Abstract:
India is most populated country after China
and where 70% of population is living in rural
area which is primarily agrarian where
housing affordability is problem for provision
of adequate housing for all. Vernacular Rural
Building is based on low investment and high
maintenance where monetary transactions
are minimal and high maintenance work
creates regular employment for all. This is one
of the important factors of economic
sustainability of community. House-building in
rural India is a culturally sensitive and highly
ritualized process. It is a social event that
involves many specialised castes, and which
consolidates the ties & social relationship
among neighbors. India is a huge country with
so many climatic zones, with so many
different people with different customs and
lifestyle. Vernacular Indian housing is able to
cope up with hot summer sun in Rajasthan to
heavy rainfall and potential earthquakes and
ground shaking in Assam to cold regions of
Ladak. Modern constructions contribute to
the environmental crisis through resource
depletion, energy consumption, air pollution,
climate change and creation of waste. Land,
Water and Climate are three essential
prerequisites for any agricultural production
system. Modern construction methods have
bad impact on agriculture product which is
backbone of rural economy. In this context,
the relevance of vernacular architecture is
very much essential for developing countries
like India. Vernacular architecture is not seen
as a style, but as a system of knowledge. Due
attention needs to be given by the present
day planners, architects and designers so that
the architecture is suitable for the climate,
social and cultural aspects as well as
sustainable development. Design and
planning must consider sustainability (saving
our mother earth) and social responsibility
(saving the community) as inseparable.
