Ve r n a c u l a r A r c h i t e c t u r e Of Gujarat

In the urban landscape of India, one of the most visually appealing spaces is the walled city of Ahmedabad, known for its intricately carved wooden architecture and the neighbourhood settlements of pols. Pols are enclosed residential clusters entered by gates, which used to be shut at nights. The essence of a pol is a network of small streets, side lanes, shrines and open community spaces with a chabutaro, a birdhouse raised on a pole to feed birds in the neighbourhood.

The word pol is derived from the P o l H oword uses o f Ahme dabad Sanskrit pratoli meaning

Street view of a Pol

THE ORIGIN OF POL SETTLEMENT PATTERN The pol settlement pattern has One enclosing wall is a rural origin prevalent in the simultaneously the rear villages of North Gujarat. It is wall of a house. With the also called khadki type of ends enclosed off, the settlement. settlement forms a closed Each house is joined to the unit guarded by a single next by a common party wall gateway used by a large and many such houses form a number of families. The row opposite it and two rows gateway is known as thus enclose a space in front, khadki. which resembles a street but All the families of a khadki which is, in fact, a common are blood relations or yard. belong to the same caste. In order to ensure privacy and Every village has a number security, the ends of the of such khadkis belonging common yard are closed off by to different castes Pol Houses of Ahmedabad a wall on one side and a In cities, khadkis belonging

Faade of Pol house

Street view of a Pol

Aerial View of a Pol Highly carved facade of a wooden house in a pol in Ahmedabad Pol Houses of Ahmedabad

Various Faades of Pol Houses

CHARACTERISTICS OF A POL HOUSE

Pol houses have a minimal frontage on the neighbourhood street, which is itself quite narrow. Side walls of the house are shared with the house next door. The street faade is heavily Plan of a chowk treated with wooden Pol house structural and decorative elements, including carved columns, brackets, window shutters and balconies. Section The OATLA Entrance platform generally a plinth of a Pol with a row of columns which house marks the limits of the house o l street. House s o f for Ah medabad onPthe used sitting

Khadkee oatla

CHARACTERISTICS OF A POL HOUSE

Pol housing

Pol Houses of Ahmedabad

 BAITHAK the formal reception space used for visitors. The interior rooms were not designated as living room, dining room or bedroom rather it is very flexible in use. Easily movable furniture and bedding allow migration from room to room to suit the changing family composition or to accommodate to seasonal changes. The kitchen, storage rooms for drinking Po l H o u swater e s o f and A h mPuja edabad

Swing in the parsal

 CHOWK the Courtyard is the primary element of the house. all other rooms are built around the chowk. It provides the connection between inside and outside for much of the house. Functions as a light well and a ventilating shaft; moving vertically from the ground floor through the roof. Traditionally, being open to the sky, these spaces infuse in individuals the consciousness of nature as well as bringing the occupants daily with P o l H o u into ses o f A hcontact medaba d

Chowk of a House

Access to the underground water tank

 The PARASAL the verandah space around the court; most utilized spaces in the house. It serves as a transitional space, between interior and exterior as well as public and private spaces. The swing is hung in the Parasal. In the parasal, there is a provision for hearth, where the housewife cooks. DHUMADIYU chimney CHULHA - FireplaceThe roofs of the pol houses are sloping sheds away the rains Pol H ouse s o monsoon f Ahmeda bad

 On the first floor is the DIWANKHANA the large hall where guests were received. The living quarters were on the first floor. The second floor had bedrooms, and in summer the Agashi (rooftop terrace) was a pleasant place to sleep under the sky.

Pol Houses of Ahmedabad

Artwork over a Doorway

Pol Houses of Ahmedabad

The wooden door frames and shutters are engraved intricately

Pol Houses of Ahmedabad

CHABUTARO or CHABUTRO Chabutaro Bird feeder "a stone or wooden tower with artistic canopy over it constructed to feed birds" is a salient feature of the ambience of any pol in Ahmedabad. There are nearly 120 of them. The architecture of a chabutaro is different from the rest because it contains

Pol Houses of Ahmedabad

CLIMATIC CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE FORM

Three walls are common, so reduces surface area exposed to the sun. Only shorter faade is open for light & Ventilation Chowk provides porosity to the built mass; also gives a sense of openness.

Chowk also acts as vent shaft which sucks the hot air from the house, providing Chowk thermal comfort in hot provides balcony and dry climate more surface The projections act as a area buffer protecting responding to the open inner spaces from sunlight space P o l H ofor u s e s direct of Ahm e d a b a d & hot

CLIMATIC CONSIDERATIONS

Even in Ahmedabads hot summer, it was comfortable inside the house. Cool air flowed through the front window into the house, taking the warm air up and out through the chowk. This cooled the entire house. Wood and stone used as materials for construction helps in maintaing the comfort level inside the house. Use of jaali provides protection from hot winds.

Pol Houses of Ahmedabad