Impediments to Sustenance and Revival of Vernacular Architecture in Rural Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Over the past couple of decades, building typology in rural India has seen an unprecedented shift away from vernacular material and construction techniques. The substitute - replicable, mass-produced, concrete structures fail to respond to the climatic and cultural context. In addition to being carbon intensive, inadequate knowledge about form and function of new construction methods and materials have led to poor quality construction that has a shorter life span. Compared to the existing vernacular buildings, such concrete structures are found to be uninhabitable by many end users.Studies done in the past on vernacular architecture of India focus on climate responsive design and execution, and traditional materials. However, there is insufficient research investigating the factors affecting the decline of vernacular practices.This paper assesses the reasons behind change in rural fabric of Madhya Pradesh, India, through primary focussed group discussions, key informant interviews & field observations. The study identifies diverse factors, ranging from individual preferences to policies and laws governing access to resources. It also uncovers unexpected factors such as changing food habits leading to lack of traditional construction materials. These wide-ranging factors are classified under social, technical, financial, and legal categories. The study develops a framework to analyse patterns emerging across different agro-climatic and geographic regions. Based on the findings, the paper also recommends potential interventions for reviving sustainable vernacular architecture in the region.