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Socio-Cultural Influence in Built Forms of Kerala

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Socio-Cultural Influence in Built Forms of Kerala International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS Socio‐Cultural Influence in Built Forms of Kerala Akshay S Kumar Research Scholar, NIT Calicut, Kerala ABSTRACT kinds of influences, including Brahmanism, contributed to the cultural diffusion and Similarities in climate, it is natural that the architectural tradition. More homogeneous environmental characteristics of Kerala are artistic development may have rigorously more comparable with those of Southeast occurred around the 8th century as a result of Asia than with the rest of the Indian large-scale colonization by the Vedic subcontinent. Premodern architecture in (Sea Brahmans, which caused the decline of of Bengal) must have shared common Jainism and Buddhism. traditions with Southeast Asian architecture, which is wet tropical architecture. Because the Western Ghats isolated Kerala INTRODUCTION from the rest of the subcontinent, the infusion of Aryan culture into Kerala. It came only Kerala architecture is a kind of after Kerala had already developed an architectural style that is mostly found in independent culture, which can be as early as Indian state of Kerala and all the 1000 B.C. (Logan 1887). The Aryan architectural wonders of kerala stands out to immigration is believed to have started be ultimate testmonials for the ancient towards the end of the first millennium. vishwakarma sthapathis of kerala. Kerala's Christianity reached Kerala around 52 A.D. style of architecture is unique in India, in its through the apostle Thomas. The Jews in striking contrast to Dravidian architecture Kerala were once an affluent trading which is normally practiced in other parts of community on the Malabar. The first mosque South India. The architecture of Kerala has in India was built in Kerala when a been influenced by Dravidian and Indian Travancore king converted to Islam around Vedic architectural science (Vastu Shastra) over two millennium. The Tantrasamuchaya, the 8th century, coinciding with the dawn of Thachu-Shastra, Manushyalaya-Chandrika Islam/ Mohammedanism in the Middle East. and Silparatna are important architectural The coming of European traders not only sciences, which have had a strong impact in introduced new vocabulary to the existing Kerala Architecture style. The traditions, but it also promoted relations with Manushyalaya-Chandrika, a work devoted to Southeast Asia. Therefore, it is seemingly domestic architecture is one such science obvious that subtle eclecticism had been the which has its strong roots in Kerala. nature of Kerala artistic value, in which all Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS Page | 1 International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS The architectural style has evolved from (double courtyard), twelve blocks (triple Kerala’s peculiar climate and long history of courtyard) etc. while the lower class people influences of its major maritime trading will be having a single block structure called partners like Chinese, Arabs and Europeans. Ekasala. The space requirements for these houses were limited and optimum. At present, with the nuclear family trend, the DISCUSSION need for separate house for young people increased and to accommodate modern TRADITIONAL VS MODERN HOUSES facilities, the space requirements are much high and even though the family size is less, The traditional architecture of Kerala has its the tendency is to create big houses. soul in Vastuvidya and the houses are usually built with local building materials, which are easily collected around the village. Houses Way of living: are usually built by members of the The means for gaining livelihood in household and craftsmen often with traditional days was mainly agriculture and assistance from friends and neighbours. Both this brings the necessity for a safe and secure technology and tools used were simple. The place for storing the grains. In traditional change from traditional to modern building houses, the store room and the prayer room materials symbolizes transformation and where the grains and valuables are stored, are cash economy because houses are built by combined together and positioned in the industrially produced building materials like central part of the western block so that it concrete blocks, steel members and concrete faces the east, which is considered to be tiles that require financial resources to auspicious. With industrialization, the purchase. The nuclear family, the tendency of dependency on agriculture reduced and thus young people for living alone, high land and the importance of granaries also reduced. building cost, women working out and the Also, the scarcity of laterite and timber fact that they do not spent much time in home caused in the focusing of factory made have indirectly affected for not adopting products for construction. With the beginning traditional design strategies for new houses. of industries and people working in towns, their choice of land remained in the town itself and since the land value is high, the size of the plot available for construction also THE TRANSFORMATION reduced. These resulted in concrete jungles with less trees and open space. Family structure and size: In traditional time, extended family system prevailed and house was a symbol of the Religion: affluence. The higher classes with 15-20 members had big houses of eight blocks Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS Page | 2 International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS The traditional house is set in harmony with The arrangement of rooms around the the nature. The positioning of trees in courtyard avoids the direct visual contact into auspicious locations as instructed in the rooms. Each and every functional spaces Vastuvidya and serpent grove for protecting of the traditional house were enclosed with the biodiversity, positioned in the eastern side solid walls. In houses for higher class people, of the large plot are examples of their a sleeping room was intended for a small worshipping of nature. At present, the trend family, whereas in middle class families, the is towards landscaping the vacant space for rooms were all interconnected with no or less improving the aesthetics rather than planting privacy within the members. At present, with the trees according to their favorable the impact of western culture and new positions. technology, openness or transparency took the place of enclosed spaces. Caste: Safety: The houses had fencing along the site For Nairs and other Feudal lords, most of boundary with bamboos or coconut leaves the Nalukettus are referred as Tharavadu and wooden gate with gate house for the access. With the availability of new For Upper Ezhava and Thiyya classes, their Nalukettus are referred as Madom, materials, the fencing changed to more strong Meda and Tharavadu compound walls of brick, stone etc with gates of cast iron, stainless steel, etc. Since laterite, For Kshatriya, their residences are mud, palm leaves, rubble, timber etc. were referred as Kovilakoms and Kottarams the materials available, strong and easily available laterite was mostly used for walls. For Syrian Christians, their residences are In some houses, double layered laterite referred as Medas and Veedus blocks with the space in between filled with soil and utensils, measuring to a width of For Nampoothiri communities, their 80cm were used for outer walls, which were residences are referred as Illams good thermal insulators. Later brick which is more strong and cheap than laterite was used for walls. The timber frame and the Mangalore tile paving used for roofing, which was highly climate responsive, was Social interaction: replaced with concrete because of the Verandahs were the chatting and playing strength and large spanning capabilities. spaces for the men and the children respectively. The rear verandahs and courtyards were mostly used by the women Privacy: of the family. The courtyards, ponds, etc were the means for interaction at the house Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS Page | 3 International Journal for Social Studies Volume 01 Issue 01 Available at November 2015 http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJSS level. The busy nature of the people and the house is similar to the current toilet cum various other modes of interaction, may dressing space. Toilets were placed far away from the house because of hygienic reasons have influenced in the absence of verandahs and due to the lack of proper drainage system. in most of the modern houses. Life style: The With the development of technology, lifestyle of the traditional people of Kerala plumbing lines and sewage lines could easily was simple. They give much emphasis on be installed through the walls and floors and health, hygiene and education. They are also this made an end to the detached toilet particular in ensuring cleanliness, healthcare concept. and physical quality of life. The brass utensil which is placed on the entry steps of the traditional house was meant for cleaning the foot of the people before entering the house. CONCLUSION Absence of furniture was another important As time passes, and with change of life style, feature. The poomukaham or the sit out has the needs of the person also changes even got a reclining chair for the elder male though many physical and member to sit and the half wall or the charupadi for the guests. The long dining hall physiological needs such as the need for was intended for facilitating the people to sit openness, airiness, privacy etc. remain in rows on the floor for having food. In order unchanged. Even though some aspects of the to meet the habit of washing hand before and traditional architecture were valuable and after having food, water will be kept on a rich, the same system cannot be followed utensil in the outside verandah.
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