HAVELIS OF RAJASTHAN KIRAN KUMAR SREEDHARAN | VIIIth SEMESTER | IVth YEAR | 2008 - 2013

HAVELIS OF RAJASTHAN Haveli is the term used for a private mansion in India and Pakistan, usually one with

historical and architectural significance. The word haveli is derived from

the Persian word hawli, meaning "an enclosed place". They share similar features with

other mansions derived from Islamic Architecture such as the traditional mansions in

Morocco called Riads.

MUGHAL HAVELIS

Many of the havelis of India and Pakistan were influenced by Islamic Persian, Central

Asian and Indian architecture. They usually contain a courtyard often with a fountain

in the centre. The old cities of in Agra, Lucknow and Delhi in India andLahore, Multan,

Peshawar, Hyderabad in Pakistan have many fine exam ples of Mughal-style havelis.

FAMOUS HAVELIS OF INDIA

The term Haveli was first applied in Rajasthan by the Vaishnava sect to refer to their

temples in Gujarat. In the northern part of India havelis for Lord Krishna are prevalent

with huge mansion like constructions. The havelis are noted for

their frescoes depicting images of gods, goddesses, animals, scenes from the British

colonization, and the life stories of Lords Rama and Krishna.

Later on these temple architectures and frescoes were imitated while building huge individual mansions and now the word is popularly

recognized with the mansions themselves. Between 1830 and 1930, Marwari's erected buildings in their

homeland, Shekhawati and Marwar. These buildings were called havelis. The Marwaris commissioned artists to paint those buildings which

were heavily influenced by the Mughal architecture.

The havelis were status symbols for the Marwaris as well as homes for their

extended families, providing security and comfort in seclusion from the outside

world. The havelis were to be closed from all sides with one large main gate.

The typical havelis in Shekhawati consisted of two courtyards — an outer one for

the men which serves as an extended threshold, and the inner one, the domain of

the women. The largest havelis could have up to three or four courtyards and

were two to three stories high. Most of the havelis are empty nowadays or are

maintained by a watchman (typically an old man). These havelis are major

attraction for tourists in Rajasthan.

The towns and villages of Shekhawati are famous for the embellished frescoes on

the walls of their grandiose havelis, to the point of becoming popular tourist

attractions.

The havelis in and around Jaisalmer Fort(also known as the Golden Fort), situated

in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, of which the three most impressive are Patwon Ki Haveli,

Salim Singh Ki Haveli, and Nathmal-Ki Haveli, deserve special mention. These were

the elaborate homes of Jaisalmer's rich merchants. The ostentatious carvings

etched out in sandstone with infinite detail and then painstakingly pieced

together in different patterns each more lavish than the next were

commissioned to put on show the owner's status and wealth. Around Jaisalmer, they are typically carved from yellow sandstone.They

are often characterized by wall paintings, frescoes, jharokhas (balconies) and archways.

Figure 1 Entrance arch of a haveli

Figure 2 Haveli at Mandawa, Rajasthan

The Patwon Ji ki Haveli is the most important and the

largest haveli, as it was the very first erected in

Jaisalmer. It is not a single haveli but a cluster of 5

small havelis. The first one in the row is also the most

popular one and is also known as Kothari's Patwa

Haveli. The first among these was commissioned and

constructed in the year 1805 by Guman Chand Patwa,

then a rich trader of jewellery and fine brocades, and

is the biggest and the most ostentatious. Patwa was

a rich man and a renowned trader of his time and he

could afford and thus order the construction of

separate stories for each of his 5 sons. These were

completed in the span of 50 years. All five houses

were constructed in the first 60 years of the 19th

century. Patwon Ji Ki is renowned for its ornate wall

paintings, intricate yellow sandstone-carved

jharokhas (balconies), gateways and archways.

Although the building itself is made from yellow

sandstone, the main gateway is brown.

HAVELIS OF SHEKHAWATI Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India got its name from Shekhawat Rajputs.

It encompasses the administrative districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar. From the administrative and geographical point of view Shekhawati

is limited to Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts only. It is bounded on the northwest by Jangladesh region, on the northeast by Haryana, on

the east by Mewat, on the southeast by Dhundhar, on the south by Ajmer, on the southwest by Marwar regions. However, some parts of

Churu and Nagaur districts are also considered in the Shekawati region.

ARCHITECTURE In Shekhawati frescoes were initially introduced by Shekhawat Rajputs in their Forts and Palaces and the towns in the Shekhawati

region are known for their painted havelis. This region has been recognised as the "open art gallery of Rajasthan" having the largest

concentration of frescos in the world.

The Marwaris from Marwar was the influential business community in the

Shekhawati region, and they prospered until the beginning of the 19th century,

due to the caravan routes that crossed the area to reach the ports of Gujarat. But

from 1820 onwards, many left their families behind and migrated

to Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, which were gaining importance as main trade

centers where they had great financial success. The descendants of these rich

merchants have permanently settled down in the towns their ancestors migrated

to. The Shekhawati region has produced large number of Marwaris who are

dominant factor in the economy of India. About 80 percent of big industrial

houses are managed by Marwaris. India's richest industrialists of the century,

such as theBirlas and Dalmia, are Marwaris. Today, the main trading and industrial

houses of India have their roots in Shekhawati.

Between 1830 and 1930, they erected buildings in their homeland, Shekhawati, as evidence of their success. As the ultimate symbol of

their opulence, the Marwaris commissioned artists to paint those buildings.

Most of the buildings of the Shekhawati region were constructed from 18th century to the early 20th century. During the British

occupation, traders adapted this style for their buildings. The havelis are noted for

Figure 3 Patwon Ki Haveli.

Figure 4 Shekhawati painted houses.

their frescos depicting mythological and historical themes. The frescos include images of gods, goddesses, animals, life history of

Lords Rama and Krishna, profusely painted on the havelis in this region.

Marwaris have played an important role in the development of Shekhawati region. Their major contribution to the Shekhawati region is

in the field of education. Marwaris have also played a leading role in Indian Independence Movement. They provided financial help in

running the freedom movement.

CLIMATE

TEMPERATURE - Maximum temperature in summers rises up to 45°C while night temperatures fall to 20°C. winter days are temperate

around 8°C while night temperatures reduce to just above

freezing.

RAINFALL - Annual rainfall is 600mm falling largely in the

months of July-October.

HUMIDITY - Apart from monsoon season, RH is terribly low-

categorising the climate as Hot Dry.

WIND - Throughout the year dominant wind comes from NW

quadrant and late in the monsoon SW winds are

experienced. The winds temperature is hot in summers

while very cold in winters. The only times when winds are

preferred inside the building are summer nights and

monsoon days.

SANDSTORMS - Dust storms and sandstorms are very common both during day and night.

SOLAR RADIATION - the solar radiation in intense around 700-800 Kcal/Sqm with sky being clear almost throughout the year.

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.

Least exposure to east and west orientation.

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.

Figure 5 Laxmangarh fort of Sikar

Figure 6 Narrow north south streets cutting off the sun.

Figure 7 Effect of Surface area to volume ratio

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.

Light colours on exterior.

Smooth reflective surface on roof to reduce direct heat gain.

PASSIVE COOLING FEATURES IDENTIFIED IN SHEKHAWATI HAVELIS

For the study and analyses purpose one of the case studies is documented here. It is a small scale Haveli having only two courtyards

that according to the yardsticks of Shekhawati is the minimum number of courtyards.

Following are the passive features identified 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.

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

Figure 8 Ground Floor Plan and First Floor Plan of a Small Haveli, Dundlod, Shekhawati, Rajasthan

Figure 9 Compact settlement allowing for mutual shading

Figure 11 Photograph from roof level showing compact courtyard planning

Figure 10 Inner room showing heavy construction

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.

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 perforated

stone screens known as Jharookhas. This allows cooling of air by venturi effect phenomenon.

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.

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.

Figure 12 Arrangement of semi open areas around courtyard

Figure 13 Transverse Section Through Internal courtyard

Figure 14 Photograph showing Jharookha

Figure 15 Longitudinal Section Through Both Courtyards

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.

CONCLUSION

After studying the Havelis of Shekhawati in detail, following conclusion can be made –

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.

Figure 16 Street façade showing elaborate painting on walls

Figure 17 From inner courtyard to the outer courtyard through transition space

REFRENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haveli

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhawati

Shekhawati: urbanism in the semi-desert of India A climatic study - Avlokita Agrawal, Prof. R.K. Jain and Prof. Rita Ahuja – IIT Roorke.