Evolution of shelter forms
Introduction to rt nd rchitecture
S myukt 29.01.2025
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Shelter
Requirement of Shelter nd F ctors ffecting the design
• Shelter from- • Important factors-
• Adverse climate • Site-
• Predators • Access to food
• Access to water
An often overlooked factor is that the house or • Defensible
•
settlement is an important space for “socialisation”
Nurturing social structures has been an important
Materials-
factor in transfer of knowledge and general
evolution of human socialisation
• Availability
• Suitability
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Early shelter forms
Hunter g therer lifestyle
Africa- Tropical climate
• Site-
• Easy source of food available
all year
• Close to river/ lake
• Huts in dry season and caves
in rainy season
• Materials- Twigs and dry Plant
material Source: A global history of Architecture, Mark
jarzombek, Francis Ching and Vikramaditya
Prakash
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Early shelter forms
Hunter g therer lifestyle
• Europe- Temperate with harsh winters
• Site-
• Follow migration patterns of animals
like mammoth in seasonal cycles
• Ice available in long winters to make
water
• Materials- Animal bones and skin
shaped as tent which can be Neanderthal hut
dismantled and carried
Source: A global history of Architecture, Mark
jarzombek, Francis Ching and Vikramaditya
Prakash
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Early settlements
Soci lis tion
• Outdoor social spaces around res
to carry out community activities
like-
• Cooking
• Sharpening tools
• Teaching children
• Celebrations
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End of the ice age was also the beginning of
rivers, owing water and AGRICULTURE
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The Village house
F rming + C ttle re ring
• Site- BHUNGA VILLAGE CLUSTER PLAN
• Close to the farms and pasture
lands for cattle
• Closeness to rivers/streams
preferred
• Village formed with a closed shape
to defend from attackers or
predators
Source: Understanding indigenous knowledge systems of Bhunga Architecture;
hadawale, Chickchede
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Source: constructionweekonline.in
The Village house
F rming + C ttle re ring
• Materials-
• Permanent structures were built
and durability became more
important than portability
• Heavier materials like stone, mud,
bricks and larger wooden logs were
explored
• Larger units were used to
accommodate bigger families
Rural house Source: Understanding indigenous knowledge systems of Bhunga Architecture;
hadawale, Chickchede
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The Village house
F rming + C ttle re ring
• Organisation of spaces-
• A separate wing called kitchen was
dedicated to housing the re and
cooking food
• Store house was required for the
grains and food harvested for use
through the year
• A separate shed for cattle and
farming tools was required
• Large open spaces- front yard, back
TRADITIONAL MUNDA HOUSE, JHARKHAND
yard and central courtyard were
spaces for socialisation Source Dutta, Pallabi & Rahman, Md. (2022). Learning from the Root-
Integrating Tradition into Architecture towards a Self-Subsistent Munda
Community.
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Agricultural surplus and trade lead
to the rise of Urban settlements
AHMEDABAD POL CLUSTER
The Urban house
Tr de nd cr ft
• Site-
• Close to trade routes
• Land highly valuable
• Houses and colonies were planned
in a compact manner
• People practicing similar crafts
were often grouped together
Source: Gangwar, G., & Kaur, P. (2020). Traditional Pol Houses of Ahmedabad:
An Overview. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 8, 433-443.
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The Urban house
STREET SECTION THROUGH POL HOUESE, AHMEDABAD
Tr de nd cr ft
• Material and Space organization-
•
RESIDENCES
Trade made it possible to use materials
from distant places
• Houses retained courtyard for intimate
interactions
• Common spaces planned at
SHOP
OFFICE
neighbourhood level for community
interaction STOREHOUSE WORKSHOP
• Houses were often mixed use structures
with workshop in GF and house in the
upper storeys
Source: MARGI NEEV CHAPANI, Student portfolio, CEPT University,
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Industrial revolution made cities economic centres and
brought labour from the rural areas. People looking for
a “house” in the city who still went “home” to their
village
Industrial housing CIDCO HOUSING, RAJ REWAL ASSOCIATES
“Qu rters” from the comp ny
• Site-
• Close to place of work
• Di erent cadres of labour given di erent
typology of houses in di erent parts of
the site
• Materials -
• Industrially produced materials like RCC and
steel were favoured
• Character-
• All houses within the quarters were uniform
hoping to bring parity among workers while
erasing personal histories Source: RAJREWAL.IN
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The era of globalisation has made materials like Glass, steel and UPVC globally
available. Design is “modular” that can be adapted to t anybody.This has led to the
in uence of fashions and trends on design of houses rather than tangible in uences of
site or geography .
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