Traditional Dwelling At Kanpur, India

ABOUT KANPUR

  • Lying on the right bank of river Ganga, Kanpur is the biggest city of the state Uttar Pradesh.
  • It lies 80.3 degrees east longitude and 26.5 degrees North Latitude.

CLIMATE

  • The city has composite type of climate.
  • The summers are hot and dry ,heavy rains during monsoon and it is cold and foggy during the winter.
  • Avg. Summer temp. : 35-40 degree celsius
  • Avg. Winter temp. : 5-10 degree celsius
  • ANNUAL RAINFALL : ABOUT 105mm

TOPOGRAPHY

  • The city lies in the great plains of India and the terrain is plain and not rocky.

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

  • The house is built using cement and bricks. THE WALLS OF THE HOUSE ARE THICK AND ARE ABOUT  50cm THICK.
  • All the walls are plastered using cement. The doors and door frames are all wooden.
  • Most of the things used are those which are locally available.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE HOUSE

  • The house is built on a raised platform.
  • It prevents rain water from coming inside the house during rainy season.
  • The upper storey is connected from both inside and outside.
  • This is done keeping in mind that if the upper portion is rented then the tenants do not disturb the privacy of people living in the ground floor.
  • The house has no open spaces on the ground floor.
  • The only open spaces are the terrace on the first and second floor.
  • The front façade has beautiful ornamentation only on the ground floor.
  • The upper floor are plain and simple.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

  • The house has been designed keeping “Vaastu” in mind. It is evident from the following points:
  • The entrance of the house is from east.
  • The drawing room is placed on the north of the house.
  • The bedrooms are on the west side.
  • The kitchen and pooja are adjacent to each other.
  • The “Tulsi” is placed on the main gate and is worshipped daily.

ZONING

  • Public areas
    • Barotha
    • Chabutra
    • Baithak
  • Semi private areas
    • Verandah
    • Aangan
    • Pooja
    • Chauka
  • Private areas
    • Bedrooms

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOUSE

  • Public areas
    • Chabutra
      • It is the gallery in front of the house.It is used for sitting in sun during winters.
    • Barotha
      • It is a transition spacewhich leads to various places of the house.
      • It also serves as the place to take off shoes as they are not allowed inside the house.
    • Baithak
      • It is the drawing room.
      • Placed in the north of the house this room has a number of windows on the northern side.
      • It has sufficient light throughout the day.
  • Semi Private Areas
    • Verandah
      • It is also a transition area. Used as dining area and for family gatherings.
    • Aangan
      • The courtyard has rooms on three of it’s sides.
      • It serves various purposes like washing utensils, drying of cloths, “masalas”, food grains, for religious ceremonies and also playing cricket.
    • Kothri
      • It is the area to store various objects.
    • Pooja
  • Private areas
    • Bada Kamra
      • This room is occupied by the eldest member of the family.
      • It serves as the bedroom, T.V. Room, meditation room and exercise room.
      • It has large openings on the eastern side to allow morning sun to come in.
    • Bedrooms
      • There is one bedroom on the ground floor and the rest three on the first floor.

 

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