International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 10 Issue: 06 | Jun 2023
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Cross-Cultural Influences in Traditional Residential Architecture of North Western India (15th – 20th Century) Noopur Kumari1 1Conservation Architect, Katihar, Bihar
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Abstract - North western India, with present day states of
exchanges are reflected in architecture of these places and helps to understand the evolution, hybridity and loss of architectural elements in different cases and their variations and adaptations according to different zones due to factors like climate and availability of materials. So, the whole region mentioned above has been delineated as study area and referred as 'North western India' in this paper, as marked in the map below.
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, and some parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, comprises different cultural zones which have been interacting with each other over centuries. Cultural exchange of traditions and knowledge systems as well as art and architecture is prominently visible in building typologies. Natural setting, socio-economic and political scenario; cultural practices and traditions; and artistic expression of an area or region, are all reflected in architecture of the place and provides with an opportunity to understand human society of a particular time period holistically. Residential buildings of different scales, developed in different parts of this zone have similar concepts like single or multiple courtyard houses. Concepts and designs have travelled across regions with patrons as well as craftsperson, which has led to evolution of residential architecture of the region. This paper has been focused on various aspects of these crosscultural exchanges, which led to development and evolution of residential architecture in North western India during the 15th to 20th century CE. Study and analysis of examples of residential buildings and complexes from each zone, like Quila Mubarak in Patiala, Punjab, Kothi of Quila Mahmudabad, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, Pol House in Ahmedabad, Rampuriya Havelis of Bikaner, Rajasthan and the Gyan Gopal Ji ka Mandir in Pushkar, Rajasthan, have been done for this research.
Fig. 1 Delineation of area of study
1.1. Objectives, scope and limitations of this research
Key Words: Culture, residential architecture, North-western India
The study has been focused to identify cross-cultural influences in evolution of residential architecture of North western India during 15th to 20th century CE as well as various concepts and principles associated with them. Case studies of residential buildings of different scales has been done to understand variation as well as influences of different cultural zones in the residential buildings. Planning of residential buildings according to needs and activities of users of different communities in different areas has been studied to identify the similarities and differences in these buildings, if any. Architectural elements like Jharokha, otlas, ornamentation of structural members, variation in materials of construction according to natural setting and availability of materials have been studied to understand the differences as well as the similarity of architectural vocabulary of different areas.
1. INTRODUCTION The states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh are different geographical regions with distinctive cultural regions within themselves. These cultural regions within North western India have some similarities in their cultural, and ethnological parameters like language, religious beliefs, cuisine as well as in their art and architecture. Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh and northern Madhya Pradesh are different cultural zones in themselves. However, there has been cultural exchanges observed between these zones due to various factors like their proximity, similar social, cultural and geographical settings. Additionally, their rulers who would have built in different parts of this region with similar designs carried by craftspeople and their knowledge systems also contribute to this pattern of cultural exchange. These cross-cultural
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Cross-cultural study primarily depends upon dimensions like, geographical scope of comparison, size of samples, nature of data in terms of preliminary and secondary sources and dependence on validity of data on a particular
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