VERNACULAR

ARCHITECTURE

KERALA
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF
KERALA
BY: JAIVAL MEHTA
CONTENTS
One:

About

Two:

Importance Of Courtyards

Three:

Influence Of Climate

Four:

Spatial Configuration

Five:

Building Material

Six:

Winding Up
ONE
 ABOUT

The term Vernacular architecture is an architectural style that is

designed based on local needs , availability of construction
materials and reflecting local traditions. Originally, Vernacular
Architecture did not use formally-schooled architects. Based on
skills and tradition of local builders. Vernacular architecture is
influenced by a great range of different aspects of human behavior
and environment, leading to differing building forms for almost
every different context. The way of life of building occupants, and
the way they use their shelters, is of great influence on building
forms. The size of households, who shares the spaces, way of food
preparation, the way of interaction within and between the
families and many other cultural considerations affect the layout
and size of dwellings.
TWO
 IMPORTANCE OF
COURTYARDS

Kerala, some of the traditional homes— called Nalukettus—are

built around courtyards that have a significant impact on the house
not just architecturally but also socially. The courtyard is the heart
of the house around which all other rooms are built giving light and
life to every room.

The courtyard also helps in the circulation of air by letting the hot
air escape from the house and pulling in cooler breeze through the
windows .The courtyards offer multiple advantages ranging from
climatic, social to multiple uses of spaces. In this type of houses,
the courtyards are the focal point of all the activities. Most of the
rooms of the house have a direct connection with the courtyard.
Along with providing maximum interior relationship, Courtyards
also served privacy purposes by helping to segregate indoors and
outdoors. The courtyards serve as important family gathering
spaces. The shape of the courtyard is mostly generated by
placement of rooms or buildings around it. Air circulation due to
these courtyards relies largely on the proportions of the
surrounding walls and positioning of window openings in the
surrounding rooms. Shading in the courtyard helps in creating
comfortable living conditions during day and sleeping conditions
during night.
THREE
 INFLUENCE OF
CLIMATE

Kerala has a warm humid climate. The rainfall is very heavy from
south west and north east monsoons. To keep the rain and sun
away from the walls the roofs of the building come down very low.
They have verandah all round the building protecting the external
walls from sun and rain. They also have an internal courtyard for
better flow of air. The width of the verandah veries from 2ft to
12ft. One of the most common vernacular type of house in
Kerala is Venuu as a tribal community structure. Indian civic
and vernacular architectures have many examples of highly
climate control by applying science in the construction
processes. Some examples can be seen in such distinguish
features of Indian vernacular architecture, such as the
widows’ jallis, chajja and deep rectangular piers. The house
was created as a Tharavad type (a system of joint family,
which is practiced by Keralian people). The houses of Kerala
characterized by the boldness and simplicity of forms,
dominated by sweeping and red tiled roofs. Forms, materials
and techniques are basically similar for all economic levels
and classes of local society.
FOUR
 SPATIAL
CONFIGURATION

It is self contained and introvert complex of buildings each

enclosing an open to sky courtyard.The central courtyard is the
focal point of the house. The main rooms are located on the
western wing. Rooms on the northern side are used for
cooking.The rooms on the southern sides are used for the daily
household activities. Steep pyramidal roofs with a 45 degree pitch,
deep overhangs, shaded verandas and cross ventilation are a
response to intense sun, heavy rainfall and humidity. The primary
elements of all structures trends to remain same. The base model is
normally circular, square or rectangular plain shapes with a ribbed
roof evolved from functional consideration.
FIVE
 BUILDING MATERIALS

The common building materials used for vernacular construction in

Kerala are mud, laterite and granite stone blocks, lime mortar,
wood, bamboo, clay roofing tile and coconut palm leaves. Clay was
used in many forms - for walling, in filling the timber floors and
making bricks and tiles after firing in kilns, tempered with
admixtures.Palm leaves are still used effectively for thatching the
roofs and for making partition walls and along with mud. The most
common type of flooring was that of beaten earth polished with
cow dung at regular intervals. Black colored flooring used in the
more expensive buildings was done with the mixture of lime, sand,
coconut shell, jaggery, coconut water and vegetable extracts. And,
the smoothness was achieved by polishing with certain variety of
banana.
LATERITE

Most common building materials in kerala.Dressed for building the

wall. Laterite stones increase the strength as they are exposed to
sun and moisture. Soft laterite available at shallow depth can be
easily cut, dressed and used as building blocks. It is a local stone
that gets stronger and durable with exposure to atmosphere. This
is bonded with the mortar of shell lime which is a classic binding
material used in traditional buildings. Lime mortar can increase its
strength and performance by admixtures of certain vegetable
juices. Such mortars are used for plastering and low relief work.
TIMBER

Timber, abundant in the state, is the other most important

structural element used in Kerala. Rose wood and teak are popular
hard wood used in construction. The masterful joinery and skillful
carvings are common in olden buildings. Timber is the prime
structural material available in many varieties in Kerala from
BAMBOO-TEAK. The skillful choice of timber, artful assembly and
delicate carving of wood work for coloumns, walls, roofs frames are
the unique characteristics of Kerala Architecture.
TILES

Tiles are the most commonly visible unifying feature of Kerala

architecture. Tiles paved on wooden trusses were the most
common and elegant roofing. Adding to this, palm leaves are
still used effectively for thatching the roofs and for making
partition walls along with mud.
SIX
 WINDING UP

These buildings are a good example of the saying ‘Form Follows

Function’. The design exhibits a range of concepts applied by Laurie
Baker, to the individual buildings as per suiting to their needs of
function, scale, and dimensions. Vernacular houses had been
constructed with some underlying principles conveyed from one
generation to other, to make it respond positively to the prevailing
climatic conditions and thus helped to attain thermal comfort
without using any mechanical means. These lessons are always
contemporary in nature and these can help in designing
contemporary buildings to behave thermally well. In broader
perspective this can help in reducing energy requirements and thus
contributing towards a more sustainable future.