Facades: An Element Of Architecture

Name:Rutu Vijaybhai Patel Roll no.: 21/ar/08 Internal Guide: Ar.Meghana Sutariya External Guide: Dr.Bharati Shelat INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE, H.N.G.U, PATAN

INTRODUCTION
A research is required to study the elements of any historic city.what makes the city and the typology and the identity - Which is very important for any Historic Environment.This is the reason for the attempt to do this research,which plays an important role in identifying culture, people and its history and other values like Emotional, Cultural and Use Values. In this study one is studying facades and their elements.What makes the facade complete and if it is already existing with its own heritage, What are the characteristics of these elements?People living in these streets seem to have lost interest in the traditional or 'original',and they have started switching over to new devlopment. Last few years there has been a widespread recognition of facades as elements of Architecture. The term 'Facade' is defined as "the face or front of a building towards a street or other open place". A facade is more like an 'artist's conception', a drawing to show how the front of the building will look. It might have shadows drawn in, it might have trees and landscaping and people walking around in front. It might show the building in context with other nearby buildings. The facade acted as an important element due to its multitude, complexity of its functions and performance. If facades all put together it gives an overall uniform character yet having infinite variations. this give a unique character of the inner city. Wooden architecture in Gujarat evolved organically portraying a complex picture of various lifestyles leaving behind an eloquent history demonstrating the elegance of prevalent cultures taking shape under the influences of different rulers and religion. From the creation of grand palaces and temples to the formation of the local dwellings, wooden architecture displayed itself as a common denominator used effectively for different purposes. This is where wood carving as a unique cultural entity had its origin. The traditional art of wood carving of Gujarat encompassed in itself - the historical profiles, cultural varieties, mythological fables, religious beliefs, social sensitivities, inherited tradition, proficient techniques, mans interpretation and expression of nature and much much more. Elemental and eternal wood carving through newer forms and applications has carved a niche for its intrinsic versatility and value as one of the major art forms of Gujarat. This traditional art flourished in magnitude mainly the urban centres of Gujarat, where it became an integral part of the life of people of Gujarat. Introducing this thesis briefly, it start with the history of gujarat ,history of Ahmedabad ,history of pol,evolution of wood carving.The next portion is detailed documentation of facades and ornaments,patterns and elements.and the next last portion is investigation section dealing with symbolism,influences of various cultures and times.

AIM:
Adaption of Ahmedabad pol facades Architectural elements in to todays

Architecture. Objective:
In facade I am considering 'Otla', 'Doors' with richly carved jambs and lintels', 'Window', 'Balcony', 'Bracket' and richly decorated niches. To understand the significance of these elements to architecture, artists, as well as to common people. Study of Ahmedabad pol facades, wooden architectural elements, including the restorable,redevelopable or adoptable elements. Suggested application redevelopment in to todays architecture.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Facades act as an intermediation between outside and inside of built form. It is very much possible to depict the space organization inside, age & style of building and status & religion of the owner. In facade each element is characterized symbolized and beautifully carved to its highest value of its aesthetics. Being these a determinant factor in defining a particular heritage style;i want to study or research the facades as an architectural element.

Dhobi no pol-Khadia

Hatkeshvar temple

Chetana-Khadia

METHODOLOGY
Phase-I Documentation & identify the frontal faade & structural building elements made up of wood in pol houses of Khadia Ahmedabad. Phase-II Study of role of these elements in frontal faade articulation.

Phase-III Conclusion that socio-cultural aspects of the pol houses and wood carving art facades.

SCOPE:
Traditional facades are more rich compared to modern facades, so I am considering facades of Ahmedabad poles developed during development of cotton industry. As a result facadal expression is aimed at the intellect rather than emotion, where modern facades were insubstantially blatant.

LIMITATIONS:
I will study only pol houses of Ahmedabad. i will study only wooden facades and its elements of architecture.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
I would be doing the above research by following the methods as follows: Literature reading from books as well as internet. Case studies Discussion with guides Discussion with other faculties.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Thesis no:0340 Facade: An element of architecture (CEPT Uni.) Thesis no:0501 Domestic facades in traditional wood work:Study of Maganbhai ni Haveli Ahmedabad (CEPT Uni.) Thesis no:0454 Conservation of urban elements in a traditional Indian city-A study of old city of Ahmedabad (CEPT Uni.) Thesis-0230(Street scape:A study of facades) Thesis -0540(Wood Architecture of Gujarat: Casestudy PATAN Thesis -0185(Wooden Construction System in Gujarat) Naqsh:The art of wood carving in traditional houses of gujarat Haveli: Wooden Houses and Mansions of Gujarat Amdavad ni pol ma Amdavad nu sthapatya Wood carving of Gujarat Ahmedabad A complete city guide

Literature Review

Reference Book

Chapter

Author

Gist of the topic

Published/U n-published

Cod e No. ISB N97881848 04294

Ahmedaba d nu sthapatya

Itihas of ahmedabad Nagar rachana Sthapatya

Ratnamanir av bhimrav

History of Ahmedaba d

Gurjar Granth Ratna karyalaya on behalf of Khadia itihas samiti

Ahmedaba d ni pol ma

pol ni rachana ane udhbhav no itihas pol houses Carving

Riddhi Patel

History of Wooden carving Diff. types of Carving and their meanings. Faade: The skin and the face The faade in modern Architectur e The Facade as an active element Elements of Facades Unpublished thesis

Thesis0340 (Facade: An element of architectur e)

Deep Patel

Thesis0454 (Conservati on of urban elements in a traditional Indian citystudy of old city of Ahmedaba

Doshi Manish

Unpublished thesis

d) Thesis0003 (Settlement Conservati on-Khadiaii Ahmedaba d) Thesis0001 (Settlement Conservati on-Khadiaiii Ahmedaba d) Naqsh:The Art Of Wood Carving In Traditional Houses Of Gujarati History of ancient wood carving Mathur Gaurav Faade-Scale and proportion Unpublished thesis

Daudia Namrata

Evolution and History of ahmedaba d Elements and its value The historical view points regarding wood carving and the craftsman are being discussed in this chapter Wood being a common domestic material was used in making various products right from the basic daily use object to one of the highest human endeavors like architectur e. We find

Unpublished thesis

Jay Thakkar

Research cell School of Interior Design,C.E. P.T.

ISB N 81752 52855

that wood carving of ancient races is practically of the type we know as chip carving. Historical aspect of wood carving in Gujarat Wooden architectur e of Gujarat proves that Gujarat has borrowed this constructio n technique from West Asia with whom it had trade contacts since the ancient time. Resemblin g feature that seems to be borrowed was the saddle piece called TODLA located at the corner of the door frame of a Gujarati house.The se todalas are not found anywhere else in India. The evolution of Gujarati

Ornamentati o

ornamentat ion as produced by wood carving was governed by socioreligios principles along with the desires of wealthy Gujaratis to decorate their residences and personal belongings. Motifs Motifs are isolated devices symmetrica l or asymmetric al simple or complex in nature. The motifs found in Gujarati ornamentat ion are more pictographi c which can be divided in to: Figural, Natural and Geometrica l motifs. In this chapter the traditional elements of wooden architectur e with Gujarati ornamentio

Elements

n as a central issue are discussed. The ornaments or the subjects being carved that are discussed. while describing the visual characterist ics of elements are among the frequently appearing devices of gujarati ornamentat ion.