Anirudhan Iyengar

7/30/2019 Anirudhan Iyengar

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Anirudhan Iyengar

4th

year ,38

NMIMS BSSAResearch and Methodology

Book: Concepts of space in traditional Indian architecture

by Yatin Pandya

The book is an attempt to answer the questions: What makes

historic architecture awe-inspiring? Why have architectural

masterpieces retained their vitality even after so many centuries?

What spatial qualities and organizational principles have rendered

them timeless?" "the author starts with taking about

the fundamental Indian philosophical and ideological ideas - the

Indian notion of time, the duality of existence, the concept of a world

within a world, the idea of opposites as counterpoints, the role of semiotics in providing visual clues in architecture and the changing

perception of space while in movement. In the above narratives he

explains them in detail with more examples of temples and

traditional houses as reference. Further on the author takes up

detailed analysis of five Indian architectural sites that

is Rudabai Stepwell at Adalaj, near Ahmedabad; the Kailash Temple

at Ellora, the Sun Temple of Modhera with its unique water-tank;

Udaipur's City Palace and the Sarkhej Rauza in Ahmedabad. Each site

is discussed in detail with visually appealing

graphicrepresentatuion of plans and sections. With analytical studies

overlaid on them. And the understanding of volumes in the

building. Miniature-style reproductions are drawn for each example

to reconstruct spatial, environmental and experiential qualities. The

book gives a visual insight into the planning and the volumes of the

space of the buildings. Reading through diagrams one gets the notionof the kind of culture which would have existed in that time. The



diagrammatic representation of all the space shows a clear

relationship with culture and tradition of the community that used

that space. Understanding through the jails of sarkhej or to the high

walls of the Udaipur city palace are the outcome of the strict

traditions followed by the Muslim and the rajput rulers .The author

also emphasizes the role of kinesthetic in guiding the perception of

space while in movement. Movement in terms would be the

circulation, progression through spaces and the change in volumes of

the spaces. Understanding the interplay of culture, tradition and

space formation and references from the books gave me an in-depth

in the traditional India.

India the land of cultures and traditions these values transcend time

and space to remain alive and appropriate even in the present. The

beauty of traditions is it consistently adapts and suitably transforms

according to the change in circumstances. In psychic Indian history

time is a very cyclic phenomenon. Looking through cycles of life and

birth and rebirth to faith in reincarnations all reaffirm the belief in

the recurrence of time.

Drawing parallel to traditional Indian spaces as their existence is a

pause in time and the experience inside them around the movement

of the sun which features light,darkness,solid and void they are the

mutually defining aspects of the space. They are interdependent on

each other a counterpart shapes the other. As counterparts they

become mutual references and integral part of self-balancing system

in space.

Mass or volumes of a built form is a combination of space and time.

Over time spaces are not the same and similarly time over different

spaces is not the same. The juxtaposition of time and space is the

charm of traditional Indian architecture.

Relating back to the book which has the magnificent examples of one

of the finest architecture in India. Looking through the palaces of

Udaipur one can still feel the charm of royalty and kingship thought



the courtyards and the Diwan-e-Am and the Dewan-e-khas. The

vibrancy of the space communicates with the onlooker and this is the

best part of traditional architecture. The space remains

communicative and interactive all the while through its spatial

qualities through time.

Breaking down these spaces into its fundamental would be ranging

from approach and movement, scale and proportion, quality of light

and the relationship of the different elements with each other. To

understand such architecture one not only needs to interpret

through perceptual and experimental qualities but even looking

through the culture and the tradition, which existed in the

space. For example looking through women’s quarter in the Udaipur

palace, which had steep walls and an inner looking courtyard, and

small entry doors, which signifies privacy for the women. Contrary

the same space interpreted in the shadow of its culture would seem

like a secret enclosure of the palace. One can’t call space and

tradition as a two faces of coin they are in a way the legs of a chair.

You remove one leg and the balance of the chair is disrupted.

Understanding the relationship of space, time and culture zooming in

into a space not as big a palace nor as cultural as a temple but

looking at a very basic Indian house. Traditionally planned Indian

house is very basic in its space geometry but rich in culture and

tradition. The Indian house is a simple formation of a small veranda

through which one enters the living room adjoining which would be a

few rooms followed by a kitchen and dining area ending into a

backyard with washing and baiting facilities. Taking this ahead intime looking at house planning around 1960s to 1980s when the idea

of small two to three story apartments came into the

urban senario. Following the idea of a living room with one diversion

towards kitchen and bathroom and the other diversion towards the

room. Looking at the planning one would question why is the

baiting and the kitchen area separated compared to the rooms.

Through a modern spectacle why is there no attached bathroom in

the rooms.



The understanding of baiting, washing clothes and utensils and the

washroom were a part of basic hygiene factor. Separating all would

be maintaining a clean and hygiene living. And looking through the

eyes of the Vedas bathroom was considered as a space of negative

energy as one would defecate and urinate out there. Contrary to the

living area and the bedrooms, which were more of a

positive space. The puja room being a small part of the living area,

which adds to the energy quotient. Looking at the small aspects of

having a small tulsi plant inside or outside the house which both has

its own scientific and religious values. And many more

small traditions, which were a part of on the traditional Indian

houses. Which in time have lost its importance to the modern way of living .So my thesis could revolve around reviving these traditional

and cultural aspects in the modern house. With a small touch of

Vastushastra and basic understanding of the four directions.

Developing prototypes which would enrich the modern technology

and continue the cultural lineage.

Documents

Anirudhan Iyengar