Assam-type architecture

Last updated

Assam-type architecture
Bezbaruah Higher Secondary School.png
Bonoshree lodge in Kaziranga.jpg
Chandrakanta Handique Bhawan.JPG

Assam-type architecture is an architectural style developed in the state of Assam in India during the late modern period. It is found in Assam and Sylhet region. The houses constructed using this style are generally termed as Assam-type houses, consisting usually one or more storeys. [1] The houses are built to be earthquake proof, [2] and are made from materials ranging from wood and bamboo to steel and concrete. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Before the arrival of the British in India, affluent families in Assam lived in expensive, elaborately constructed houses, while the others survived in huts made from mud-plastered bamboo walls and thatched roofs. With the knowledge of and access to modern science, British engineers assessed the natural environment and designed and constructed buildings that are now known as Assam-type buildings.

Present day

The present-day Assam-type buildings are a result of architectural changes that were introduced in colonial Assam. [4]

Elements of Assam-type style

The structure

Buildings are constructed on both flat and sloped terrains. On flat grounds, the buildings are typically rectangular or L or C layout. On other surfaces, such as highlands, they are usually rectangular in shape, accessed via the hillside. The roof is typically erected by high gables to overcome heavy rainfall in the region, where walls are usually timber-framed, plastered with cement. [5] With high ceilings and well-ventilated rooms, [6] the floorings are either wooden or concrete with tiled, mosaic or stone surfacing with stilts. [7]

The configuration

The general design of a residential building incorporates a living room, verandah, kitchen, besides bedrooms and bathrooms. [8] Some may additionally feature long corridors, connecting rooms, especially buildings such as schools and colleges.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brick</span> Block or a single unit of a ceramic material used in masonry construction

A brick is a type of construction material used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term brick denotes a unit primarily composed of clay, but is now also used informally to denote units made of other materials or other chemically cured construction blocks. Bricks can be joined using mortar, adhesives or by interlocking. Bricks are usually produced at brickworks in numerous classes, types, materials, and sizes which vary with region, and are produced in bulk quantities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonry</span> Building of structures from individual units of stone, bricks, or blocks

Masonry is the craft of building a structure with brick, stone, or similar material, which are often laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the building units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are bricks and building stone such as marble, granite, and limestone, cast stone, concrete blocks, glass blocks, and adobe. Masonry is generally a highly durable form of construction. However, the materials used, the quality of the mortar and workmanship, and the pattern in which the units are assembled can substantially affect the durability of the overall masonry construction. A person who constructs masonry is called a mason or bricklayer. These are both classified as construction trades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reinforced concrete</span> Concrete with rebar

Reinforced concrete (RC), also called reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and ferroconcrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength or ductility. The reinforcement is usually, though not necessarily, steel bars (rebar) and is usually embedded passively in the concrete before the concrete sets. However, post-tensioning is also employed as a technique to reinforce the concrete. In terms of volume used annually, it is one of the most common engineering materials. In corrosion engineering terms, when designed correctly, the alkalinity of the concrete protects the steel rebar from corrosion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bungalow</span> House, primarily of a single story

A bungalow is a small house or cottage that is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof, and may be surrounded by wide verandas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylhet Division</span> Division of Bangladesh

Sylhet Division is the northeastern division of Bangladesh. It is bordered by the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura to the north, east and south respectively, and by the Bangladeshi divisions of Chittagong to the southwest and Dhaka and Mymensingh to the west. Prior to 1947, it included the subdivision of Karimganj. However, Karimganj was inexplicably severed from Sylhet by the Radcliffe Boundary Commission. According to Niharranjan Ray, it was partly due to a plea from a delegation led by Abdul Matlib Mazumdar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stilt house</span> Houses raised on piles over the surface of the soil or a body of water

Stilt houses are houses raised on stilts over the surface of the soil or a body of water. Stilt houses are built primarily as a protection against flooding; they also keep out vermin. The shady space under the house can be used for work or storage.

<i>Engawa</i>

An engawa (縁側/掾側) or en (縁) is an edging strip of non-tatami-matted flooring in Japanese architecture, usually wood or bamboo. The en may run around the rooms, on the outside of the building, in which case they resemble a porch or sunroom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Chennai</span> Architectural style

Chennai architecture is a confluence of many architectural styles. From ancient Tamil temples built by the Pallavas, to the Indo-Saracenic style of the colonial era, to 20th-century steel and chrome of skyscrapers. Chennai has a colonial core in the port area, surrounded by progressively newer areas as one travels away from the port, punctuated with old temples, churches and mosques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golaghat</span> City in Assam, India

Golaghat one of the largest subdivisions of the Indian state of Assam, later elevated to the position of a full–fledged district headquarter on 5 October 1987, is a city and a municipality and the seat of administrative operations of Golaghat district, besides being a twin city to Jorhat which is about 55 km away. It is one of the oldest urban areas in Assam that recently featured on the Smart Cities nominations list, along with Guwahati and four other prominent urban areas of the state; although losing out to Guwahati at the final stage. The Dhansiri, one of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra, passes through Golaghat and is the primary water source for its citizens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Nepal</span> Modernist movement of aesthetic in Nepal

Nepali architecture or Nepalese architecture is a unique blend of artistic and practical considerations. Situated between the trade routes of India, Tibet and China, Nepali architecture reflects influences from these cultural strongholds. The pagoda architectural tradition figures prominently among Hindu temples in the country. In contrast, Buddhist temples reflect the Tibetan tradition of Buddhist architecture and the stupa features prominently. Mugal, summit and dome styles also have great scope in Nepal. Whilst significant influence for Nepal's architecture comes from India, there is also a distinct influence from the Newar people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Bengal</span> Overview of architecture in the Bengal region of South Asia

The architecture of Bengal, which comprises the modern country of Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam's Barak Valley, has a long and rich history, blending indigenous elements from the Indian subcontinent, with influences from different parts of the world. Bengali architecture includes ancient urban architecture, religious architecture, rural vernacular architecture, colonial townhouses and country houses and modern urban styles. The bungalow style is a notable architectural export of Bengal. The corner towers of Bengali religious buildings were replicated in medieval Southeast Asia. Bengali curved roofs, suitable for the very heavy rains, were adopted into a distinct local style of Indo-Islamic architecture, and used decoratively elsewhere in north India in Mughal architecture.

The Tea-garden community are multi ethnic groups of tea garden workers and their descendants in Assam. They are officially referred to as Tea-tribes by Government of Assam. They are the descendants of peoples brought by the British colonial planters as indentured labourers from the regions of present-day Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh into colonial Assam during 1860-90s in multiple phases to work in tea gardens. They are heterogeneous, multi-ethnic groups which includes many tribal and caste groups. They are found mainly in those districts of Upper Assam and Northern Brahmaputra belt where there is high concentration of tea gardens like Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Sonitpur, Biswanath,Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur. There is a sizeable population of the community in the Barak Valley region of Assam as well in the districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. The total population is estimated to be around 7 million of which estimated 4.5 million reside in residential quarters built inside 799 tea estates spread across tea growing regions of Assam. Another 2.5 million reside in the nearby villages spread across those tea growing regions. They are not a single ethnic group but consists of different ethnic group speaking dozens of languages and have different set of cultures. They speak several languages including Sora, Odia, Assam Sadri, Sambalpuri, Kurmali, Santali, Kurukh, Kharia, Kui, Chhattisgarhi, Gondi and Mundari. Assam Sadri, distinguished from Sadri language, serve as lingua franca among the community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian vernacular architecture</span> Buildings of local styles and materials

Indian vernacular architecture the informal, functional architecture of structures, often in rural areas of India, built of local materials and designed to meet the needs of the local people. The builders of these structures are unschooled in formal architectural design and their work reflects the rich diversity of India's climate, locally available building materials, and the intricate variations in local social customs and craftsmanship. It has been estimated that worldwide close to 90% of all building is vernacular, meaning that it is for daily use for ordinary, local people and built by local craftsmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dharamshala (type of building)</span> Type of sanctuary, communal or religious resthouse

A dharamshala, also written as dharmashala is a public resthouse or shelter in the Indian subcontinent. Just as sarai are for travellers and caravans, dharamshalas are built for religious travellers at pilgrimage sites. In Nepal there are dharamshalas especially built for pilgrims as well as dharamshalas for locals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture</span> Product and process of planning, designing and constructing buildings and other structures

Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings or other structures. The term comes from Latin architectura; from Ancient Greek ἀρχιτέκτων (arkhitéktōn) 'architect'; from ἀρχι- (arkhi-) 'chief', and τέκτων (téktōn) 'creator'. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stilts (architecture)</span> Poles, posts or pillars that raise a structure above ground or water level

Stilts are poles, posts or pillars used to allow a structure or building to stand at a distance above the ground or water. In flood plains, and on beaches or unstable ground, buildings are often constructed on stilts to protect them from damage by water, waves or shifting soil or sand. As these issues were commonly faced by many societies around the world, stilts have become synonymous with various places and cultures, particularly in South East Asia and Venice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamboo construction</span> Utilization of bamboo for construction

Bamboo can be utilized as a building material for scaffolding, bridges, houses and buildings. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. Bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio is similar to timber, and its strength is generally similar to a strong softwood or hardwood timber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Barbados</span> Building in Saint Peter, Barbados

The architecture of Barbados is a reflection of the country's cultural and political history. Originating from the seventeenth-century, the buildings located in Barbados can be seen as being heavily influenced by British colonial and West African architecture.

The Assam Tea Planters' Association Shield, commonly known as the ATPA Shield Football Tournament or ATPA Shield, is an annual Indian association football tournament held in Jorhat, Assam and organised by Jorhat District Sports Association (JDSA). It is one of the esteemed and the third oldest football tournament of Assam after Independence Day Cup and Bordoloi Trophy. Since its inception in 1955, along with the best teams from northeast India many top clubs of the country like Mohammedan SC, Mohun Bagan AC and Dempo SC (Goa) have also participated in this championship. The coveted shield was donated and hosted by Assam Tea Planters' Association (ATPA). From 1968, the tournament has been conducted by Jorhat District Sports Association.

References

  1. "Tea planter's punch". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  2. "Assam debates safe house structures". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  3. Kaushik, Hemant; Ravindra Babu, K. S. (20 February 2009). "Housing Report: Assam-type House" (PDF). Department of Civil Engineering. World Housing Encyclopedia. India: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) and International Association for Earthquake Engineering (IAEE): 2.
  4. 1 2 "Amazing Facts About Traditional Assam Type House- RoofandFloor". RoofandFloor. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  5. "Golaghat gets a place of pride - Planter converts ancestral bungalow into modern club". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  6. "Back then, at the burra bungalows of tea estates". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  7. "What to learn from traditional Assamese Houses". Happho. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  8. Panorama, Eastern. "IN THE LAP OF GREEN TEA PLANTS". Eastern Panorama. Retrieved 5 February 2020.