Indian Architecture Research Articles

Incorporating Perceptions of Multiple Stakeholders while Assessing Architectural Heritage Value: A Case of Odishan Temple Architecture in India

Stakeholder participation for the value assessment of Indian architectural heritage, especially the temple architecture, is rare due to the lack of published methodologies. Therefore, considering Odishan Temple Architecture as a case study, this research focuses on stakeholders’ perceptions while assessing the value of architectural heritage. This study identified five groups of stakeholders for evaluating parameters. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to derive the results. Sixteen parameters showed discrepancies in opinions; the opinions of the current decision-makers differed significantly from other groups. However, this study identified the scope for involving the opinions of all stakeholders for an unbiased and robust decision-making process.

Discourse on Lost Pages of History: Architectural Works of Vasudev Kanitkar in Western India

Ample western historiographical resources are available to understand Colonial Architecture in India. Architectural language evolved during Colonial period in India was a collaborative effort of British Royal and Local engineers from several parts. The eclectic architectural language of British India is a product of the amalgamation of western models and eastern knowledge simultaneously. They worked in collaboration with Indian philanthropists, engineers, contractors and artisans. Much is available to read about royal engineers as pride for the British sovereign but contributions of local engineers who equally built colonial India are lost in the pages of history. This Paper tried to document and discuss works of local contractor Vasudev Kanitkar born in Baroda and worked at several places in Western India. With the help of archival resources and primary secondary surveys conducted this research paper compiles architectural contributions of Vasudev Kanitkar less known for his many landmark edifices he designed and built in western India.

The Philosophy of Critical Regionalism in the Architecture of India

The Philosophy of Critical Regionalism in the Architecture of India

Jaali a tool of sustainable architectural practice: Understanding the feasibility and usage

The construction industry is a massive consumer of raw materials and natural resources. Sustainability is a mandatory requirement of modern architectural design today. Sustainable material selection and development assistance in minimizing adverse impacts on the built and natural environment. Sustainable construction has recently been identified as one of the lead markets for the near future because it has high innovation potential, and its ability to respond to market needs. The paper discusses the applicability and benefits of one of the key instruments of Indian architecture called “Jaali”, a small or large perforated lattice screen. The research explores the construction techniques, construction materials, climate response of jaali in traditional and modern buildings. The literature study also emphasises on construction details of different typologies of jaali available. The paper further investigates energy efficiency of jaali through experimental simulation study using computational energy of the different screen perforations on a contemporary house in Jaipur. The simulation study also evaluates the shading and shadow patten, the admittance of direct solar radiation in interior space and efficient orientation and placement of jaali in a building.

The Masroor Temple Complex: Hindu Cosmology in Stone

The article dwells upon the unique object of ancient Indian architecture — the monolithic rock temple of Masroor in Himachal Pradesh, the north-western part of India. Based on the notes of European travelers, who discovered it, and reports of British ASI staff members, the author attempts to describe this monument in detail, referring to sketches and plans, drawn at the beginning of the 20th century which to date remain the only authentic source of research on the subject. Summarizing publications of Indian and Western research scholars, the author analyses various theories regarding the probable period of its construction describes historical and religious conditions, which could contribute to undertaking such a large-scale project, and considers possible reasons for its subsequent destruction and falling into oblivion. The author draws obvious parallels between the monolithic temple of Masroor and the world-famous Cambodian temple Angkor Wat, which serves as yet another justification of the profound religious and cultural influence of India in the South-Asian region in the early medieval period. Narration is supplemented by the author’s personal impressions from several visits to the complex site and original photos of the temple.

Evidentiary vacuum, epistemic communities and rare disease policymaking in India: an evolutionary policy perspective

There are divergent views among scholars and policymakers about the nature of permissible evidence for policymaking. It is often not feasible to construct a policy system exclusively based on objective research findings, particularly for rare diseases where conventionally accepted evidence remains a rarity. Evolutionary theories in such cases offer an overarching framework to represent the various heterodox understandings of what constitutes evidence and how evidence-based policies can be formulated under knowledge uncertainty. We conduct an empirical investigation of India’s rare disease policymaking endeavour in evolutionary perspective. The existing rare diseases policy architecture in India, in our view, reflects a ‘rationalistic’ framework. It intends to act only on ‘hard evidence’ to make, what may be called, an optimum decision, rather than initiating a ‘good enough’ policy decision based on existing (limited, soft) evidence and improving it incrementally through learning and trial-and-error. Our findings suggest that in the presence of ‘evidentiary vacuum’ and knowledge uncertainty, broadening the contours of epistemic communities, to include ‘lived experiences’ of the ‘lay’-stakeholders, can be effective in formulating an adaptive policy framework, which would ‘learn’ to better fit with the dynamic environment through inclusive deliberations, and trial-and-error.

THE RELATION OF MAJAPAHIT TEMPLES WITH VASUSASTRA-MANASARA

Abstract- Vastusastra is a text which discusses Indian architecture which is published in several books, included Manasara. Vastusastra contains guidline for building Indian construction, including religious building such as temples. Although the narrative was made for the construction of temples in India, it turns out that there are some elements in vastu that also found in Mataram Kuno temples. This raises questions about the relationship of Indian architecture with Majapahit, which was the era after Ancient Mataram, given the Hindu-Buddhist influence still existed in the Majapahit era. To find out this, vastusastra-Manasara was used as a benchmark to find out the elements of the Majapahit temple which was influenced by India, especially South India which was thought to have a more dominant influence than North India on temple architecture in Indonesia.
 This study uses a descriptive method with a qualitative approach by describing the figure and mass-space layout of Majapahit temples that have been selected as the object of research and compared with vastusastra-Manasara's narrative using reference objects to facilitate analysis in order to find out the relations of the Majapahit era temples with vastusastra-Manasara narrative.
 Based on the results of the study, it was found that the temples of the Majapahit era still have relations with vastusastra-Manasara narrative when viewed in terms of figure and mass-space layout. But the relationship between the two can be said to be increasingly decreased. The re-domination of the original culture of Indonesian society in the Majapahit era and the influence of other cultures such as China is thought to be the cause of the waning influence of India on the architecture of the Majapahit temple. This led to the fusion of culture in the Majapahit temple and resulted in variations of new temples that had never existed before.
 
 Key Words: candi, majapahit, temple, vastusatra, manasara, relation

Architecture as Diplomatic Instrument? The Multi-Layered Meaning of the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi (1947–83)

In recent decades, the topic of embassy architecture has increasingly drawn the attention of architectural historians. Whereas scholars have already shed light on the building policy of the United States, Great Britain and France, the architectural approach of small state actors such as Belgium has largely remained untouched. The Belgian purpose-built embassy (1980–83) in New Delhi was designed by the Indian artist-architect Satish Gujral. While the unusual design, with its references to indigenous Indian architecture, is often mentioned in the literature on Chanakyapuri, New Delhi’s diplomatic neighbourhood, scholars have not addressed the Belgian rationale for constructing an embassy whose architecture paid more tribute to India than to Belgium. Examining the architectural and political meaning of this project in the context of both the receiving and the sending states, this article asks to what extent Belgium approached this diplomatic building project as an opportunity to cement its bilateral relationship with India. This embassy design was the result of not so much a well-considered building policy of Belgium but rather Gujral’s personal stand with regard to the postmodernist debate in India’s architecture scene at the time. In doing so, we make the case that purpose-built embassies – even the most expressive ones architecturally – are often more complex projects than closely monitored designs upon which governments project ideological and national visions.

Value assessment of existing architectural heritage for future generation using criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation and grey relational analysis method: a case of Odisha temple architecture in India

Value assessment of existing architectural heritage for future generation using criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation and grey relational analysis method: a case of Odisha temple architecture in India

Aspects of proportions in Indian traditional domestic architecture

ABSTRACT Indian traditional architectural practice ‘Vastusastra’ (Vāstuśāstra) recommends some particular ratios as auspicious for the proportioning of domestic buildings. Similar ratios are found in some ancient buildings belonging to the classical ages in other parts of the world. Recent studies conducted by Dhileep, Kottuppillil, and Kurian [2019. “Orientation and Proportion in Indian Traditional Domestic Architecture.” Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 44 (1): 97–109], show that the square and the rectangle formed by the basic auspicious ratio (breadth:length) are geometrically related to a circle with a diameter equal to the length of the rectangle. The mathematical aspects behind these geometrical relationships and other ratio groups given in ‘Vastusastra’ (Vāstuśāstra) are investigated in this paper. The study reveals that the auspicious ratios help to convert the area of a circle to a rectangle and vice versa, without any loss in accuracy, while using the methods of their age. The traditional social practices are incorporated into these ratios and are modified adequately to fit into the traditional engineering practice.

A study on the Green Building Concepts in Vastu Sastra principles for sustainable development

The traditional Indian architecture provides us with deeper knowledge and experiential values, reflecting the essence of cultural and ritual aspects of its society through its intrinsic articulation of spatial and architectural elements that are governed by the strict architectural principles laid in early times of civilisation. It is interesting to note that these principles were aimed at providing guidance for perfect architectural productions and built environment believed to be sustainable, climatically responsive and enhance the well-being of the inhabitants. This paper tries to explore the Green Building Concepts promoted by our ancestors through the established Vastu Sastra principles which are being practised even today mundanely without recognizing the original spirit and intent.

Adalaj Stepwell: A Magical Resonance of Architectural Ingenuity

The term Stepwell defined as "Well with Stairs" is a window to the ethnicity of forgotten civilizations. Stepwells are structures up to 3 to 5 storeys down from ground level, many of which are artistically designed with exquisite workmanship. These stepwells collect water during seasonal monsoons and in the deeper part of the ground with shadows around, such water bodies undergo slow evaporation process. In India, stepwells have been around since the age of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, about 4,500 years ago. During this period, bath wells with steps were created, with rooms surrounding the well-pit for resting. Such stepwells were once integral to the semi-arid regions of India, as they provided water for basic amenities for subsistence. These wells were also venues for colourful festivals and sacred rituals, paving the way for a rich cultural legacy. One such unique stepwell is located in Adalaj village in Gujarat, India, initiated by Raja Veer Singh in 1499 and completed by King Mohammed Begada for Rani Rudabai, wife of the Raja. The cultural and architectural representations in the stepwell at various levels are a tribute to the history, built initially by Hindus and subsequently ornamented and blended with Islamic architecture during the Muslim rule. But present-day perception, nurtured by technological advancements, has shifted. The paper focuses on the effects of the changing urbanscape on the architectural and visual connectivity with the cultural heritage of Adalaj so that adequate conservation measures can be proposed to preserve this icon of Indian architecture. Understanding the cultural relevance of such structures is crucial for their continued appreciation and protection.

Nuclear Security Architecture & Radiological Disaster Response in India Progress and Challenges

The nuclear security architecture in India is three-fold: the infrastructure security including physical security of the nuclear plant; port and border security including training and capacity building to prevent any illicit trafficking of nuclear material into the country and; the inter-institutional coordination at the Centre and State level during radiological emergencies. However, there exist structural weaknesses that need to be accounted for in all these three areas. It is imperative to develop capacities not only for safe handling, transport and disposal of nuclear material but also instituting stringent cyber-security laws, border security measures and functional Centre-State coordination in crisis situation for the safety and security of the general population. The following paper seeks to address these challenges and provide recommendations for strengthening the nuclear security and disaster response framework in India. The paper draws recommendations from the 2019 IPCS workshop on Smuggling and Radiation Detection, on the illicit trafficking of radioactive materials supported by the Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) of the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

IR Thermography for the Restoration of Colonial Architecture in India—Case study of the British Residency in Hyderabad, Telangana

Abstract Infrared Thermography (IRT) has been a non-destructive and economical method for identifying potential problems in buildings. Passive thermography tracks the thermal patterns in structures caused due to exposure to solar radiation. Interpretation of results for the Passive approach is highly dependent on understanding of the surrounding environmental conditions of the building being surveyed. However, existing literature and scientific research on the subject focuses on buildings in Europe and Northern America. These conditions have not yet been established for the Indian Sub-Continent as there have been no studies that identify the methodologies for this yet. There have been a few studies on the use of IRT for heritage buildings in India. Nevertheless, they do not explain the environmental conditions during the thermal survey, which might affect the interpretation of the thermal images produced. This project aims to elucidate more about the way IRT works in conditions that are sometimes less than optimal, through the case study of the Former British Residency in Hyderabad.

The influence of traditional Indian architecture in Balkrishna Doshi’s IIM Complex at Bangalore: A comparative analysis using fractal dimensions and lacunarity

The influence of traditional Indian architecture in Balkrishna Doshi’s IIM Complex at Bangalore: A comparative analysis using fractal dimensions and lacunarity

The Impact of IoT in Healthcare: Global Technological Change & The Roadmap to a Networked Architecture in India.

The digitization of data including health data (referred to as Internet of Things-IoT in Healthcare) and its usage in delivery of healthcare has been growing rapidly across the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a pivot for exponential growth of IoT in healthcare. Several rapidly evolving technologies are converging to influence the trajectory of IoT in healthcare. There are several challenges in technology development, healthcare delivery as well as issues related to privacy of data, digital divide, role of government and other stakeholders, behaviour and adoption by medical doctors and hospitals. The review article provides an overview of the emergence of IoT in healthcare globally, the intricacies of different factors impinging its current status and recommends policy intervention for an optimal roadmap of IoT in healthcare in the Indian context.

THE PHENOMENON OF "LIVE" AND "UNALIVE" RESIDENTIAL OBJECTS IN ANCIENT INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

The article considers the rules of creating “live” residential objects based on the principles of ancient Indian architecture, the impact of such objects on the quality of life. For comparison, the impact of “dead” objects on human development is illustrated by examples. The concepts of "live" and "dead" residential objects are defined from the standpoint of ancient Indian architecture. Several basic principles of ancient Indian architecture are described. The importance of applying some of the principles of ancient Indian architecture in the design and construction of residential facilities in Russia. Examples of architectural inventions created by the world-famous architect Dr. Ganapati Sthapati are included. The article has three main sections devoted to the main postulates formulated by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.

Complexities of practicing architectural regionalism in India: An interview study

This paper presents the results and analysis from an interview study conducted with practitioners of architectural regionalism in India. The interviews sought to gain in-depth understanding of the strategies, mechanisms, and tools they employ to realize contextualized architecture that responds to local needs and potential. A sample composed of nine eminent Indian architects who regularly integrate the ideas of critical regionalism in their designs is selected and subsequently interviewed with regard to the varied aspects of their architectural practice. Findings are useful for practitioners and scholars of contemporary architecture in India for understanding the means employed by leading regionalist architects, while placing their work in the context of local building traditions, urban landscape, sociocultural conditions, technology, and climate.

Designed Environments, Mimesis and Likeness: Exploring Human-Material Ecologies

This paper attempts to understand the trajectories of “designed artifacts”, built or produced in the post war periods and its implications for the human body, material, ecology, and mimesis. Has Architecture gradually distanced itself from the body as an authoritative figure in its practice? Is it being seen more and more as an autonomous art, away from the complex web of social and political concerns? There seems to be a rationale to focus on the thinking and considerations that inform the production of architecture because it depends on the realm of conceptual philosophy; and both inhabit each other. The paper tries to address the association of humans with their artifactual environments. My interest stems from a long association of teaching in a college of architecture and design, and attempts to raise questions with regard to meaning and materiality. This paper also, in some sense, unlocks an environmental perspective on the relationship of the human body with the design that gives them shelter, affords actions, affords movement, and affords life in itself. Different patterns of the built environment afford different behaviors and aesthetic experiences. The perceptions of the environment thus limit or extend the behavioral and aesthetic choices of an individual depending on how the environment is configured, likened, imitated, or creatively reinterpreted. This article traverses, domesticity, tactile inhabitation, landscape, mythical realms of Indian architecture to the Postmodern architecture of “weak form”.

Classification and Terminology in the study of History of the Architecture of the Indian Sub –continent

The study of the architecture of buildings help us to understand the environment, material culture and the thinking of people who designed them. Thus, it is one of the mean to understand the culture of a society. Keeping this in view this article deal with the evolution of architectural study in Indian Sub-continent. With the foundation of Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, the British began studying Indian art and architecture. This study deliberates on the various research works on architecture and shows how and why various categories of architecture has evolved. Study concludes that Indian architecture is an excellent example of inter cultural influences of Greek, Persian and others.