Role of Construction Methods in the Shaping of Neo-Vernacular Architecture: A Case of Architect Nari Gandhi

Abstract

The narrative of Indian residential architecture is a dynamic stage where culture, time and technology play an important role in breathing life into the built environment. The traditional Indian concepts were based on timeless values of connecting to the regional context and carrying forward the rich cultural heritage. Thus, the vernacular architecture, across the subcontinent, gives a scope of alteration and continuity and hence has a relevance even to this day and age. However, looking into our current scenario, residences are built with little to no concern for their context and hence very often fail in terms of sustainability or resilience factors. The goal of this research is to search for the relevance of vernacular architecture in present times. Buildings stand as a testament to their cultural history majorly by their historically rich spatial layout or the continuity in the usage of their construction materials and methods. The quest of this research is to find the role of construction techniques in establishing the link between the historical and the contemporary structures. Further, this link is explored through the case of a master builder, Nari Gandhi. His concepts can serve as an inspiration to all those architects who wish to understand and comprehend a contemporary building in Indian style. Neo-vernacular architectural style is a result of this concept. Its principles are the offshoots of vernacular trends combined with contemporary technology and specifications. ‘Neo’ means new, while vernacular indicates the utilization of native materials and techniques with the robustness of natural environments. The study builds a comparison of construction methods between neo-vernacular case studies of Nari Gandhi and their vernacular contemporaries pertaining to the same region. This research aims at decoding parameters that could serve as a toolkit for architects to design spaces that are more rooted to their region and culture by strategically adopting materials and construction methods in such a manner.