TOA
S2 2024
IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT IN
ARCHITECTURE
CLIMATE, BUILDING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURE AS
DETERMINANTS
IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT IN ARCHITECTURE
CLIMATE:
The average weather condition of an area over a long period.
Determines the type of building designed to ensure the safety and
comfort of the occupants
IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT IN ARCHITECTURE
CLIMATIC VARIABLES
TEMPERATURE Measure of heat
Insulation, construction materials, ventilation etc
PRECIPITATION Rain, Snow etc ie, the amount of water in the
atmosphere
Affects drainage system, ability to withstand weather
WIND: Movement of Air
Fast wind, strong wind, ventilation, openings, wind direction
affecting the positioning of kitchen, toilet etc
SUNLIGHT Light received directly from the sun. Affects orientation,
design, micro vs macro climate
IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT IN ARCHITECTURE
ASPECTS THAT MAKE BUILDING MATERIALS A DETERMINANT IN
ARCHITECTURE
DURABILITY
COST
AVAILABILITY
EASE OF MAINTENANCE
AESTHETIC APPEAL
CLIMATIC RESPONSE
REPLENISHABILITY ETC
KERALA ARCHITECTURE
REFERENCE (only for academic purposes) [Link]
REFERENCE (only for academic purposes) [Link]
ARCHITECTURE BY CASTE- EXAMPLE
ARCHITECTURE BY CASTE- EXAMPLE
MATERIALS
TODA HUTS
TODA HUTS
TODA EMBROIDERY
Toda Hut
(Arsh)
•The arsh is quite unlike other tribal huts, its form oddly reminiscent of Chaitya
arch ofMauryan times.
•Shaped like a half cylinder it is constructed of wooden planks, bamboo, reeds
and grass.
•Either end is walled by planks (Thaw) set vertically.
•The entrance is through a rectangular opening some 2½ feet high by 2 feet
wide in oneend wall, made small to keep out the cold and damp in these high
hills.
•On each side of the doorway is a raised platform, equivalent to a
verandah or thinna (built–in seat), a semi private area where people sit and
talk.
TODA ARCHITECTURE
At, either end of an arsh, two arch-shaped frames are made of long bunches
of bamboo splits, lashed together by a spiral of cane or bamboo splits called
Thef
These two support Podh , which are strong poles, often eleven in number,
running the length of the building.
•At one foot intervals a hoop of thef (bamboo-split bunches) is lashed over
the poles forming a ribcage.
•On this framework, courses of sticks (ward) are tied horizontally forming the
laths to which rows of thatch (awul)
are lashed, giving the surface a ridged effect.
• To give a grand look to the façade, the thef in front is covered with a
cylindrical bunch of hay (Podar Tidth).
TODA ARCHITECTURE
TODA ARCHITECTURE
TODA ARCHITECTURE
Interiors
•The interior, windowless and dark, consists of a single space.
•A raised earthen platform takes up much of one side to serve as asitting
and sleeping place.
•The hearth is the focus of the end farthest from the door.
•The kitchen, which continuously smokes the hut, is the key to itssustenance
from weather and termites.
TODA ARCHITECTURE
TODA ARCHITECTURE
YURT TENTS
A YURT IS A PORTABLE, CIRCULAR DWELLING MADE OF A
LATTICE OF FLEXIBLE POLES AND COVERED IN FELT OR
OTHER FABRIC. THEY ARE A STURDY, RELIABLE TYPE OF
TENT. YURTS HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY STYLE OF HOME
IN CENTRAL ASIA, PARTICULARLY MONGOLIA, FOR
THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
REPRESENT HUMAN
HABITATION & SURVIVAL IN
TOUGH ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
WATTLE AND DAUB CONSTRUCTION
WATCH THESE VIDEOS
[Link]
[Link]
WATTLE & DAUB
WATTLE AND DAUB is a construction method in which a woven
lattice of wooden strips called "wattle" is "daubed" with a
sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil,
clay, sand, animal dung and straw.
As old as at least 6,000 years and is still an important
construction method gaining popularity as a low-impact
sustainable building solution.
The beauty of this process, woven walls coated with clay,
sand, and straw, and sealed with whitewash, is that anyone
can build safe, sturdy and clean dwellings using renewable
materials.
ADVANTAGES
Flexible
Low cost – material, availability
Less labour required
In cold weather, the water content can freeze and cause
cracks
Multi storied???
IGLOO
[Link]
[Link]
Igloo Architecture
Rreference: [Link]
The Inuits also used hides and whalebone to construct these houses.
The air pockets trapped in snow worked as an insulator, providing
warmth, while outside, the temperature could sometimes be as low as
−45 °C. The construction was perfect for the snowy and windy cold
conditions. Once you are inside the igloo, the temperature rise
miraculously to anything between −7 and 16 °C. That is still cold, but
much less than what you face outside.
Construction of Igloos
These houses are easy and quick to make for those who know how.
They are very sturdy too that can last the entire season. All you will
need to construct an igloo is a lot of snow and some simple tools.
The builder takes a deep snowdrift of compact, fine-grained snow, and
cuts the snow into blocks using a snow knife. It is like a sword
instrument, made originally of bone. But modern-day instruments are
made of metal. The crevices and joints are then filled with loose snow.
A clear piece of seal or ice is then inserted to make the window.
An experienced builder can come up with an igloo in about an hour.
Others will usually need anything between 3 and 6 hours.
Interesting Facts About Igloos
Construction – They are dome-shaped buildings, associated mostly with the Inuit hunter
communities. Traditionally, they were temporary shelters constructed during their hunting trips.
Usually, the igloos are made of snow, but they can be constructed with other materials too like
stone, cement, or wood. When made of snow, the body heat of residents inside gets exacerbated,
thus keeping the people warm.
How long do igloos survive – This depends on the terrain. In Lapland, Finland, for example, which is
inside the Arctic Circle, there is snow throughout the year. The freezing conditions ensure that the
igloos survive for long.
Also, when residents occupy these buildings for a long time, it makes the internal temperature of
these constructions to rise, which makes the snow melt. But it soon re-freezes, when the
construction becomes unoccupied. This process of melting and refreezing turns the snow into ice,
which will eventually make the structure stronger.
Are there windows – Some traditional igloos even have windows so that the residents can have
light. Good windows have the pelt of a caribou or a seal skin that is used as a curtain to prevent
wind from getting in, when it gets strong. Other windows, which want only sunlight to come in, have
just an ice block. It works as a pane of glass. Some igloos have an open window, especially those
with a fire inside, so that the smoke can escape.
Interesting Facts About Igloos
Tools for making an igloo – Just two tools are required, technically, a snow spade and a saw. The
Inuits, though, used tools that were made of bones.
Size – Igloos usually can accommodate many people together, but traditionally, they were meant for
only a single family. Igloos can be of any size, and sometimes, they are so small that only 1 or 2
people can live within them. At other times, they can accommodate larger groups. The largest igloo
ever constructed is in Zermatt, Switzerland. It is 34 feet tall with an inside diameter of 42 feet. It has
the biggest dome.
Strength – A properly-made igloo can be very strong. An adult male can stand inside the building
without making the structure collapse. In fact, they are so sturdy that igloos can withstand strong
winds as you will see in a hurricane. The strength comes from the sturdiness of the snow bricks.
Documentary on igloos – There are many films and documentaries on these unique buildings. To
learn how to make an igloo, see the 1922 ‘Nanook of the North’ documentary. Directed by Robert
Flaherty, this is a silent film, but it shows the process in great detail.