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.