natural and
cultural environments.
● Eg: gable roof - snow and heavy rains.
3. What are the different approaches and concepts of study of
vernacular architecture

8. Ethnographic approach
 The cultural acceptance of and expectations on form also have an
important affect
 A uniquely human system of habits and customs acquired by man
through an extra esoteric process, carried by his society, and used as
his primary means of adapting to his environment
Eg:pennsylvania german barn.
 The traditional house is, in whatever culture, always an accumulation
of various and different lines of development. The roof is a primary
evolutionary line. Similarly the entrance, the window and the walls
have their own developments. Similarly the fireplace, the hearth, the
stove. All these components have their own lines of development and
can combine to form this or that type of house according to various
conditions

9. The sociological approach
 Based on mental proclivities that are influenced by social pressures originating from several
sources such as religion, social status, wealth, etc
 Based on responses to social constructs.These constructs have great affects on the psychology of
individual builders,as well as groups of builders
 House forms can also be strongly related to patterns of cultural behaviour, of cultural values and
worldviews.
 The social evolution of mankind (savagery, barbarism, civilisation) which he combined with an
evolution of family structure (promiscous, monogamy, patriarchal monogamy) and further.

10. Geographical approach
 An attempt to understand structures in their geographic context.
 At its most basic level, the geographic context can be viewed as the conditions
related to the climate, topography, and the flora and fauna of a specific
geographic location. The differences from one region to the next can be extreme
and have
 An overwhelming influence on design, often giving rise to what becomes known
as regional styles.

11. Anthropological approach
 This shows the main lines of the evolution of constructivity and architecture.
 Shows the hominoid tradition of nestbuilding, treenests, nightcamps and groundnests with
rooted materials, the latter forming the subhuman prototype of architecture.
 A further important process is the evolution of the semantic domain: the use of fibrous and
fibroconstructive signs and symbols. Most important in this line are the impacts of the first tools:
materials an be cut and transported elsewhere for construction which allowed a great formal,
functional and topological differentiation of early architecture. Equally important is the
development of categorical polarity with semantic architecture. It forms a model to see categorial
polarity of natural forms (e.g. Top and trunk of tree, horns and head of animals etc, in analogy
with the categorial polarity of self made artefacts.

12.  The later huts and houses are formed by the two primary lines.
 The primary sedentary type is agrarian village, in which semantic architecture
is the source of ontological developments.
 The urban line takes over the agrarian system but manipulates it either by
monumentalising (temples) or verbalising and fixing it in this form . these
transitions are of great importance even today. But many are not aware of
these connexes and transitions. Conventional theories are fixed on history in
the strict sense. The new traits only show when using structural history
(ethno(pre-)history [or 'anthropological definition of material culture].

13. Koothambalam
A significant feature of big temple complexes is the presence of a theatre hall - koothambalam- meant
for dance, musical performance and religious recitals.
This is a unique edifice of Kerala architecture, distinct from the natyasabha or natyamandir seen in
north Indian temples of this period.
 Koothambalam is a large pillared hall with a high roof. Inside the hall is a stage structure _
rangamandapam _ for the performances.
The stage as well as the pillars are ornately decorated.
Visual and acoustic considerations are incorporated in the layout of the pillars and construction details
so that the performances can be enjoyed by the spectators without discomfort and distortion.
The koothambalam design seems to have been based on the canons given in the natyasastra of bharata
muni.
4.Explain with sketches the features of temple arts performance
structure.

14.  Technically the most important feature of the temple architecture of Kerala is the
construction technique using a dimensional standardisation.
 The nucleus of the temple plan is the shrine containing the garbha griha cell.
 The width of this cell is the basic module of the dimensional system. In plan composition,
the width of the shrine, the open space around it, the position and sizes of the surrounding
structures, are all related to this standard module.
 In vertical composition, this dimensional co-ordination is carried right up to the minute
construction details such as the size of the pillars, wall plates, rafters etc.
 The canonical rules of the proportionate system are given in the treatises and preserved by
the skilled craftsmen.
 This proportionate system has ensured uniformity in architectural style irrespective of the
geographical distribution and scale of construction.

17.  Located in at padmanabhapuram fort, close to the town of
thuckalay in kanyakumari district.
 The palace complex is inside an old granite fortress around four
kilometers long.
 The palace is located at the foot of the veli hills, which form a
part of the western ghats. The river valli flows nearby.
 The palace was constructed around 1601 ad by iravi varma
kulasekhara perumal who ruled venad.
 Located in at padmanabhapuram fort, close to the town of
thuckalay in kanyakumari district.
 The palace complex is inside an old granite fortress around four
kilometers long.
5. Explain the layout and major building in the
padmanabhapuram palace

18.  The palace is located at the foot of the veli hills, which form a part of the western ghats. The
river valli flows nearby.
 The palace was constructed around 1601 ad by iravi varma kulasekhara perumal who ruled
venad.
 Located in at padmanabhapuram fort, close to the town of thuckalay in kanyakumari district.
 The palace complex is inside an old granite fortress around four kilometers long.
 The palace is located at the foot of the veli hills, which form a part of the western ghats. The
river valli flows nearby.
 The palace was constructed around 1601 ad by iravi varma kulasekhara perumal who ruled
venad.

19. PLAN

21.  The padmanabhapuram palace complex consists of several structures:
 Mantrasala; literal meaning, king's council chamber
 Thai kottaram; literal meaning, mother's palace(it didn't mean the mother's palace, but
the first building or the mother of the buildings over there) – believed to have been
constructed before AD 1550
 Nataksala; literal meaning, the hall of performance, or of performing arts
 A four-storeyed building at the centre of the palace complex
 Theke kottaram; literal meaning, the southern palace

22. 6.What are the various influence of Kerala vernacular
architecture?
 Kerala architecture is one of the most exciting examples of preservation of vernacular
styles.
 The evolution of domestic architecture of kerala followed closely the trend of
development in temple architecture.
 The primitive models of circular, square or rectangular plain shapes with a ribbed roof
evolved from functional consideration.
 The climate of kerala greatly influenced the traditional architecture.
 The natural building materials available for construction in kerala i.e. Stones, timber, clay
and palm leaves have anchored and guided the acceptance or rejection of outside
influences

23. Influence of climate
 Kerala has a warm humid climate. The rainfall is very heavy from south west and north
east monsoons
 To keep the rain and sun away form the walls the roofs of the building come down very
low.
 They have verandah all round the building protecting the external walls from sun and
rain.
 The width of the verandah varies from 2 ft to 12ft
 In rooms were people spend most of their time during day the window openings were
brought in at ground level otherwise the windows were small so that there was only
subdued light inside or had timber jalis to give diffused light without glare.
 They also have an internal courtyard for better flow of air.

24. Roofing system
 The ridged roof pitched at angles between 30degree to 40degree
 The roof with intricately carved gables protruding from the roof with overhangs
supported by wooden brackets.
 The roof is prefabricated that is different members are fixed on the ground and
assembled at the top.
 No nails are used.
 The roof is kept in position by interlocking with the hole in the rafters.
 Walls made of timber or earth and roof of coconut leaves or tiles are common in many
parts of kerala
 Structurally the roof frame was supported on the pillars on walls erected on a plinth
raised from the ground for protection against dampness and insects in the tropical
climate.

25. Roofing system

26. Flooring System
 The most common type of flooring was that of beaten earth polished with cow dung at
regular intervals
 Black colored traditional flooring used in the more expensive buildings was done with
the mixture of lime, sand, coconut shell, white of egg, jaggery, coconut water and
other vegetable extracts. The smoothness was achieved by polishing the floor with a
particular variety of banana.

27. Building Materials
 The availability of granite -a strong and durable building stone is restricted mainly to
the highlands and marginally to some hilly zones. Accordingly, the skill in quarrying,
dressing and sculpturing of stone is scarce in Kerala.
 Laterite stone however, is abundantly found
 Soft laterite available at shallow depth can be easily cut, dressed and used as building
blocks. It is a local stone that gets stronger and durable with exposure to the
atmosphere.
 Block of this stone may be bonded in mortars of shell lime, - the classic binding
material used in traditional buildings.
 Lime mortar can be improved in strength and performance by admixtures of vegetable
juices. Such enriched mortars were utilised for plastering and low relief work.

28.  Timber remains the prime structural material abundantly available in kerala, in many
varieties - from bamboo to teak and rosewood. The skilful choice of timber, artful
assembly and delicate carving of wood work for columns, walls and roofs frames are the
unique characteristics of kerala architecture, using accurate fit of joints.
 Clay was used in many forms - for walling, in filling the timber floors and making bricks
and tiles after firing in kilns, tempered with admixtures.
 Palm leaves are still used effectively for thatching the roofs and for making partition
walls and along with mud

29. Explain with example of any 2 places reflects its
socio economic context?
 PONNANI
 The houses are made up of locally available materials and are small scale.
 This reflects the low income of the people, but still how they managed to have
a shelter which satisfies their needs.
 The houses are scattered along the coast

30. Minimum openings.
Openings given near stove
for smoke to escape.
Sanitary spaces were kept
outside the house.
Washing clothes and
dishes were also done
outside
Roof built using bamboo
frame and thatched with
coconut leaves
The roof is pitched and wall
are of laterite with
plastering as optional.

31.  The much more prosperous people
could afford 2 storeyed house with tiled
pitched roof.
Most of the houses had small wells.
The bed rooms were so small that it
could barely fit a bed.
The houses are surrounded by lots
of coconut trees giving shade from
the sun
Tarpaulin sheets and asbestos
roofing were also widely used.

32.  VATTAVADA
 Vattavada is a contour place in which most of the people lead their life by
farming.
 They use their locally available materials for their construction.
 For example , some of them use palm leaves for their house construction
[roofing].
 Most of the houses are build with sloped roof .Because this region receive
rainfall, so water can be easily guided down.
 Some of them use asbestos sheet for their roofing.
 They are cheap and more durable and fire resistant.
 The space with in the houses are minimum but activities can be done in
comfortable manner.
 In few houses ,they used rain harvesting systems.