DEVELOPING PATTERNS

OF TRIBAL LIVELIHOODS

ARCHITECTURAL THESIS - 2020

SYNOPSIS / JUSTIFICATION

MOHAN RAJ
15RBAR031
 INTRODUCTION

The tribal population is identified as the aboriginal inhabitants of our country. They are seen in
almost every State of India. For centuries, they have been living a simple life based on the natural
environment and have developed cultural patterns congenial to their physical and social
environment.
References of such tribes groups are found even in the literature on the ancient period, right from
RAMAYANA and the MAHABHARATHA periods.

The tribes of India play a key part in constructing the cultural heritage of India. The development
of tribal population has been a major concern of the government. The numbers of south India tribes are
perhaps unlimited with their miscellaneous existence, which has now gained popularity throughout
the country.
The tribes the comprise significant number of population ranging from dwindling to massive, these
tribes are engaged in activity lie tea or coffee or mass milk producing.
Tribe of Kerala are perhaps the most unique among all the south Indian tribes discussed.
Residing basically in the mountainous terrain of the state, they have been striving to uphold their
indigenous tradition and customs from any foreign influence.

• Broadly speaking the tribals baby geographically located in four groups:

-North East- Asia: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya ,Nagaland.
-Eastern India :West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa.
-Central and western India: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and
northern - Andhra Pradesh.
-Southern India: the hilly regions of Tamilnadu, Kerala, Western and northern
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

• Meaning of Tribe:
As the name implies tribals are aadivasi or original dwellers, living in the subcontinent from the
unrecorded time and possibly driven into the forest by more aggressive settlers Aryans being the
earliest one of the socially subjugate them.
The term ‘tribe’ have not been defined clearly anywhere in the indian constitution. Only the term
‘Scheluduled Tribe’ explained as “the tribe or thr tribal communities or parts of or group within
tribes or tribal communities”. These groups are presumed to form the oldest ethnological sector of
the people.

PAGE-01 SYNOPSIS-JUSTIFICATION/ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-2020

 The term ‘Adivasi’ ( Adi = original and Vasi = inhabitant) has become current among certain
people. The International Labour Organisation has classified such people as ‘indigenous’. According to ILO
conventions the aboriginals or tribals have been defined as the “tribals or semi tribal groups of the
independent countries deprived socially or economically and having their own customs, traditions and traits
or they have their own special customary laws/ conventions.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the design is to study the context and propose an architectural approach for
extending the availability of education and better living among the tribe minorities down South India. By
investing technical possibilities to establish these facilities in the vicinity of remote tribal settlements,
thus minimizing the distance between schools and settlements.
Potentially, the proposed model could contribute in social inclusion of all age groups of tribal
communities, directly increasing literacy rates among them. Literal skills enable communication and
a way to exchange cultural knowledge with surrounding ‘MAINSTREAM’ society.
Access to adequate education is among the greatest factors to advance sustainable development. It
helps indigenous people toacknowledge theirrights,retain or improve their livelihoods and keep
control over the crucial natural resources of their environment.

OBJECTIVES
To provide development and spaces in their own style for their economic betterment and a
public coverage.
To identify the unique architectural character of the particular settlement. To identify the
influences on vernacular architecture.
To study about the culture, art, tradition and religious beliefs of the tribal people.

• Materials Sustainability :
As the social proportion of the matter is wide and impliesa serial production of any proposed
construct developed, the environmental sustainability is important.
Use of locally produced, renewable raw material for the main components of the structure
contributes - among other impacts - to the mitigation of carbon emissions and global warming, whereas
certain phases of the process would require a mechanised industrial process resulting in more
emissions, but potentially more durable product.

PAGE-02 SYNOPSIS-JUSTIFICATION/ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-2020

 THE DESIGN CRITERIA SET FOR PROPOSAL AND THE THRUST AREA ARE :
CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES

TECHNICAL AND STRUCTURAL ADAPTABILITY

The design should be transportable to and from different locations, some of which can be remote or
poorly accessible. Local human resources can be used for the
assembly with mechanical assistance, but heavy machinery should not be required. The
elements should be light enough to be handled and moved around by average people.
Infrastructural service networks (electricity, water, sewage) may not be available at intended locations,
thus the design should be able to provide them to a degree
of self-sufficiency.
The principles of the construction system should be simple enough for unskilled
workers and planners to conceive. The tribal administration, recreational spaces as operator should be
capable of planning and producing different plan configurations, as well as varying sizes of
units.

PROTECTION AGAINST CLIMATE

The design should be capable of withstanding and providing protection against changing natural
circumstances typical to tropical climate, most prominently intense solar heat and heavy rainfall,
whichare common occurrences.A few regions of Kerala are prone to flooding and earthquakes.

LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The proposed concept should aim at minimal use of non-renewable or unrecyclable resources.
The importance of this is proportional to production volume. The environmental criteria are
partially compromised by technical and climatical requirements, thus the chosen solutions may
represent the optimal choice.When the structure is notintended toremain permanently onits site,
physical intervention to the site is to be minimised.

PAGE-03 SYNOPSIS-JUSTIFICATION/ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-2020

 SPECIAL STUDY
The design would focus on the sustainable built environment of the district in general and detail
on Wayanad’s remote tribes.

INTENDED TOPICS

- Built environment and Life style.

- Cultural and Social economic aspects.
- Factors of influence on settlement planning.
- Materials and construction.
- Indigenous ideas in planning and designing.

SCOPE / BUILT FORMS

VILLAGECENTRE:
- ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK
- PRIMARY SCHOOL
- HEALTH CENTRE
- TEMPORARY LIVING SHELTERS

TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE CENTRE :

- PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

- TRAINING INSTITUTE
- WORKSHOP SHELTERS / SHOPS
- AUDITORIUM
- SMALL SCALE-MARKET AREA
- EXHIBITION AREA

RECREATIONAL SPACES :

- RELIGIOUS SPACES
- COMMON KITCHEN / RESTAURANTS
- GUEST HOUSES

PAGE-04 SYNOPSIS-JUSTIFICATION/ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-2020

 PROPOSED SITE AREA :

Wayanad, Kerala, India.

WAYANAD Wayanad is an Indian district in the north-east of Kerala
state. It is set high on the Western Ghats with altitudes
ranging from 700 to 2100 meters. About 885.92 sq.km
of area of the district is under forest. There are many
indigenous tribals in this area.

The Wayanad have the largest tribal population in Kerala with 8 scheduled tribes including Adiyan,
Paniyan, Mullukkurman, Kurichyan, Vettakkuruman Wayanad Kadar, Kattuniakkan and
Thachaanadan Mooppan. These communities have a number of symbolic oral narratives and these
tribes will be benefited through this design proposal.

WAYANAD, KERALA.

KARNATAKA

Mananthavady

KERALA

TAMIL NADU

PAGE-06 SYNOPSIS-JUSTIFICATION/ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-2020

 JUSTIFICATION

Site Details :

Location : Mananthavady ,
Wayanad, Kerala -
673592
Total Area : 365,805 sq.m Acres
: 90

Why ?

Mananthavady is a municipality and taluk in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India. The town is located on
the banks of Mananthavady River, a tributary of the Kabini River. The Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha is
headquartered in the town, and the district hospital in Mananthavady is the only major treatment facility
for the tribal communities of Wayanad
This proposed site satisfies the condition in terms of climate and water body for the tribal
development. The proposed site is also surrounded by scenic views.
Transportation :

The proposed site is adjacent to the Kabini River. The nearest railway station is at Vatakara, 65 km (40
mi) away. A Thalassery–Manathavady–Mysore railway line is being planned. The nearest airport is
Kannur International Airport at Mattannur, 66 km (41 mi) away. Mysore Airport is 109 km (68 mi)
away, followed by Kozhikode International Airport at 120 km (75 mi) and Bengaluru International
Airport at 290 km (180 mi).

Climate :

PAGE-07 SYNOPSIS-JUSTIFICATION/ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-2020

 JUSTIFICATION

The subject of this Design is the conceptual study of the elements comprising a prefabricated modular
school , living units, developing & also bringing out their own cultural activities, native skills for the
Tribal - rural village areas. The unit would provide a facility for preparatory education in varying rural
environments and also developes better living economy.
The context is very wide and complex, and due to difficulties in the acquisition of
information on everyday situations, the study focuses on the material and
structural properties of a modular architectural concept.
The study is essentially conceptual and provides a crude model for a prototype. Further stages are
acknowledged as essential areas of study, but their deeper investigations are excluded from this
design.

CASE STUDY / LITERATURE STUDY :

- Fabian Ostner’s low-imprint Bobby’s House / Wood House - Fabian Ostner.

- Scared Groves - The Trails of a Sustainable housing Experiment|Auroville.
- (AVEI) Auroville Earth Institute|Auroville.
- (ABC) Auroville Bamboo Center|Auroville.

Jetvana Buddist Centre| Pune.

Makoko Floating School/ Moving School| Nigeria .

REFERENCES :

https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/a-trip-through-aurovilles-design-trail/
https://fabianostner.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/built-projects-klaras-house-in-auroville/ www.nleworks.com
www.inhabitat.com https://www.scribd.com/presentation/46575347/Tribal-Resource-
Center http://journals.rajagiri.edu/index.php/rssJ/article/view/199/188
http://journals.rajagiri.edu/index.php/rssJ/article/view/199/188
https://cargocollective.com/uplift

PAGE-08 SYNOPSIS-JUSTIFICATION/ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-2020