bhonga vernacular architecture of gujarat

UNDERSTANDINGVERNACULAR

Kutch, Gujarat

Introduction

Kutch district (also spelledas Kachchh) isa district of Gujarat statein western India. Coveringan area of 45,652 km², it isthe largest district of India.The population of Kutch is21 Lakh, literacy rate is59.79%. People of thisregion are of very low orlow income class. It is alsoearthquake prone area.

Divided in tw0 major parts

Rann of kuchchh – wet and dry region without any settlements. Salt flat lands in summer and flooded in rainy season.

Kuchchh – Dry area with settlement both traditional and modern.

Topography - Whole Kutch region is flat with grasslands, not much vegetation.

History Ruins of Indus valley civilization are found in some regions of Kutch.

Massive stone fortification, Harappan pottery, two script bearing seals, one of steatite and other of copper were also found; terracotta sealing was also found.

Traditional rural house in Kutch region of India(Bhonga)

What is Bhonga?The Bhonga is a traditional construction type in the Kutch district of the Gujaratstate in India, which has a very high earthquake risk. A Bhonga consists of a singlecylindrically shaped room. The Bhonga has a conical roof supported by cylindricalwalls. Bhonga construction has existed for several hundred years. This type of houseis quite durable and appropriate for prevalent desert conditions.

Typical construction drawings and materials.Building materials

Masonry wall is made of adobe blocks and plaster is also from mud covered by cow dunk, lime etc.

Roof is made of bamboo/wooden framework covered with thatch.

window

Vertical wooden postWooden rafter

Vertical wooden post(optional)

Plan

Door opening

Adobe/Earthen walls

Inner diameter ranges from 3 to 6m.

A A

Typical construction drawings

Typical construction drawings Structural variant for the roof- supported

by a central pillar

Factors influencing Bhunga design.

Climate

Culture

Calamities

Climate

The thick walls, made of mud, keep the interior cool when the temperature rises to 40+ degrees Celsius in summer and warm when it drops below 5 degrees in winter.

Culture

Culture is revealed in the decoration of the Bunga (outside as well as inside).

Painting on exterior walls Glass designing on interior walls

Calamities

It performed very well in the recent M7.6 Bhuj earthquake in 2001. Very few Bhongasexperienced significant damage in the epicentre region, and the damage that did occur can be mainly attributed to poor quality of the construction materials or improper maintenance of the structure. It has also been observed that the failure of Bhongas in the last earthquake caused very few injuries to the occupants due to the type of collapse.

Gravity loadOver vertical woodenPost outside

Understanding settlement

Settlement designContains –

1. Plinth

2. Circular closed space

3. Open gathering space

Room for men

Verandafor

men

Gathering space

Women and

children

Kitchen

Storage or

another room

Settlement design Plinth(otla) –

• Define the domain of the home and the place for outdooractivities.

• Water does not enter in house in rainy season.

• About 500mm high.

Rooms are not attached to avoid cracks because cracks maycause serious damage during earthquake.

Settlement design

Settlement designLudia region, Kutch

Settlement designLudia region, Kutch

Building technique

Construction Techniques generally used “COB”. In these methods a large Lump is roughly moulded into the shape of a huge elongated egg.

The usual size is anything between 12 to 18 inches. 30-40cm long and 6 inches in diameter.

A row of these cobs of mud are laid nearly side by side. Preferably somewhat pressed together. Then another row of cobs is laid on top.

Building technique

When three or four courses have been laid, one above the other, the sides are smoothened over so that the holes and cracks disappear.

Placing wooden beam Setting kingpost on wooden joist

Placing the rafters

Filling bamboo rafters Setting the thatched roof Securing the roof with rope

Urban form

Keeping building typology inmind people are using modern materials and construction techniques , making it morecompact.

Local resorts are of same building typology.

Urban form

Providing multiple floors and function to it.

Modern houses

ConclusionThe architecture of Kutch region relates to the socio-economic setup, the cultural identities and a good climatic responsiveness. A good number of climate responsive design features are revealed during the study of the traditional architecture including temperature control, enhancing natural ventilation, protection from natural calamities such as flood, earthquake etc.

However certain features that lack in the traditional housing are mostly fire proneness and termite infestation due to usage of non-treated material and lack of damp proofing.

Thank youfor your patience.