PROJECT BRIEF

OBJECTIVES

1. To create understanding of the human-built environment as a holistic, living entity from

macro to micro scales, and shaped by geographic and socio-cultural forces as well as by
historic, political and economic factors, through study of and design within the context of
rural settlements.
2. To enable a comprehensive study of rural settlement and architecture in order to
understand them as exemplars of collective design that evolved through various parameters.
3. To observe changes in the above, analyse their nature and causes for them.
4. If required, to explore possible policy and physical interventions towards positive changes
within the context studied.
5. To enable a design process that engages context and community.

INTRODUCTION

Scattered throughout India are more than 6, 45,000 villages. These settlements range
from tiny hamlets of thatched huts to larger settlements of tile-roofed stone and brick
houses. It is in these villages that India’s most basic occupation – agriculture takes place,
which accomplishes the challenging task of feeding our nation. As of 2011 census, there
were 15,978 villages in Tamil Nadu. The number of Village Panchayats in Tamil Nadu is
around 12,525. These panchayats are responsible for maintaining public infrastructure at the
local level.

This studio aims to create architects who are not only skilled designers but also
empathetic and responsible professionals capable of contributing meaningfully to rural
development. Rural settlements offer an opportunity to understand basic aspects of human
built environment and what goes into its making/ influences it. The interrelationship between
built form and society will be studied, understood and established, starting from either end
as required. Study of specific modes of rural/vernacular/traditional architecture including
their morphology, local materials and construction techniques, details, meaning, water
supply and management etc., will be done to give an insight into the particulars and
universals of architecture.

AREA OF FOCUS

Students are required to do a comprehensive documentation, analysis and synthesis of the

identified rural settlement.

· Documentation of settlement using appropriate tools and processes that include different
methods of historical and socio-cultural study, oral history, discussions, information
collection, surveys, maps, photographs, perceptual sketches, drawings, demographic study,
etc. Documentation is an exercise done to bring out the characteristics of a locale not
only in quantity but also in quality, both at micro level and at the macro level. It
includes the study of not only the distribution of houses and the usage of space
within the houses, but also the common spaces and the village as a whole.

· Analysis of the collected data: understanding the evolution pattern of the settlement,
generation architectural typologies based on architectural characteristics, construction
techniques and materials used, understanding various issues at settlement and house level.
Assimilation and analysis aids in understanding the village context, collective values and
needs.

· During the synthesis stage various issues identified through grassroots level analysis will
be addressed through various projects/policies.

TOPICS FOR LITERATURE REVIEW- TAMILNADU:

1. Understanding rural, demographics and rural administration

● Difference between rural and urban. Demographic profiles (gender, age distribution,
birth rate, death rate, female infanticide, occupation and income, etc.), migration and its
impacts.
● Caste & class: Social stratification of rural & urban communities of India with specific
reference to Villages of Tamil Nadu.
● Administrative structure/ governance/ responsibilities, Gram swaraj, Panchayati Raj.
● Ministry of Rural Development, CAPART, DRDA, etc.

2. Rural economics. Significance of Land and other resources

● GDP, sectoral contribution to GDP, sectoral distribution of Labour etc. Contribution of

village economy in national GDP. Classification of occupation in rural India, significance of
primary (Eg: agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry, etc.), secondary occupation (Pottery, arts
of crafts, brick kiln, etc.) and tertiary occupation in villages.
● Resources in rural areas - Land, sea, rivers, forests, etc.
● Land resource or commodity, classification of land, communal lands-what are they and
their importance.
● The Saga of Agriculture: green revolution & the modernization of agriculture, Why
Indian farmers have to shift towards modern cultivation methods, Monsanto and Genetic
Engineered seeds.
● A Big Leap in Agriculture: Collective Farming and Collective Marketing.
● Fragmentation of Agriculture Land in Rural areas, Conversion of Agriculture Land: Real
Estate Mania. Farmer suicides- how related are they to land policies?
● Land acquisition, rehabilitation and compensation for land acquired for various
infrastructure developments – discuss.
● Access to opportunities for work, food, health, education, housing & other resources –
how do social divisions affect them especially for women, Dalit’s, tribals & the rural urban
poor?

3. Rural sociology.

● Concepts of culture, society, politics and anthropology.

● Cultural anthropology view of architecture- relationship between society and built
environment.
● Kinship and house societies - Fragmentation of society.
● Access to opportunities for work, food, health, education, housing & other resources – how
do social divisions affect them especially for women, Dalit’s, tribals & the rural urban poor?
● Untouchability, manual scavenging, and habitat-segregation – have they waned?
● Positive discrimination (Reservation)– History & Policy: luxury or necessity?

4. Human settlements: Dwelling, cluster & settlements in Villages & Towns of Tamil Nadu:

● Determinants of human settlements in rural areas.

Types of settlement and their evolution (South India): Identifying the various factors and
conditions influencing the settlement pattern, cluster, to dwelling. Settlement planning and
house design in response to the context (climate, geographical conditions, culture, socio-
economic, political and customs/rituals, etc.). Materials, appropriate technologies, skills and
construction practiced in selected case studies.
● Spatial adaptation or requirement in relation to occupation needs and socio-economic
status.
● Changes influencing access to resources for house construction.
● Appropriate construction Technique, material, cost-effective construction methods and
Green buildings- what have these interventions meant for the prospects of rural settlements
or house design and construction.

5. Social and physical infrastructure

● Economic Infrastructure - Land tenure, agricultural and industrial land, mills

● Communication Infrastructure- General standards and guidelines in provision of public
transportation facility road and rail networking, telecommunication, etc to enhance better
connectivity between villages and cities with reference to village population and Density.
● Water and Energy - Rules, guidelines and schemes in provision of electric supply, water
supply, dams, reservoirs and other services.
● Social infrastructure- Access to public health center, educational institutes, business center
(market), community center, religious center and community welfare Programmes.
● Local government body - Understand the role and control of local bodies like-Panchayat,
postal service etc. on a village.
● Environment Infrastructure - Local method of managing sanitary facilities, drainage
system, waste management and other modern government schemes, proposal and rules to
enhance these services with reference to village population and Density.
● Concessions and Inducements involved in development of rural infrastructure.

6. Welfare Schemes, projects & Acts

● Constitution, fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, the 42nd amendment
(1976), 44th amendment (1978), the prevention of atrocities on SCs/STs act (1989), right to
education act (2009) etc.
● Land reform/ ceiling laws including the urban land ceiling act (1976) and the recent moves
for its repeal, the land acquisition act (1894), the Indian forest act(1927) & the recent tribal
forest rights act (2006) etc.
● Local self-government and decentralization – the 72nd & 73rd amendments (1992) -
Panchayat raj & Nagarpalika acts etc.
● Central and State Government policies and programs on health, infrastructure, etc.
● Government Housing Policy & Practice: Central & State Government sponsored schemes
for housing and infrastructure (including standards) for the rural (especially) and urban poor.

Timeline - The project will be divided into the following stages:

Stage 1 – Literature study to get a general understanding of rural settlement (Topics

provided above) and 3 case studies of rural house, Indian context. Framing of questionnaire
and data to be collected during site visit. Selection of village for study. (3 Weeks)

Stage 2 – Field study of the rural settlement (Onsite work). (1 week)

Stage 3 – Compilation of data collected and presentation of the same through various
standard formats like drawings, models, reports, etc. The same will be presented as reviews
through phases of the presentation and final seminar. (2 weeks)

Stage 4 – Analysis of data and projection on to a design brief. The same will also be
presented at reviews through standard formats. (2 weeks)

Stage 5 – Rural development projects/policies based on data collected and analysis. (2

weeks)

Stage 6 –Architectural design proposal for any program identified in the previous stage. (2
weeks)

Stage 7 - Final Report preparation. (1 Week)

The first five stages will involve presentation of work as a group whereas the final stage has
to be presented individually. Emphasis will be given on equal participation of each member
of the group.

All the group members will be expected to present in the seminar as well as participate in
discussions.

OUTCOME
• Ability to collect, assimilate and integrate knowledge in a holistic manner.
• Sensitivity towards the nature and values of unselfconscious and collective design as well
as the interconnectedness of human society and environment.
• Ability to observe and analyse changes in the above.
• Ability to project future transformations and give possible/ appropriate ways to address
issues, if any.
• Sensitivity in design approach in community-oriented projects with respect to context,
collective values and needs.

Evaluation - The weightage envisaged for the various stages shall be as follows:

Stage 1: 15%
Stage 2: 15%
Stage 3: 20%
Stage 4: 15%
Stage 5: 20%
Stage 6: 15 %

These weightages are indicative only and may change at a later stage in the exercise, if
required.