VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

HAVELI ARCHITECTURE

Haveli Architecture

Haveli = Private mansion

Elaborate domestic architecture
Symbol of power and prestige of a family
Derived from the Persian word hawli
Havelis usually consist of several
courtyards, halls and rooms.
Usually, they are multi storied.

Architectural features

Gujarat - plenty of wood carvings

Rajasthan - lot of stone, stucco and
painted murals.

Havelis in Gujarat

Central place called the chowk

Carved brackets
Facades are also covered with carvings.
Struts, generally have filigree-like work
Doorways display decorative
ornamentation

Mangaldas ni Haveli
200 years old located in Ahmedabad
Finest examples of carved wooden
architecture

Mangaldas ni Haveli

Wall art

Havelis in Rajasthan

Popular in regions of Shekhavati and Marwar

Status symbols for merchants and traders
Joint families
One large gate and enclosed on all other sides
Spacious abodes- richly decorated
Main features Chajjas, Jharokhas and Jalis
Special feature intricately carved doors

Specifications

2 courtyards Inner and Outer

Outer men/ Inner(Aangan) women
Large havelis would have 3-4 courtyards
Murals with remarkable colours
Motifs on the walls depict everyday
scenes
Frescos on the walls

Glass mosaics

Bagore ki haveli

Patwon Ki Haveli

Courtyard

Balcony - Jharokha

Wooden houses - Gujarat

Narrow frontage representing composite

wooden facade
Sharing of common walls on longer sides
Bonding-timber construction
Densely articulated within confined
settlement pattern known as pols

 Entrance is defined by a narrow raised plinth

with steps known as otla or otta
Encompasses a row of columns supporting
the wooden facade which is worked out in
accordance with the length of
wooden member is varied in terms of its
treatment and its width subjected to the
status of the owner
The otla leads to a buffer space mainly used as
reception room and thereby nominated as
baithak

Specifications
Interior courtyard known as chowk a nodal
point linking all the spaces together.
Courtyard Transitional and functional
The chowk was attached to the
rasodun (kitchen), paniyaro (place for storing
drinking water), and the puja (prayer room)
all three being considered as sacred spaces.
Small windows for cross ventilation

 The need for privacy in the business

transaction led to the development of
divankhanu
Roof were invariably sloping covered with
naliyas (claytiles), but some areas were also
left flat (known as agasi ) and are used for
sleeping on summer nights and also for
several domestic activities

Model

Ornamentations

Plan