Jali

History

Jali describes a perforated stone screen, usually with

an ornamental pattern. Containing minute carved,
delicate geometrical and floral designs, these
perforated screens were an integral component of
Mughal architecture. Constructed primarily using
marble or sandstone, their form includes windows,
railings, dividers and outer walls, which provided
ventilation and screening from light, imbuing their
surroundings with a calm, cool and airy Intricate jaali screens, Taj Mahal
environment. During the day, as sunlight streams interior, Agra

through the jalis, the patterns form magical shadows

and reflections that grace the adjacent floors and
walls, entrancing and mystifying all who see them.

Though jali has been described in ancient Indian

architectural texts, it owes its growth and
development, to this magnificent scale and stature,
to the Mughals and it belongs to the 16th and 17th
century stone-art of India. It is an essential element
Intricate jaalis in Sidi Saiyyed mosque,
of Mughal Architecture. Ahmedabad

Red sandstone and white marble jalis have been

universally used in Mughal monuments, on edges
of platforms, causeways and terraces, and also on
the edges of the projecting chhajjas, jharokhas and
gaukhs (balconies), and along with chhatris. Jalis
are also used gorgeously to close window and door
openings for purdah (veil) and for effect. While
they admit free air, they temper sunlight and
eliminate its glare. Jalis are used as excellent
ventilators in private inner rooms, toilets and on
drains. Essentially a useful architectural accessory,
the Mughals made it a work of art. Intricate jaalis in Sidi Saiyyed mosque,
Ahmedabad
The Mughals have mostly used geometrical jalis,
both with straight and curved lines. Mughal artist's ingenuity knew no bounds and
the number of Mughal jalis is legion and variety unlimited. They have also used
floral, arabesque and stylized designs.
Jali was in modern context is constructed with different materials like concrete, light
weight concrete, bricks, fly ash etc. We can even find precast perforated blocks all
around the world which is used mainly for interior patitions as well as walls for
corridors and verandahs.

Types of perforated walls

Jali in Indian Architectural has a very distinct position. It was widely practiced in the
Mughal Architecture. However, it is used everywhere for all types of buildings and
in all budgets. For common people jali wall method for brick buildings at least is to
miss out bricks in a wall to make an opening which will let in light and air but still
preserve privacy unlike the intricate designs we find in the palaces and tombs of the
Mughal Era Brick jail is the most common type of jail wall which is predominant in
India.

.
 Brick Jali wall commonly used in India

Very often a Jali wall is a better substitute for a window. It lets in general subdued
light. It also deals with ventilation but prevents driving rain from entering. It is
secure and thieves or animals. Jalis can be made from brick, tile, laterite, stone, cane
or bamboo and so on. Their patterns are endless and pleasing. Unlike windows,
simple Jalis cost less than the wall they replace.

Brick Jali wall commonly used in India

If we see the brick walls we can see that it use less number of brick, which indeed
saves the cost and also the amount of mortar used in the construction. Using a jali
wall increased the speed of construction. Jalis could be either load bearing walls or
partitions. Few manufacturers have been producing the inclined jali blocks that
provide privacy to the interiors, while many architects have also experimented
building the wall block itself in an angle, such that no rain penetrates and direct
view is avoided. Jali block made with clay or cement are available in market.
Subsequently, the task of jali building is like any other wall construction — only the
regular brick is replaced by the jali block.

Jali blocks

A simple illustration by renowned architect Laurie Baker from his book “Rural
houses” is given here to show the basic advantage of cost effectiveness of using a jali
wall and avoiding extra windows.
Patterns of Jali walls

Jali walls construction can be constructed in various

ways and its way of construction and can extend as
far as imagination can go. Ranging from the intricate
designs of stones and marbles walls and screen used
in the earlier times to the simple brick jails which are
commonly used in the rural areas there is a wide
patterns of jails which is used in different ways all
over the country. Some typical patterns of brick jali
commonly used in our country is shown in the
following pictures.

Jali Patterns
Application in rural areas

Jali walls are still found in all village settlements,

for all core and ancillary facilities like house,
school or the production shed. The city contexts
may limit the use of jalis due to proximity of
houses or apprehension about security when all
the residents work, leaving the place locked the
whole day. However, jalis are yet an eminent
possibility even in a city, especially in public
buildings like schools, institutions or government
offices. Also, residential walls enclosing ancillary
areas like wash, utility, taller wall tops, family
spaces, and such others can have jalis, beautifully
contrasting with the rest of solid walls. In many
of these situations listed above a “jali” is just as
effective. far from being a lot more costly than
the basic wall, if made of brick it can be less
costly than the house wall!

  
Application of jali walls can be seen in partition walls, parapet walls, stair railing,
screens, ventilator even in boundary walls for in gardens. Jali walls when used in
boundary walls for gardens to be beneficial as it regulates the flow of light and air
and also prevents unwanted animals and peoples to enter the garden.

 
Different applications of Jali 
  

 
Jali boundary walls

Conclusion:

Jali walls have numerous advantages over a solid wall since jali walls can be used in
places where there is no need of a solid wall. A Jali wall also saves materials and also
increase the speed of construction. When there is no absolute necessary of solid walls
using a jail wall gives added advantages. Jalis are used by our forefathers for
generations and has been still in use in most of the parts of the country, we can see
that jalis are the best option for a poor man to build his own house without
spending much on unwanted features. The picture given below is one of the best
examples to show the use of jalis to build a house without any extra expenditure on
provisions of windows, lintels etc. From the rural perspective jalis serves as a boon
to marginal income people to build a roof for their family without much struggle.
Jali is easy to construct, cheap and faster way of construction and is most
appropriate to use and explore its applications in both rural and urban context in
any climatic regions.

   
 
Jali cottage
 References:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/49373620/2‐LAURIE‐BAKER‐PAPER

http://www.presidentsmedals.com/Project_Details.aspx?id=1933 

http://ranchoceramics.com/world‐tour/east‐asia/themes/tiles/images 

http://www.obelisk.co.nz/products/architectural/doors‐jali‐panels/506‐teak_jali_panel.aspx 

“How to reduce building cost” by Laurie baker.