Vernacular Architecture of Coastal West-Bengal

Sumit Dangwal
B.Arch ,Sem-4
2nd Year
Nature of climate
Bengal is the region lying along the eastern end of the Indian peninsula. On attainment of national
independence of India in1947, the region was divided into two parts, the eastern forming the new
nation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh),and the western forming the political state of West Bengal.
It is a longitudinally spreading region, consisting of snow-capped mountains in the north, swampy
rainforests in the centre, and sea on the south.
Lower Bengal has a unique architecture of its own, which is primarily focused on roof typologies. In
other words, roofs are the main identifying features of the vernacular architecture in this region.
The Southern part of Bengal climatologically falls into the Warm-humid climatic zone of India (as per
NBC 2005Climatic Classification; Refer Fig. 2).Spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter are the
five major seasons experienced in this region. However, majorly taking into consideration the seasons
experienced in a region with a Warm Humid Climate, the predominant seasons are only three – Hot
and pre-monsoon, Warm-humid monsoon and Moderate and cool winter.
India map - specific climatic zone
The central region faces extremely
high temperatures in summer, and
heat exists as the dominant
problem. The southern coastal areas
experience heavy cyclones in the
monsoons, while heat remains the
prime concern in the warmer
months of the year . During
monsoons, cloudy sky, bright
sunshine and low temperature are
usual occurences.The average rainfall
is the various regions of Southern
Bengal for the past 100 years ranger
from 114mm to 136mm. However
during monsoon, weather condition
of any one day can act as a fair
sample of the season. Looking at the
seasonal trends of rainfall, during
pre-monsoon, rainfall is decreasing
in southern Bengal , except parulis
and it is completely reversed during
post-monsoon period.
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
OF COASTAL WEST-BENGAL
Vernacular Residential Building at Barhammpore, West- Bengal
The vernacular architecture of coastal Bengal evolved over generations with the available
building materials and local craftsmanship. Vernacular architecture is influenced by a great
range of different aspects of human behavior and environment, leading to differing building
forms due to climate of the region, culture and availability of building materials. One of the
most significant influences on vernacular architecture is the climate of the area in which the
building is constructed.
Buildings in warm climates, by contrast, tend to be
constructed of lighter materials and allow significant cross
ventilation. The way of life of building occupants, and the way they use their shelters, has
great influence on building forms.
The size of family units of different users, food habits and cultural considerations will affect
the layout and size of dwellings. Culture also has a great influence on the appearance of
vernacular buildings, as occupants often decorate buildings in accordance with local
customs and beliefs.
The availability of building materials also affects the
vernacular architecture of a particular region. Vernacular, almost by definition, is
sustainable, and will not exhaust the local resources. Areas rich in trees and rice production
use thatch roof, wood and bamboo as building material. The housing pattern in coastal
Bengal falls into two major types: linear and clustered.
Vernacular Residential Building at Barhammpore, West- Bengal
Form and planning of a building
Four rooms on four raised sides and a

uthan or open space in the middle.
: House with eight roofs,four over the main building and

four over the verandas attatched on each side.
Four rooms on four raised sides and a

uthan or open space in the middle.
TYPES OF HOUSES:
In Coastal Bengal, three types of houses (ghara)

are commonly found..
• Gacher ghor – house made of wood
• Basher ghor –house made of bamboo
• Tiner ghor- house made of tin.
Based on roof, houses are classified as-(ghara) are

commonly found..
• Narar- chani or chaal (roof)-roof of straw(khord)
• Tiner – chani-roof of tin.
• Patar –chani/ chaal-roof of big leaves
• Choner-chaal- roof of big grass.
Outdoor and Indoor spaces integration
• Composed of “Huts” arranged around a central courtyard or uthaan (উঠান)

• The courtyard exists as an extension of the indoor living areas of the huts
which are characteristically inadequate. It also provides seclusion from the
outside and sense of security
• Fairly well adapted to the local culture, environment and resources.
• Small, insanitary, many of basic amenities of daily life are missing.
• Two distinct separate parts:
1. Inner house (The female domain) – spaces with functional values
2. Outer house (The male domain) – spaces with symbolic values
Religious beliefs influence the layout…..direction of the Qibla…..Hindu hut
emphasizes ritual purity
Outdoor and Indoor spaces integration
After raising land, this homestead begins on the mound with a main dwelling unit (boshoth ghor).
Ancillary structures such as kitchens (ranna ghor),granaries (gola ghor) and cowsheds (goyal ghor)
are built gradually over time around a central open space, and thus begin to define the courtyard.
All buildings have been designed in rows and are not exposed to the sun due to front and rear
verandah and the internal courtyard.
High plinths are provided to protect the building from rain and flood and also for proper storm
water drainage from the courtyard.
Verandahs with projected roof on front and rear are to protect the wall from sun and rain.
Generally, the height of plinth is kept as 2’-4’.
Indoor spaces
• Entry into the compound from the outside is through gaps between units.
• The surroundings are extensively planted with trees along the boundary and strengthen the
introvert layout.
• Traditionally, the courtyard is an activity space, accommodating various household activities,
drying clothes and other items such as condiments, working, winnowing and husking rice
receiving guests, etc. The court yard serves a function even it in some cases, only as reception
or circulation space.
• Such courtyards are in rural homesteads their surface consists of bare, beaten earth.
Courtyard appears as principally cultural design element. The social and cultural meaning of
the traditional courtyard has been stripped . Traditional houses follow a courtyard concept. A
group of separate units surround an open space and thus define the courtyard.
• Each unit is essentially a one or two roomed structure accommodating different functions such
as dwelling units for extended family members, kitchens and granaries.
• Toilets and outhouses such as cowsheds are located on the periphery of the homestead.
• The layout is introverted, that is, the units face away from the outside and are accessed
through the courtyard
• Upper space is the most common feature of all types of the traditional houses in Bengal, which
plays a vital role in thermal environment of the living space.
• Upper space design came from the user demand. In the post monsoon periods, people
accumulated a huge amount of paddy, wheat, beans, etc at a time. So people need a huge
storage space and the upper space serves this purpose
Roofs and walls treatment
• The materials used in the Building are stone wall, (sloping roof with mud ceiling with
bamboo/timber rafter) and Plain cement floor.
• Due to porosity of the (Mud Ceiling) built on bamboo or wooden frames; hot air goes out, keeping
the building cool in summers and also aids in fire protection.
• Mud, on account of its easy availability good insulation and binding properties has been
extensively used.
• High plinths are provided to protect the building from rain and flood and also for proper storm
water drainage from the courtyard. Generally, the height of plinth is kept as 2’-4’.
• Verandahs with projected roof on front and rear are to protect the wall from sun and rain.
Generally, the height of plinth is kept as 2’-4’.
Surface treatment
The materials used in the Building are stone wall, (sloping roof with mud ceiling
with bamboo/timber rafter) and Plain cement floor. Architectural Design features
The special feature of the design is bhita .
Openings (Windows, doors and shading devices).
• The doors used to be the only openings,mostly coverd by a mat “Jhanp”, tied to the upper part of
the door.
• If windows would be present,they were also covered with Jhanp. Its main function was to allow
comfortable ventilation.
• The coolness of vernacular buildings during summer is very satisfactory without the use of
modern building technology.
• All buildings have been designed in rows and are not exposedto the sun due to front and rear
verandah and the internal courtyard. It prevents heat but it also keeps hot winds out while
ensuring movement of cooler air through the buildings and open areas.
• Measured temperatures in the vernacular buildings in two locations showed that the indoor
temperature in the day was 8°C lower than the outdoor temperature. The users of these building
did not show any sign of discomfort during summer.

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Sumit Dangwal

Four rooms on four raised sides and a

: House with eight roofs,four over the main building and

Four rooms on four raised sides and a

In Coastal Bengal, three types of houses (ghara)

Based on roof, houses are classified as-(ghara) are

• Composed of “Huts” arranged around a central courtyard or uthaan (উঠান)

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