The Riverfront Settlement study of Ecoxim

(Study of the form of cultural Landscape)

Researcher : Kshama P. Sawant Guide: Arch. Jose L. Noronha

Introduction

Man's adaption with the environment brought

forth change in his physical landscape. These
change in his physical landscape. These changes
are identified as cultural landscape and present
man's relation to man and the earth. Pomburpa is a
small village in the Bardez taluka in the north
district of the state of Goa in India. The settlement
in the village of Pomburpa are nestled amidst
varying landforms along the bank of river
Mandovi. Pomburpa has 9 wards that are Veloti,
Porio, Ecoxim, Palmar, Golla, Arao, Voli, Oiaulim,
Anadiwada. Ecosim is a rural settlement within the
taluka of Bardez that has evolved along Mandovi
river. The identified geographical settings are the
riverfront, the khazan lands and the hilly terrain,
social status and lifestyles based on socio-economic
and socia-cultural features.

The research attempts to study the settlement

which will be looked at different scale responding
to various contextual variations in terms of
geography and socio-economic factors.
Need For Study
Ecoxim, a rural settlement within the village limits of Pomburpa, has evolved along
Mandoviriver. The study will be useful as no previous documentation has been done on
Ecoxim. The study will explores the natural pattern of settlement and house form in
harmony with ecological cycle. The entire village will be looked at different scales being
settlement level, cluster level and house unit level. Also "it is necessary to co-ordinate the
growth of rural area with the future development of towns and cities to form an integral
part of a balanced development"(Barne Gowda, urban planning, pg18). And thus study of
the settlements in villages is equally important as those of towns and cities. Therefore study
of these pattern will not only contribute the historical record but also will help to draw
important conclusions for development which .
Research was done on Pomburpa houses for and the focus of the Research was to investigate
the influence of physical features (riverfront, Khazan lands and the hilly terrain) and socio-
economic features9occupation, region, social status, festivals, lifestyles and western
influence) on the settlement and house forms of Pomburpa but the research was only
restricted to only 3 geographical setting in the village within which the house forms are
situated.

Aim
To study and analyze the settlement pattern and house forms of the riverfront settlement of
Ecoxim.

Objectives
In order to achieve the aim the following objectives should be achieved:
1. Documentations and analysis the riverfront settlement at various scales.

A. At Settlement level : To understand form of the settlement with respect to

physical, socio-economic, socio-cultural and administrative contexts.
B. At Cluster level : To study the organizations of the clusters with respect to the
above varying contexts and to derive typologies.
C. At House unit level : To analyze the impact of the varying micro-contexts on
the house forms/ dwellings of Ecoxim in the form of spatial organization,
materials, structural system, services and functions typologies.
Scope and Limitations
The focus of the research emphasis on the influence of physical
features( riverfront, khazan lands and the hilly terrian) and socio-economic
features (occupation, region, social status, festival, lifestyles and western
influence) on the settlement and the house form of Ecoxim, Pomburpa. The
study area is one of the oldest settlements in Pomburpa having traditional
vernacular houses. The village has undergone a lot of development in recent
times, with modern houses replacing the traditional houses of Pomburpa.
Thus the study will look at the old traditional settlement of Ecoxim. Due to
limitation of time the study of entire riverfront is not feasible.

Methodology
The study is divide into two parts: at macro level (settlement and cluster) and at
micro level (house forms).
At the settlement level: geographical features, land use, linkages, institutions,
location of settlement.
At cluster level: Hierarchy of spaces, relation between individual units.
At individual unit level: the special organisation, material, technology.

First stage: Formulation of the project

1. Site selection
2. Understanding the area at different scales with different layers.

Second stage: Literature Review

1. Understanding various theories on the influence of context on
architecture.
2. Developing a theoretical base for the project, keeping in mind the
specific context of Ecoxim.
3. Linking the theories to the Aim and Objectives.

Third stage: Data Collection

1. Primary sources(field visits, maps, photo documentations, surveys and
census data)
2. Secondary sources (books)
3. Interview with the Residents to understand the culture, beliefs and
history of the place.

Fourth stage: Analysis of Data

1. Criteria for selecting settlement typologies.
2. Detailed study of the settlement typology.
 3. Study the socio-cultural, socio-economic, administrative
contexts and their impact on the settlement morphology.
4. These settlement will be compared with the one in Pomburpa.

Theories on Settlement Pattern

A Pattern Language (1977) by Christopher

Alexander

This book illustrates the working of various aspects of

design. It describes the detailed patterns right from
regions, towns, neighbourhood (macroscopic level) to
cluster of houses, houses, rooms and construction details
(microscopic level). It explains in a sequence from larger
patterns to the smaller patterns, from the ones which create
structures to the ones which beautify them.

Design With Nature (1969) by Ian L.

McHarg
 This book illustrates the importance of harmonious
man-environment relationship and explains all the
process in biosphere, the environment surrounding
the built and man-made environment and the
relations between them. To build healthy
relationships one must understand the natural
process and their flow so as to design with nature

House Form and Culture (1969) by Amos Rapoport

This book gives the Theoretical basis to understand the

factors that shape the built environment. The author
presented the reaction of culture and house forms with a
number of illustrations from various settlements across
the world.

Bibliography
Alexander, C. (1977), A Pattern Language
McHarg, I. (1969), Design with Nature
Rapoport, A (1969), House Form and culture
Ashok, B. (2013-2014) House forms of Pomburpa village: Chapter 1
,Dissertation, Goa college of Architecture
 Riverfront settlement of Ecoshim

Secondary Data Primary Data

Literatur Secondary Documentation Site

e Review Source Surveys
and
Drawings Photos
Survey Plans
Theorie History /Sketches Community
Contour maps Overlays of
Profile.
Regional Topography House Types
Religion.
Pattern Plans maps with Public
Occupation.
Language by evolution Squares.
Christopher Caste.
maps. Use of streets
Alexander Ownership
Ward maps. and squares.
Pattern.
Measured Workspaces
Design with Building use.
Nature by Ian drawings. Amenities
Socio-cultural
McHarg Cluster Infrastructur
Activities
details e
House form Religious
Individual
and Culture by Beliefs
unit
Amos
Rapoport