UNDERSTANDING

VERNACULAR
Kutch, Gujarat
Introduction
Kutch district (also spelled
as Kachchh) is
a district of Gujarat state
in western India. Covering
an area of 45,652 km², it is
the largest district of India.
The population of Kutch is
21 Lakh, literacy rate is
59.79%. People of this
region are of very low or
low income class. It is also
earthquake prone area.
Divided in tw0
major parts
 Rann of kuchchh – wet
and dry region
without any
settlements. Salt flat
lands in summer and
flooded in rainy
season.
 Kuchchh – Dry area
with settlement both
traditional and
modern.
Topography - Whole Kutch region is flat with grasslands, not much vegetation.
 Ruins of Indus valley civilization are found in some regions of Kutch.
Massive stone fortification, Harappan pottery, two script bearing seals, one of
History steatite and other of copper were also found; terracotta sealing was also found.
Traditional
rural house in
Kutch region
of India
(Bhonga)
 What is Bhonga?
The Bhonga is a traditional construction type in the Kutch district of the Gujarat
state in India, which has a very high earthquake risk. A Bhonga consists of a single
cylindrically shaped room. The Bhonga has a conical roof supported by cylindrical
walls. Bhonga construction has existed for several hundred years. This type of house
is quite durable and appropriate for prevalent desert conditions.
 window
Typical
construction
drawings and
materials. Vertical wooden post
Building materials Wooden rafter

 Masonry wall is made Vertical wooden post

of adobe blocks and (optional)
plaster is also from
mud covered by cow Adobe/Earthen walls
dunk, lime etc.
A A
 Roof is made of
bamboo/wooden
framework covered Door opening
with thatch. Plan
Inner diameter ranges from 3 to 6m.
Typical
construction
drawings
Typical
construction
drawings Structural variant for the roof- supported
by a central pillar
 Climate

Factors
influencing Culture

Bhunga design.
Calamities
 The thick walls, made of mud, keep the interior cool when the
temperature rises to 40+ degrees Celsius in summer and
warm when it drops below 5 degrees in winter.

Climate
 Culture is revealed in
the decoration of the
Bunga (outside as well
as inside).

Culture
Painting on exterior walls Glass designing on interior walls
 It performed very well in the
recent M7.6 Bhuj earthquake in
2001. Very few Bhongas
experienced significant damage
in the epicentre region, and the
Calamities damage that did occur can be
mainly attributed to poor
quality of the construction
materials or improper Gravity
maintenance of the structure. It load
has also been observed that the Over
failure of Bhongas in the last vertical
earthquake caused very few wooden
injuries to the occupants due to Post
the type of collapse. outside
Understanding
settlement
Settlement
design
Contains –

1. Plinth

2. Circular closed space Room for men Gathering space Kitchen

3. Open gathering space

Veranda Women Storage

for and or
men children another
room
Settlement
design Plinth(otla) –
• Define the domain of the home and the place for outdoor
activities.
• Water does not enter in house in rainy season.
• About 500mm high.
Rooms are not attached to avoid cracks because cracks may
cause serious damage during earthquake.
Settlement
design
Settlement
design
Ludia region, Kutch
Settlement
design
Ludia region, Kutch
 Construction Techniques generally used “COB”. In these
methods a large Lump is roughly moulded into the shape of a
huge elongated egg.

Building
technique

The usual size is anything between 12 to 18 inches. 30-40cm long and 6 inches in
diameter.
A row of these cobs of mud are laid nearly side by side. Preferably somewhat
pressed together. Then another row of cobs is laid on top.
 When three or four courses have been laid, one above the other, the sides
are smoothened over so that the holes and cracks disappear.

Building Placing wooden beam Setting kingpost on

wooden joist
Placing the rafters

technique

Filling bamboo rafters Setting the thatched roof Securing the roof with rope
 Keeping building typology in
mind people are using modern
materials and construction
techniques , making it more
compact.

Urban form
Local resorts are of same
building typology.
 Providing multiple floors
and function to it.
Urban form

Modern houses
Conclusion
The architecture of Kutch region relates to the socio-economic
setup, the cultural identities and a good climatic responsiveness. A
good number of climate responsive design features are revealed
during the study of the traditional architecture including
temperature control, enhancing natural ventilation, protection from
natural calamities such as flood, earthquake etc.

However certain features that lack in the traditional housing are

mostly fire proneness and termite infestation due to usage of non-
treated material and lack of damp proofing.
Thank you
for your patience.