International Journal of Architecture (IJA) Volume 6, Issue 1, January-June 2020, pp. 56–66, Article ID: IJA_06_01_005 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJA?Volume=6&Issue=1 © IAEME Publication CLIMATIC EFFECT IN VARIOUS HOUSING TYPOLOGY WITH CULTURAL DIVERSITY -RAVANASAMUDRAM ManjuArjunan Professor, Marg Institute of School of Architecture and Design Swarnabhoomi, Kancheepuram District, Tamilnadu, India Monsingh.D.Devadas Principal Professor, MEASI Academy of Architecture, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India ABSTRACT The aim of the research is to explain the passive solar design techniques in the Hot & humid climate in Ravanasamudram village houses in Tirunelveli District, Tamilnadu in India. The main study is to analyze the characteristic of this houses to include the local construction materials, climatic factors of Hot & Humid climate and also wants to identify unique style in houses of different communities of Brahmins, Muslims, Adidravidars. The study of this rural mud houses provides an insight for designing an energy efficient houses that provides thermally comfort conditions according to their livelihood. The various parameters considered in the study of the existing rural houses in three different communities -orientation, plan form building exposure to sun, surface volume ratio, openings, shadings & ventilation. A sample survey was conducted with three communities at three different sites. Autodesk Ecotect Analysis is the tool used for studying the thermal conditions inside the vernacular rural houses. A sample survey was conducted with three communities at three different sites. Based on Ecotect simulation and the readings, the optimum temperature in different location were arrived. Key words: Vernacular Architecture, Passive Design strategies, Thermal comfort. Cite this Article: ManjuArjunan and Monsingh.D.Devadas, Climatic Effect in Various Housing Typology with Cultural Diversity - Ravanasamudram. International Journal of Architecture (IJA), 6(1), 2020, pp. 56–66. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJA?Volume=6&Issue=1 1. INTRODUCTION Tirunelveli district is being nurtured by the 75-mile long River Thamirabarani. In one of its fertile tributary basins, Ramanadhi, lies on the village Ravanasamudram. The village is occupied by 7455 people, roughly half of them Muslims, and the other half Hindus, living in an amalgamated fashion. The indigenous people of Ravanasamudram earn their living through agriculture and house-hold industries like mat-weaving. The village is named after Ravannappa http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJA 56 [email protected] Climatic Effect in Various Housing Typology with Cultural Diversity - Ravanasamudram Naicken, a chieftain, who ruled over the village 200 years ago. The village is surrounded by popular places like Courtallam and Papanasam. 1.1. Infra Structure The village remains well-connected with modern means of transport of roadways as well as railways. Communication means are also adequate in the village with provisions to ISD calls and to send letters. In recent times, the village is no exception from the digital technology phenomena. The village is fully electrified and has street lights and modern sewage systems. 1.2. Context To the west of the village about 5 miles, lies the Western Ghats. The tall mountains are full of evergreen trees. As Ramanadhi winds along the village, it flourishes all year round it originates from Western Ghats near Sivasailam and flows through the village until it joins the Varahanadhi. All these natural features add picturesque scenes to the village. The village has a sea of paddy fields dotted with palm trees. 1.3. Culture One of the salient features of the village is its ethnic diversity. This village's population comprises of Muslims and several castes of Hindus and Adidravidars. There are also few solitary Christian households. The male-female ratio is 54% to 46%. The Brahmins, Pillais, Acharis, Muppanars, Yadhavas and Pandarams are some prominent Hindu castes and other communities are numerically insignificant. The village has an elaborate ritual structure and material culture, which differ for each community. Brahmins' religious life is ritual ridden to a greater extent than other communities. Every stage of life from birth to death had religious observances like birth of a child, Upanayam ceremony, attainment of puberty, marriage customs, dowry, funeral rites, etc. The non- Brahmins caste of Pillais follow strict vegetarian ways along with a number of sanskritized customs like Brahmins. Yadhavas, Pandarams, Chettiars, Meisteries, Artisan communities like Dhobies, Barbers, Potters follow similar relgious pattern with variations. The Muslim community in Ravanasamudram speak Tamil, and belong to the class known as Labbais which have two sects, namely - the Shafi sect and the Hanafi sect. Ethnically, both these sects are similar, with variations among their customs, the most important ones being, their modes of praying and the right of women to divorce. The Muslims follow many cultural practices contrasting the Hindus significantly, like in the circumcision ceremony, marriage ceremonies, Mahar, Divorce, etc. 1.4. Climate Since the village lies at the foot of the hill, it experiences pleasant weather all around the year. During the months July to September, the village has a pleasant climate of temperature ranging from 23-26°C. November to December is the coolest part of the year with temperature falls below 26°C. The temperature in the hottest months of April and May measure stays below 37°C. The climate decides the calendar around which agriculture activities of the village revolve, majorly the setting-in of the northeast monsoons. The average rainfall received by this place ranges from 50 to 60 days. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJA 57 [email protected] ManjuArjunan and Monsingh.D.Devadas 2. VILLAGE LAYOUT AND CHARACTERISTICS Figure 1. Village Layout of Ravanasamudram. The village can be considered as two regions separated by a railway line figure 1. Represents the village layout of Ravanasamudram to the west is Agraharam, while the east is non-Brahmin community Adhi Dravidar in Ramalingapuram. The Rama-nadhi river forms the southern boundary of the Non-Brahmin locality. Figure 2 represents the figure and ground map of the village and it show the housing density is high and it is surrounded by open areas as streets, railway lines, river part, school grounds. Figure 2. Represents the figure and ground map and the housing density of Ravanasamudram The Meenakshi Amman temple is situated at the center of the Agraharam while the railway station lies in the north of the village. The three mosques of the Muslim communities are in the north and north-eastern regions of the Eastern side. The Panchayat board office and Maternity center lies in the midst of the blocks occupied by the Pillais in the centre of the village. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJA 58 [email protected] Climatic Effect in Various Housing Typology with Cultural Diversity - Ravanasamudram The streets are well-formed and divided to favour Panchayat elections. The street formation of the Agraharam differs from the Eastern side. The streets in the village are either named after prominent geographical landmarks (Amman Koil street, Pillayar koil street) or after the castes (Yadhava theru) predominant in the village or by the directions (Therku theru). As with the other portions of the village, there are four main streets east to west, and these are cut by another five main streets north to south, with a number of by-lanes and narrow streets cutting across and branching off from these main streets to the interior houses. 2.1. Street Layout Similar to many other villages, Ravanasamudram is also divided based upon castes. Low-caste houses adjacent to high-caste houses are a very rare sight. The scheduled castes build their houses in a secluded corner of the village, away from other houses. Clustered dwellings suggest that, those castes will be equal or at least of comparable social status. The Brahmins live in the north-western corner of the village, around the Meenakshi Amman temple. This region of the village lies little removed from the dwellings of other communities and the railway line runs in between. Non-Brahmin communities lie in the Easter side of the railway line, with the Muslims occupying the eastern half of the village, extending a little to the north-east. The Hindu Non-Brahmins except for the scheduled castes live in between the Muslim communities of the east and the railway line. The Pillais who come next to the Brahmins in status, occupy a fairly compact block, where they occupy the main streets branching from the railway line. The dwellings of Yadhavas are also clustered together in four streets lying in between the Pillais of the east and the railway line in the west. The dwellings of other communities of comparable or equal social status are clustered around the occupied spaces of the Pillais. The dwellings of the Achariyas and Chettiars are adjacent to the dwellings of the Pillais. The Muppanars are also similarly occupying an adjacent space near the Pillai settlement. The Pandarams and Meistiries are living adjacent to Pillais and Muppanars. In between the Muslims in the east and Muppanars in the west, is occupied by Dhobies and barbers. The scheduled castes of the village likeKuravans, Sambans and Padayatchis occupy a compact block in the north-eastern region of the village. The role of castes and social systems remain inevitable in the cultural life of the village. 3. HOUSING All the houses in Agraharam are tiled or terraced houses in Fig 3 show the typical plan of an Agraharam residence. The thinnai or pial faces the street, fenced by tiled roof latticed with wood or iron. The front door opens into a hall called Ulthinnai. Following the Ulthinnai is another hall called first Rezhi which opens into another big hall which is usually used for dining. The dining hall contains a 2 to 3 feet deep stone-lined sink which is used to wash their hands and feet before meals.