· BEAUTY AND SIMPLICITY OF OLD INDIAN HOMES ·

What is so beautiful about old Indian architecture?


Sustainable - yes!
Energy-efficient - yes!
Aesthetic - yes!
Compact yet spacious - yes!

· WELCOME TO MY GRANDMA'S HOME · 

 This is my grandfather's sister's house. She is 85, healthy and happy, living with her son and daughter-in-law, who are taking care of her and this age-old ancestral house excellently. After a long time, we went to visit them during summer holidays. It was scorching hot outside and we were surging through the narrow lanes where markets were put up on the road.We kept asking people for directions, Amma trying to remember the old landmarks and finally Dada spotted the blue vernacular house - 
" There it is Akka Atya's house ".
   
This particular street of Dharwad had a stretch of old houses and it was such a delight to see them. I was so excited to be there, meet everyone. I couldn't stop looking at every detail of the interiors, skylights, wide passageway that went through and through from the entrance to the backyard (courtyard) that opened up to a Tulsi Katta and a well, with pretty planters, and saplings all around.
   
Everyone were busy talking, eating and so on, while I was just quiet and trying to take in all the beauty and simplicity of the house. We were sitting in the living area which had no door, no wall, it was just two steps up from the passageway like a platform with detailed wooden columns and beams. Living area had kitchen, pooja room, and a storeroom adjacent to it. All the rooms were well lit by skylights that made a huge impact on how the spaces felt.

I don't know when and how I forgot about the heat outside. As soon as I stepped in, couldn't stop admiring details of every nook and corner. Never felt so calm and comfortable before. Kaku looked at me and sensed my urge to see the entire house, she took me around the place, I went with her like an excited kid who is going to get a chocolate 馃槀

She took me on top first, through the narrow stairway. Half of the 1st floor was terrace with chimney like openings for skylights and the other half was an attic room with a balcony facing the street. We got down through a wooden staircase from another side which opened to the backyard on one side and kitchen on the other. The kitchen had these tiny square niches in the wall and wooden storage racks, beautifully lit with diffused light coming in from the top skylight. Then a step down for the cooking area where you sit down and cook comfortably. Next, we moved to pooja room ,which I must say, was extremely well organized, lit, and serene. This place felt no less than a temple. Even the storeroom was such a delight to look at.  

Mud walls, carved and detailed wooden members, Mangalore tiles for roof, stone flooring, diffused sunlight through skylights, vintage photographs and paintings hung all around, Rangoli on the floor, green backyard, a well so rich with water, the soothing blue backdrop, the warmth and love of the people inside it, is what makes old Indian architecture so beautiful and spiritual ! 

BTW, HAPPY WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY 馃槈


With regards,
Kanchan Kulhalli.

                               

                                      

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