DESSERT ARCHITECTURE - Vernacular

In India this type of climate can be experienced in Rajasthan,

Gujarat , Maharashtra and some parts of MP and Karnataka also.

TEMPERATURE HUMIDITY & PRECIPITATION

- Usually very Hot, Temp - Due to harsh sunrays,
range go up to 50° and even humidity is very low, ranges
more in simmers. from 10 to 50% .
- Diurnal range is very high - Precipitation is very low, it
(15-20°C). may vary between 50 to
GENERAL 150mm per year.
CHARACTERISTICS
SOLAR RADIATIONS &
SKY CONDITIONS
WIND
- Clear and Blue sky.
- Direct and strong solar
- Dust Storms are frequent in radiations.
some regions.
- High speed dusty winds are
- Dusty Sky create common, with speed varying
unbearable glare. between 20 to 30 kms/hr.

Soil is very loose and Sandy. Low humidity and less rainfall results
in poor vegetation. Plants are thick and thorny leaves .

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF HOT & ARID REGION OF INDIA

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
DESSERT ARCHITECTURE - Vernacular
BUILDING PLANNING
•Courtyard Planning
•Light colour walls, increase heat
reflection
•Closely packed built
•Vegetation
•Small openings, towards internal
courtyards rather than exterior surface.
•Double roof
•Thick walls
•Rainwater collection/water body.
•Louvered windows
•Materials that take longer to heat up.
SETTLEMENT PLANNING •Buffer spaces between habitable
•Topography, to enhance the passive and outdoors.
means. PASSIVE MEASURES •Cooling using evaporation by water element
•Orientation to reduce the solar exposure. •Courtyards
•Air movement, for proper ventilation •Stack Effect, Outlets to vent high hot air, and
•Compact buildings for mutual protection. inlets for low cool air.

VERNACULAR COMMON DESIGN OBJECTIVES OF HOT & ARID REGION

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
DESSERT ARCHITECTURE - Vernacular
MEDITERREAN HOUSES
1. Walls made of raw earth bricks, cooked bricks, stone or tuff.
50-100 cm thick walls according to the construction material.
2. Roof characterized by light wood structure, more often in
bricks and lime.
3. Closed volumes, few and little windows.
4. There isn't roof projection, but often stairs are provided to
reach the flat terraced roof.

TRULLI HOUSE , SOUTH ITALY

1. The huge massive stone is usually joint to a big basin to
collect rainwater used to decrease of 6-7°C, the interior
temp. in summer.
2. Natural ventilation is allowed through dome holes and
is improved by the white colour of the exterior surface
made in lime.

VERNACULAR MEDITERREAN HOUSES

ARCHITECTURE : Region around Mediterrean sea like Greece, South Italy, Spain and South France.
Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
DESSERT ARCHITECTURE - Vernacular

ARABIC HOUSES
1. The whole design is focussed around the central square shaped patio, an empty space where all the rooms face to
2. Around the patio often there are porches on one or more sides used for different activities.
3. During night time, The cool air comes down in the court ad goes inside the room that surround it, the flat roof and thick walls
also improve the cooling system.
4. During noon time. The sun directly heat the walls that face the court, the sir heats up and court works like a chimney.
5. To improve these passive systems they usually fix a wet curtain on the court and a fountain in the middle.

VERNACULAR ARABIC HOUSES

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
DESSERT ARCHITECTURE – Western region of India, parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan
In order to understand the form and significance of generic and thematic elements and typical organisation of this region,
they are broadly categorised in three categories.
1. DHANIS
2. Village : BASTIS
3. The Hamlets of BANNI
DHANI

1. Dhani is most common form of rural settlement, where

individual houses are dispersed in the landscapes and
don not form organisation like a village.
2. The house provided by intimate internal court used for
socialising, dining and entertainment activities along with
two circular JHOMPAS, a rectangular room and a square
room as well as a storage place for water and grain.
3. In Jhompas the conical thatched roof is supported on
central column whereas a pitched wooden roof frame is
used for rectangular room with thatched finish.
4. The metre high mud wall demarcating the outer court
prevents windblown sand from entering the court,
protecting the living space.
5. The house is devoid of any kind of ornamentation except
a well made wooden door and good Charpais.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF INDIA (AS PER CLIMATE)

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
DESSERT ARCHITECTURE
Villages : BASTIS

1. Common features in the houses similar to houses of

Dhanis, but overall organisation is more of a settlement.
2. Can se seen in the settlement of Bikaner, Barmar and
Jaisalmer.
3. Walls of the houses are constructed out of sun baked
bricks or undressed stone, plastered with mud and
painted white. The play with different heights of the
walls gives the main façade an characteristic appearance
to the area.
4. Rectangular rooms with stone slabs or rough wood
arranged in geometric pattern around central courtyard
constitute the basic plan form.
5. Usually one circular space with a conical thatched roof
used for kitchen or store, or sometimes as living space.
6. Openings are small and few in number.
7. Simple and effective means of decoration.
8. Flat roof slab is usable and approachable by stairs
provided in the central court.
9. Jhompas helps in bringing some variation and fluidity to
the overall façade.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF INDIA (AS PER CLIMATE)

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
DESSERT ARCHITECTURE - Vernacular
HAMLETS OF BANNI

1. Semi Nomadic Hamlets of cattle herders: the Maldharis

2. The size of the settlements depends on the availability of water
and grassland.
3. Often a hamlet comprises an extended family, belongs to a caste,
there are limited communication between clusters of diff, caste
groups, sometimes bush fencing used to define a cluster.
4. Centrally located, the most elaborate house belongs to the head
of the hamlet.
5. The spatial organisation does not conform any predetermined
geometry or consciously laid out street patterns. There are more
of a spontaneous and organic growth as per the needs of the
community. The narrow space between the platform of the houses
defined the path or the streets.
6. A round hut called as bhunga used as main dwelling on a raised
platform. Another rectangular hut known as choki, the larger one
used for living spaces and smaller one for cooking.
7. Spaces without a definite shape and with no roof attached to
bhunga used for bathing, washing and storage.
8. Bhungas or Chokis are most private space and open platform in
front is extended private space used by women and children.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF INDIA (AS PER CLIMATE)

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
DESSERT ARCHITECTURE - Vernacular
TYPES OF BHUNGAS

The one which is not likely to face rains,

• Walls are made up of sun dried clay blocks and
finished with mud plaster.
• Walls do not carry load of the roof, the load is
transferred above the head, through wooden prop
placed in the centre of the beam supports the conical
roof.
• The two posts carrying the beam are placed outside
the circular wall and left exposed or embedded in the
mud wall.

Bhungas which face water logging.

• Built with wooden sticks covered with mud plaster
works as reinforcement in the event of inundation.
• One kind of adobe construction, these walls have
greater load bearing capacity. Eliminating the need of
additional support
• The roof of a wooden frame is made up of sticks which
rises from the wall and is tied to the crown to create
the cone. The cone is surfaced externally with
thatched.
• The interiors are finished with white clay.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF INDIA (AS PER CLIMATE)

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Dessert vernacular Architecture – Urban Settlement of JODHPUR
The topography and climate needs made the
compact organisation and densely built city.
The Mehrangarh fort stand on the isolated rock,
the highest point on a hill within the walled city.
Above the sandy plains.
The residential areas have expanded radially
with the fort as their symbolic and physical
centre.
It consist of building with exquisitely carved
stone facades, beautiful courtyards, zharookhas,
narrow meandering streets, compact bazaars,
community spaces, and religious buildings.
The built structures are 2 and 3 storey houses
with terraces, courtyards and ottas.
The have raised platform at the entrance of the
house, immediately adjacent to the streets.
The play of open to built with stone mass and
Traditional urban fabric which reflects the culture, climate and terraces is strongly revealed by the sunlight
geography of the region. Topography is not flat, hence The houses are painted blue, as it is strong
adjustments are considerable while building, this was done by reflector of sunlight helps to keep the interiors
beautifully erecting terraced housing on the slope effecting a cool by day and lends a strong character and
growing mass of built forms which culminate in the fort. identity to the region.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE : JODHPUR

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Dessert vernacular Architecture–Urban Settlement of JODHPUR

1. Squares, connecting various clusters within a

neighbourhood, the small squares on the streets
accommodate a small temple, a well, a baori and
ottas to enrich their quality , adding to the activities
during day and night.
• Bazaar, the busiest streets accommodates a number
of small square each one well decorated with
intricately carved stonework in red and white.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE : JODHPUR

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Dessert vernacular Architecture–Urban Settlement of JODHPUR

• Streets are wider making vehicular movement possible. Street are dynamic and create interesting places for interaction,, socio
economic, socio-cultural and socio religious activities.
• Narrow meandering streets have variety and quality of space light relationship. Stone paved streets run up and down following the
course of natural run off.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE : JODHPUR

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Elements of Dessert vernacular Architecture
COURTYARD
•Central space, holds surrounding space together.
•Nucleus attracts people and various household activities.
•In compact buildings, provide light and ventilation.
•Can be semi private or private as per arrangements
•Serve to connect vertically.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF KUTCH REGION, INDIA

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Elements of Dessert vernacular Architecture
PLATFORMS
•Known as OTTA or OTLA, generally an outdoor extension of the
house towards public ream, usually on street.
•In the rural settings like Banni , the platform serves multipurpose
function spatially, socially and functionally.
•Sometimes use for territorial claims,
•As element of transition between private & public : House & street.
•As threshold, symbolises religious rituals, mythology, sentiments
etc. and hold activities related.
•Create pause and focus.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF KUTCH REGION, INDIA

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Elements of Dessert vernacular Architecture

EMBELLISHMENT
•Inspiring and enthusing people to adore their homes.
•Expression of joy, happiness and celebration and festivity.
•Idea partly to proclaim and partly to share.
•Level of intricacy represents wealth of the owner.
•Style and character responds to regional variation.
•Flatness and barrenness of region countered by treatment of
surfaces both inside and outside.
•Transforms any mass into work of art, learned from generations.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF KUTCH REGION, INDIA

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Elements of Dessert vernacular Architecture
ZHAROOKHAS
•Interface between inside to outside, coupled with sense of
enclosure, sense of space.
•Draw light, ventilation and view and feel of the outside.
•Symbol of wealth and status of the owner.
•Artistic expression, full of decoration and embellishments.
•Gender driven space for some community, notion of privacy,
allowing participation in outdoor activities.

Zharookhas are combined with Chhatris, another dominant

element of dessert architecture.

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF KUTCH REGION, INDIA

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 Elements of Dessert vernacular Architecture

VERNACULAR VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF KUTCH REGION, INDIA

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 ELEMENTAL Vernacular Architecture : ARCHITECTURE FOR WATER
Oscillating between mirage and realities, people of dessert sought all possible ways to harness water. Development of
settlement in the vicinity of water source, various system to conserve and optimise the use of water were devised and practised
The following are the terms related to
•In dessert of India, PAR is known as place where
water sources :
flowing water accumulates and seeps into earth
•KUA: well, not large
•Wells have limited architectural expression, in
•KOHAR : larger well owned by
comparison to baoli has exceptional building attitude.
community
•Step wells are Subterranean architecture, narrow and
•BAOLI/VAV/BAVADI : step well with
long in plan, can be 5-6 storey below ground level.
religious significance
•Provide source of water, shelter and shade and halt
•JHALARA : Better constructed well with
place to travellers and have religious associations.
steps around it
•Design and structural resolution is stand out aspect of
•BERA/BERI : a shallow and narrow well.
Baolis.
•Earth pressure taken care by retaining walls imply
enormous thickness at lower levels.
•Jhalara does not have independent source of water ,
like wells or step wells, but depends upon
subterranean seepage from a lake or tank located in
the vicinity.
•Jhalaras does not have any catchment or access to any
underground water course. These well like structures
are generally square in plan and water can be accessed
from any four sides by series of narrow flights of steps
and number of landings. Jhalaras get narrower at the
bottom which gives additional thickness to the walls
providing structural capacity for earth retention.

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE FOR WATER : TERMS AND STRUCTURES

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP
 ELEMENTAL Vernacular Architecture : ARCHITECTURE FOR WATER
ADALAJ , step well near Ahmadabad, Gujarat.
•Linear composition is symmetrical on its north-south axis, conscious of
horizontal which is accentuated by architectural elements.
•Elaborate columns, beams, and platforms are beautifully carved in stone, used to
retain earth pressure, shoring and strutting as primary function.
•Galleries and platforms helps in supporting the long side walls against earth
pressure.
•The interplay of light and shadow was established using these elements.

VERNACULAR STEP WELL ARCHITECTURE : ADALAJ NI VAV

ARCHITECTURE Presentation by Ar. KANIKA VERMA, Assistant Professor, AIT-SAP