Houses of Konkan

Red thick walls and sloping roof surrounded by sky touching coconut trees and lush green paddy fields is the common scene if you take a simple ride by Konkan railway through this region. If you go closer, the simplicity will make you fall in love and you will carry a dream of spending all your life close to nature and nature-loving people. Amid of urbanization, this region has successfully retained its tradition and its reflection can be seen in the way houses designed. In this Houses of Konkan series, we are going to see some typical form. 

Let's start with the simplest form- Linear arrangement Angan –Otti - Majghar (surrounded by small room) - Kitchen with store area – Padvi – Paras (Backyard)

 

• Angan - Open area in front of the house. Regularly finishes with cow dung. Adorn by Holy - Tulsi Vrindavan- Meant for social gathering. seasonally covered with a temporary covering made up of natural material such as thatch, coconut leaves different outdoor activities which vary from harvesting the fruits, drying, cutting, peeling, making by-products, or utilizing various parts of trees such as wood, leaves, branches, etc. These activities are manually carried out and take place in Angan, Padvi and Paras during the summer season only. During summer, Angan is covered with temporary roofing in the form of interwoven coconut leaves supported on bamboo posts which can be dismantled as per climatic needs.

• Otti- semi-open space with low height seating covered with a permanent roof. Transition space leading to an enclosed environment. Sometimes sides are covered by wooden jali walls. Otti generally is the most comfortable space considering Hot and Humid climate of the Konkan region; it offers temporary resting space to house members during the afternoon and evening time.

• Majghar- Large open room situated at the center of a house, surrounded by small rooms like Pooja Ghar, kitchen, and private areas. 

• Kitchen- Elaborate, most important and busiest room with in-build shelves in walls and levels to facilitate women gatherings. Mangalore tiles roof for the kitchen are designed in a specific manner to regularize natural air circulation and to capture maximum daylight. A small storeroom is situated adjacent to the kitchen to store yearlong food items like grain, pulses, and pickles, etc. 
• Padvi- semi-open space covered by a permanent roof and connected with washrooms. This area generally has a specific area for Chulha (Firewood burning) which is mainly used for heating bath water during the day to day life. 
• Paras (Backyard) – Open to sky area at the rear of a house having entry through kitchen. Seasonal vegetable, medicinal plants, Local fruit plants, flowering plants are planted in this area. For big houses, water wells are situated in this area. 

This sequencing is climate-responsive. This systematic transition promotes much-needed air circulation throughout the year intern most comfortable stay.

Konkan House cluster - Driving factors

Cluster formation is one of the prominent features of coastal Konkan settlements with unique arrangements, placements, sizes, etc. These clusters are not arbitrary but strongly guided by the social structure. Moreover, they are named by the caste and subcaste of people leaving in - Brahmin Vadi, Gurav wadi, Vani Aali etc. Sometimes by Family name- Jadhav Vadi, Parab Vadi, Kubal Wada, Naik wadi etc. and sometimes by family ancestral occupation like Gawali wada, Kumbhar wada, Chambhar wadi, Sutar wada/ wadi, Koli Wada etc.

 

Though Cluster looks organic pattern, it follows two basic patterns, closed arrangement which is generally named as 'Wada' or 'wadi' and Linear arrangement which is generally named as 'Ali. Within these universes of patterns, one can find smaller clusters reciprocating micro-climate and usability. It is really interesting to see the influence of various generations on building styles that forms a lineage.

 

Thick mud wall and sloping roof house extended by load bearing laterite wall structure to further RCC structure. These clusters are surrounded by a vast vista of family-owned land. Each of the houses from the cluster has open, semi-open, and built spaces called 'Aangan', 'Padvi' & 'Oati'. The number of houses in one cluster may also depict the number of close relatives. Angan can be a shared amenity among a few houses.

 

Following are factors are responsible for the physical format of the cluster:

 

Social & cultural values: Clusters are series of houses formed due to the expansion of the family. It happens around common space that is meant to come together to celebrate the festival, social gatherings of families, Traditional rituals etc

 

Climatic conditions: Cluster housing also provides continuous connectivity among houses to create a safe environment, especially during the monsoon season.

 

Land Topography: Flatter terrain provides a typical cluster pattern for ex. Common open space surrounded by houses at the same level whereas contour land topography may result in subdivision of common spaces of clusters.

 

 

Family occupation: Family occupation plays an important role in cluster forms. eg. land owner farmers create large storage spaces. Housing clusters of Kumbhar wada/ wadi (clay Potters) requires different type of working spaces, dedicated areas for kilns etc. Sutar wada/ wadi (Carpenters) required large working spaces; Koli wada’s (Fisherman) are design with common spaces for drying fish, knitting fishing nets, sorting of fish etc; whereas Gawali wada/wadi (Dairy Business) requires spaces like cattle shed and for ancillary activities. etc.

Konkan House cluster- self conscious form

               The architecture of the Konkan is not monumental or iconic. One can always see clusters of houses standing adjacent to each other as if they are integrated.It’s interesting to see different patterns of the configuration of laterite sometimes mud even modern brick with Mangalore tiles on top. If you will overview, you will find it similar, but great fun is to travel and take a closer glimpse. Each of these houses has its own touch, it’s own unique combination of color, customized space allotment. After all its architecture for the people by the people.

               Even though it is abundant space is available to build upon, most of the houses are forming an irregular cluster. There is a social, geographical reason behind it. Generally, these houses are not separate entities but extensions. If I take the example of my ancestral house, it is built by my great grandfather. It is made up of almost 1ft thick mud wall. It is an extension of the house nearby. Now my uncle has extended it by building a small house made up of laterite. These houses share some common amenities such as aangan, Tulsi Vrindavan, well, backyard etc.

                Generally, these clusters are designed and build by people belong to same caste. Usually land own by one family, which gets subdivided within family members. Generation after generation, as per need they build their place. For social security, it is generally beside its origin.

                Konkan is blessed with heavy rainfall, humidity causing dehydration. During these seasons, closely packed form facilitates direct connection within each other without exposure to the outer environment. Even roads are formed by the strategic placement of the house. As a result of this, roads are always shaded makes sizzling environment livable.

Site/Plot selection checklist

                  Buying plot for construction of house requires more precaution. It is always recommended to consult with your architect. Make sure that before buying property take architect with you on site visit, as he can visualize positives and negatives of that site better than looking at just plan on paper.

                We always pay attention toward legal procedures, but it is most important to check physical and geographical  properties  as it  will affect our daily life. If in case you want to pursue any plot in near future and you don’t have any assistance then attached check list will help you to check competency of the plot. It will also help you for comparison and ultimately  to take proper decision. 

             https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Al-iz7FCUMaydE9YOFdjdkpLRElpMGhvbFU3WEpfX3c#gid=0

Steps involved in building a house

                  In rural Konkan,people build their own houses with the help of special  house builder from same village and with locally available material. This houses last for many generations. Nowadays ,Steps involve in house building are modified as per latest trend ,convenience ,time and other related  factors but sentiment will always remain same.

                 Building even a basic house is beyond the usual scope of a article, but here are some general guidelines, and a basic list of steps involved in constructing a house.

1)      Finance: This is first important step as, it will decide exact picture of the project. Owner must decide overall budget ,which includes amount of saving one wish to spend and  amount of loan considering current income ,future plans etc. Say your budget amount  is X.

         X=Architect’s fee+ Building material cost + labor cost + Contractor’s profit +                                    .Miscellaneous charges

2)      Plot selection: Purchasing plot is one of the most important part. Its better to take advise professional. He can find out positives and negatives of the site. Do not entirely trust on agents .There are lot more legal things involved along with services, designing. You will not always come across plot which do not have any problem but because of professional’s advice you will be able to find out if that can be overcome.

3)      Legal verification: Before purchasing plot, always check if land has clear marketable title. first find out tenure ,legal right of holder of lands in government records; tenure or possession right, whether free hold or leasehold or under government grant or sanad. Architect prepare drawings necessary for Client's/ statutory approvals and ensure compliance with codes, standards and legislation

4)      Planning and designing : Always get  plan  prepared by professional Architect. He is the one can develop most suitable design as per your taste, budget, site condition. Architect  can give professional assistance in both design and implementation of the building project.

5)      Hire contractor and prepare estimate :Based on quantities and specifications calculated by architect, owner asks for estimation from different contractor. He advises Client on appointment of contractors. Owner will get detail cost of construction in this process. During selection of contactor, owner  can clear certain  special conditions such as water supply required for construction, Electricity ,total time period required for work etc. In small  villages, Contractor and owner don’t go for formal contract but it is better to have one.

6)     Structural design : Based on architectural design ,structural designer prepares appropriate construction drawings such as column, beam, foundation as per load and soil conditions.

7)     Construction: During actual construction phase ,Periodic inspection and evaluation of Construction works are done by an architects.. Sometimes onsite changes are done in design by permission of an architect

8)      Completion: Its architect’s responsibility to prepare and submit completion reports and drawings for the project as required and assist the Client in obtaining "Completion/ Occupancy Certificate" from statutory authorities, wherever required.

              In  some part of konkan ,it is hard to get qualified and local architect. Sometimes cost of construction is so less that  some of the architects from cities  are not willing to do work in rural area, but it is always better to  have qualified and experienced professional to check the plot and  house construction. Go through this blog. I am trying to post details related with architectural  practice in konkan  area. You can email me queries  at sawant085@gmail.com.

Land measurement units

                  If one wants to construct house or buy any property, then it is essential to have correct knowledge of units of land measurement. There were various units of land measurement  in India due to influence of  different empires.

                 Early during Maurya period,Kautilya had developed land revenue collection system. After that Mughal empire  tried to develop very precise  land measurement system .Illahi gaz, unit of measurement length was used throughout Mughal India. In Tamilnadu, unit of measurement was developed in Chola period. Smallest unit of measurement was Viral. In western Maharashatra , Shivaji had developed land administration system.

                  http://mycoordinates.org/indian-prelude-to-british-cadastral-and-revenue-maps/all/1/

                     Now a days, British units are used for land measurement. Basic unit of measurements   are as follows:

                 1)12 inch = 1ft

                 2) 1Guntha = 33ftX33ft = 1089 sq.ft

                 3)1 Acre = 40 guntha

                 4)1 Hectare = 2.5 Acre

                 The  system  of measurement in the state is a Chain survey. All Talathis have to pass examination on revenue survey  to mark boundary of the property according to village map.

                 More about Acre and Guntha.

                 Revenue survey map are measured by Acre.The chain used for   
        measurement  is 33ft long and made up of 16 links. A acre  is 40 Gunthas.1
        guntha is 1 square chain. 1 link long and 1 link broad is Anna.

Dream house in Konkan and legal procedures

                   I love my native place…Majgaon ..village just beside Sawantwadi. As a student of architecture, I started identifying architectural elements, village pattern, cultural elements of this region. It is rustic,yet pure and that attracts everyone.

                 Like everyone else we have dream of building own house at our native place. Our family owns ancestral land. But building a house, isn’t so simple. As I was practicing in Mumbai, not aware of various legal procedure of land acquisition in rural area. Fortunately, we had all updated documents in our hand .Still it took lot of time because of all complex procedure as well as lack of awareness about it.

                So I started looking for it. While searching on internet, I came across really informative article written by Sudhakar Dokane.It is worth sharing .

                http://www.accommodationtimes.com/legal/land-law/sale-purchase-of-agriculture-lands/

                  If you are looking to purchase land or want to build house in konkan, then it is better to have basic information about  various rules and regulation rather than just having blind faith on agent. If you have came across any legal problem or you know about procedures of land acquisition ,then do share with us.