Authors: Prof. Eswara Rao. P, Dr. Viswanadh Kumar. G
Abstract: Vernacular architecture and climate are engaged in a happy marriage in any indigenously developed settlement. We documented and analyzed a vernacular Palle or village settlement such as Ramanapalli, Chennur which are located in tropical zone of hot and semi-arid climatic Kadapa region of Andhra Pradesh. Palle is a rural settlement in Kadapa district of Rayalaseema, India. It is particularly significant for architectural studies because it has been documented as an example of climate-sensitive vernacular architecture in the Rayalaseema region. The Palle form and structure come from many years of evolution and sharing knowledge. This shows how different physical and non-physical forces like weather, land, religion, culture, money, old building methods, and how people organize themselves have shaped them. These are made up of small groups of homes with thick walls, heavy roofs, small windows, and narrow streets. In villages like Chennur, Ramanapalle, and Rachinayapalle, there are different types of houses, known locally as ‘Chowda or Dante Middelu’. The designs of these houses are usually rectangular or square, built using traditional methods that take into account the local climate. They are well suited to meet the everyday needs of the people living there. The people living in these houses adjust their daily activities to fit the natural qualities of the space around them. The house is designed and built in a way that responds to the hot and dry climate. This type of design is a form of passive architecture that uses local materials, thick walls, small windows, traditional flat roof with high thermal mass, and small vents near the roof but below it. These thick walls and heavy roof help absorb and slow down the transfer of heat. The small windows are placed carefully to reduce the amount of direct sunlight entering. However, the 'House form of Chowda Middelu' in Kadapa district is vanishing because of various reasons in recent years. Previously, this type of architecture and the way people lived were very responsive to the climate. But now, these traditional designs and habits are slowly changing into ones that don't take the climate or local surroundings into account. This research suggests the need for a set of guidelines that can help balance modern development with the traditional building methods used in the area.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23118495
