Housing – Indigenous Technology by G. Shanker

Architectural legacy of Kerala began centuries back. We have got one of the profound vernacular architectures in the world. Our traditional architecture always responds not only to the climate of the region but also to the social climate of the period. The architectural features were developed taking into consideration of the structural limitations or possibilities of our locally available building materials. Kerala’s rich depository of building materials helped the growth of architecture in the State. The texture, colour, durability and strength, insulation, ease of use etc. were the main criteria for selecting the materials and technologies. The local availability and the local skills were also key determinants to the selection process. Most of those houses had been built by those who lived in them, with the assistance of persons skilled in the use of materials from the milieu.

The vocabulary of basic building materials include wood, stone, laterate, lime and our own beautiful building-earth. All these materials have the quality to withstand the onslaught of nature. Various technologies were developed based on the structural characteristics of the materials. The traditional construction methods and materials developed over hundreds of years provide excellent thermal insulation and are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Ingenious methods were developed to waterproof the base of walls and roofs from rain and snow. For instance, the large overhangs of our traditional homes always protected the walls from the direct hit of sun and rain, which helped to keep the interiors very cool. The windows and the doors always followed the cardinal principles of sutrams and marmams thereby Hari Peyad Building constructed with compressed hard brick (popularly known as interlock brick) ensuring good cross ventilation. The design


Housing Indigenous Technology

Fenistration of a two storied building of lattices, wooden jalis, trellis and other kinds of fenestrations, along with global ends facilitated good ventilation. They were also very strong aesthetic expressions of that time.

The concept of incremental housing is Kerala’s contribution to the world of architecture. Our forefathers had never ever struggled to make the buildings happen. They built with resources they had at hand. They always started with the concept of a whole house and expanded it as needs arose.

The traditional architecture also had answers to the local problems of construction. To combat the attack of ants and termites, we mixed lime with earth. Cashew-nut oil was used to preserve wood. Cut-straw was also used for construction with earth to minimise the cracks that appear on the walls. The rural stabilisers like sisal leaves, cow’s urine etc. were used to stabilise earth used for construction.

Our experience with modern materials like concrete and cement is fairly recent. Not enough time has elapsed to enable a proper evaluation and assessment of their Mud plastered walls of a residence

Sugathan Vattakkad Sugathan Vattakkad
The traditional architecture had answers to the local problems of construction. To combat the attack of ants and termites, we mixed lime with earth. Cashew-nut oil was used to preserve wood. Cut-straw was also used for earth construction to minimise the cracks that appear on the walls. And the ability to withstand nature. In fact many of the nouveau riche build cement villas show decaying already. On the other side, more than a century old monumental buildings like our administrative secretariat and much controversial Mullaperiyar dam, constructed using indigenous technology, still withstand climate.

Buildings and construction activities have a considerable bearing on our environment. As the state of environment decides the quality of our lives, and more importantly our common future itself, construction that does not upset the environmental balance is a theme that assumes greater importance day by day.

In this context, our ancestral concern with nature is also noteworthy. For example, asking the permission of a tree before felling. It was done in the form of a pooja to appease all forms of life depending the tree, including the tree’s own life. It was also mandatory to plant a seedling in the place of the tree felled.

Accumulating strength from traditional building techniques, the builders should give priority to earth constructions for affordable, ecologically sound houses. To build in tune with nature should be the mantra of making our own mansions.

(As conceived by B. Harikumar in a conversation with architect G. Shanker, Chairman, Habitat Technologies Group, Thiruvananthapuram. January 2007! KERALA CALLING)