Traditional houses and their heritage

Indians lived in a joint family system traditionally. Distinguished spaces for different activities were in demand since there were many occupants in the house. Most houses had a courtyard making it the nucleus of the house. These houses were highly sustainable and designed according to the climatic conditions, Vaastu, local building materials and techniques. There are diverse categories of architectural forms to interpret from our heritage and history as they are the best guidelines for the building traditions of that time. 

Traditions of different states

With the various cultural, linguistic, climatic and regional differences there were few common things in the aesthetics of the homes. Courtyards, gardens, study halls, etc., were common in most of the houses. We will now focus on the major prototypes of traditional dwellings in historic India for you to understand its heritage.

·       Tamil Nadu

Red clay tile roofs supported by terracotta pillars with carvings, a central courtyard surrounded by wings of rooms, tall entrance ways, towering temple gopurams, row houses in agraharam, wooden swings and furniture, Athangudi tiles for flooring, verandas with huge built-in space for seating, exclusive Tanjore paintings to lighten the wall décor, unpolished cement floors in bathroom and patio, traditional musical instruments and earthy colours were the absolute essence of Tamil Nadu tradition-bound houses.

• Kerala

The traditional architecture of Kerala is well known for its Vernacular architecture. From timber to clay, stones, leaves and woods, Kerala is rich in resources for construction. Traditionally these architectures were used for the construction of temples, later people constructed houses the same way. These houses were sustainable because of the slanting roof to avoid rainwater storage, verandas relishing the fresh air and natural light and surrounded by greeneries. No more than two floors were built. 

• Andhra Pradesh

Manduva illu and Chavadi illu are the two types of traditional houses in Andhra habituated by villagers and upper cast people respectively. Former is usually made of red bricks and the roofs are Mangalore tiles, locally available cuddapah stone flooring and wooden teak or rosewood pillars. Most of the houses had hollow copper pillars connected to a dome in the ceiling through which the rainwater channels into the ground for conservation. 

• Karnataka

Guthu Mane is the traditional house in Karnataka has the Khamb wooden pillars in the bunt house. These were mainly owned by South Karnataka community of well to do family with large inward-looking mansions to prevent attacks. Steeply pitched roofs, single or double storied blocks, the most impressive feature of the house is its façade tallest and a central projection. Wood was the principal building material. Houses look like mini temples from the outside.

• Rajasthan

Being the culturally rich souvenir in India - Jharokhas, Chhattris, Boadis, Johad and Jaalis were the major architectural styles in Rajasthan. Blend of Mughal and Hindu features astonishing forts, Havelis and carved temples. Haveli is an enclosed place with courtyards, sometimes with two such courtyards one for men and the other for women of the family. Baked bricks, sandstone, marble, wood, plaster and granite were the common building materials. The family size determines the number of floors.  

• Maharashtra

Wadas were square grid-patterned built on a modular system. It was an amalgamation of Mughal, Rajasthan and Gujarat architecture. Designed with very few openings, made of thick walls and provide light and ventilation to the inner parts of the houses. Osari consisted of two rectangular verandas inside the main gate where the visitors were seated. The living spaces of the owner and the number of chowks in the mansion was defined by their social and political status.

• West Bengal

Bungalows were originally originated from Bengal and most of the Bengali houses were built on such characteristics. Columns running along the balconies, the hanging balcony, special puja mandap to keep the idols and a large central courtyard with the tulsi plant in its centre were the major features of West Bengal traditional houses. Other additional flavours of the houses were sandalwood furniture, four-poster beds, well-connected floors, rooms and ventilated corridors.

Essential elements of an Indian Traditional Homes

Brilliant colours & flooring – bright, warm and earthy colours like yellow, orange and browns for floors and walls. Green, blue, pink and yellow for the decors. But too many colours would be chaotic. The inspiration behind the colour palette is the Indian spices to reciprocate the bold colours.

Artisan touch – madhubani, Tanjore, warli, dhokra and heritage drove paintings and large paintings which makes the centre piece of the wall. Terracotta figures and statues of common religious idols, elephants, camels, horses or deer make the traditional home a whole. Brass lamp, crockery, pottery, diyas, decorative boxes, and metallic pots add good artwork for the home.

Pooja Room – a certain section or a separate room for Pooja to invest the quality of a mandir in the home with carvings makes it look serene.

Crafted Furniture – authentic solid wood furniture unveils Indian craftsmanship. Center tables, corner shelves, side tables and wooden chests with carved armrests are a great pick. Round chairs with cushions, traditional cabinets, poster beds, benches, low stools and jaali works are the basic Indian decors

Handwoven Fabrics and accessories – hand embroidered, knitted, block printed and painted fabrics on curtains, bedspreads and pillowcases; shades of carpets, decorative accessories speak the story of its origin. Armchair and side tables can be decorated with khadi, linen, jute and cotton fabrics.

Patterns & Motifs – interior designs with patterned walls, nature-inspired works, flowers, birds, mandala and paisley motifs, mosaic flooring are other essentials of a traditional house.

Palatial rooms – divans, sofas, high chairs, swings are the needs of Indian houses to add nice vibes for seating areas.

Agraharams in Tamil Nadu, Naalukettus in Kerala, Guttu Manes in Karnataka, Manduva illus in Andhra, Rajasthan's Haveli, Maharastra's Wada and Bungalows in Bengal are just the layouts of the Indian Traditional Houses. Inspiration begins from the history of a story. Evolutions happen from the beginning to the end of history.