Traditional Architectcure

January 29, 2020

Traditional architecture incorporates many elements including wide ventilation, optimum energy utilisation, blending with natural resources of the region, privacy for living quarters, tiled roof structures for climate neutrality separation between living and working areas, pillared patios, ventilated verandahs and so on. Many of these structures avoid concrete and cement, using cut rock, brick, mortar, masonry, silicates and so on. Water wastage was minimal, if at all. Air conditioning was not necessary at all, given the respect to Mother Nature and inclusion of natural elements. There were luxurious anointments including spacious bathrooms for low per capita consumption of all resources. Even if these spacious structures had five spacious toilets per building they do not compare to wastage of water in modern skyscrapers. Skyscrapers and apartment buildings have more than 25 bathrooms and toilets per floor in urban area with flushing toilets accounting for wastage of thousands of litres of fresh water for flushing the drains. Given the sustainability of such traditional architecture, it is time we use tenets of traditional architecture for sustainable development in the construction sphere. Elevation, foundation facade were ll compatible natural surroundings, including the ground on which it is constructed.

For the sake of Climate Change Adaptation, it is necessary to document and adapt traditional tenets of architecture.