siliconindia | | December 20199decorative as well and offers immense scope of aesthetic urge of the Kashmi-ri craftsmen ship. The `Takh system' & `Dab system' have developed in due course of the construction techniques adapted there.The Dravidian style of architecture down South emerged and grew during the reign of several dynasties. The cen-tral courtyard homes with rooms built all-around worked well for the humid weather. The courtyards enabled the hot air to cool-down and move with-in the household. Typically, in most of the traditional Indian households, the inner courtyard would function as a private yet outdoor space, secluded from unwanted eyes. Stone is con-sidered as the most sacred building material, and its availability in abun-dance made it a vital construction ma-terial for Hindu Temples. The rock-cut monoliths with stone and timber or-namentation became the architectural expression with the material resources and the construction techniques.The 21st Century Indian ArchitectureThe vernacular building technologies in India are being passed-down from generation to generation as they ca-ter locally to the climate, material & strong cultural ethos. But, over a while, a lack of understanding of the material and its appreciation has led to the slow decay of indigenous architecture in In-dia. This contradicts the fact that the beauty & utility of our native architec-ture has been time tested and survived the ever-evolving Socio-Cultural & Climatic Conditions. Construction in India is a labor-intensive process, and the acute shortage of skilled craftsmen is one of the key reasons for the loss of the rich architectural heritage of the region. BottomlineFrom igloos to bamboo houses, from thatched roofs to terraced roofs, people create shelter & comfort in unique structures in response to their locations on the globe. With the ex-amples quoted above from North to down south, it is indicative that the culture of a place determines the form of material through their local craftsmanship which is embedded in a cultural and environmental context. The interpretation of the material by the craftsmen and his adaptation of the construction techniques to suit a set of local conditions generate a particular form of material, which is culture-specific. This is the truthful expression of vernacular instincts in design. Developing the skills of the lo-cal labor and introducing them to new construction techniques can help to plan new settlements and upgrade the existing ones. Stone is considered as the most sacred building material, and its availability in abundance made it a vital construction material for Hindu TemplesRahul Bhatt, Managing Director
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