365bet娱乐

The prime objective of this research is the study of vernacular architecture of Assam and its various aspects that has ample scope and necessity form the folkloristic and empirical point of view. The traditional architecture is a major constituent of the material culture or the physical folk life. It can be said to be the mother and workshop of all material culture because, the architecture or the home is the workshop of the traditional arts and crafts as well as culture. The shelter, house, or the architecture is the place of leisure, security, and serenity that flash imagination to emerge new creative ideas on varied areas. Thus, it acts as a very crucial entity in the life and culture of the people. Hence, the architecture of the traditional variety is a subject that possesses varied significance and importance. The subject of the traditional architecture often finds place in the ethnographic researches which are however not comprehensive. Thus, the subject has not drawn the due attention of the researchers in the region in spite of the fact that the subject deserves a detailed and systematic study and research form varied perspectives. Such a discontentment led to take up a study on the traditional vernacular architecture with the objective to encompass major areas of the subject.

It is said that a vast majority of world鈥檚 architecture comprise of vernacular architecture and they are remarkable for geographical breadth, historical depth, and socio-cultural diversity (Blier:2006). The same is true in respect to the residential architecture of Assam. Thus, the majority of the vernacular architecture of Assam or Brahmaputra valley in particular, more or less possesses the traditional features and qualities. However, since the vernacular architecture of the region is gradually losing its ground and moving to desertion and extinction, there is necessity to take measures for the preservation of this architectural and cultural tradition. However, along with such measure for preservation, the reassertion of the validity of the architecture through highlighting the functional aspects is a much-needed measure. Thus, to highlight the functional aspects such as the material, environment, sociopolitical factors, economy, security, built environment of the vernacular architecture of the region is a prime objective of the study.

The vernacular architecture of Assam has a distinctive feature and flavour of its own. It is perceivable on entering a traditional village in Assam in the layout of the village and homesteads, built environment, and general atmosphere of the village. Thus, a traditional homestead of any community displays certain unique features in form, layout, aesthetic, tradition, and customs. Thus, when it is the case of an Assamese homestead, it is not a single residential architecture constructed to reside; rather, it is a compound of different functional architectures, which collectively make the Assamese homestead. Simultaneously, such a homestead also features with the traditional lay out and disposition of different forms reflecting the cultural, aesthetic as well as practical outlook of the people. But the architecture typologies that are emerging in the recent times lack such traditional features, outlook, and sensibility of the people. Such features, qualities, and virtues of the traditional architecture are aspects worth to study and document. Thus, the study and documentation of the traditional forms, disposition and layout, outlook as well as uniqueness of the vernacular architecture tradition is another prime aim and objective of the study.

The region is the abode of different tribes and castes who possess certain distinctiveness in different spheres of life including vernacular architecture. The population of the valley can roughly be segmented into the tribal and non-tribal grouping. Different tribal communities living in this part of region are very remarkable for their traditional culture. Similarly, the traditional architecture of these tribes displays different unique qualities. It is an obvious tendency of any traditional society, especially the tribes, to adapt themselves to the surroundings and environment. As a result, the culture inherently exhibits the qualities of the mutual dependency of men and nature, which is very much evident in the housing culture. Thus, the tribal population designs their architectures in such a manner that responds to the law of nature rather than challenge them. These virtues of the traditional architectures of one group often percolate to the other and the other group gradually assimilates certain elements in their tradition. Obviously, the processes of acculturation, assimilation and conscious adoption were perhaps well happened in the growth and development of vernacular architecture of the region. This is equally applicable to both tribal as well as non-tribal population of the state. Thus, when we examine the vernacular architecture of the non-tribal group, the influence of the tribal architecture is palpable and vice-versa. To trace the development of the vernacular architecture of the state and find out different ethnic or racial contribution in its development is another prime objective of the study.

The residential architecture, which has certain distinctiveness, needs to be studied systematically. It is seen that while the religious architecture often drawn the attention for serious discussion and research, the humble domestic architecture is often ignored. But it has seen that the germ of the religious architecture is traced back in the domestic architecture.

Along with the architecture or the objects,

鈥渞ecent scholars have made use of architecture to understand its makers and users, rather than making assumptions about people in order to understand their artefacts鈥� (Upton:1983:267).

Such new and innovative approaches have gradually enhanced the importance of the study of the vernacular or residential architecture of a region. It is because, these buildings are 鈥減art of everyday existence鈥� that can turn a means of looking at the people, their culture, and the origin of the same.

This is a new approach and perspective in the study of vernacular architecture as stated by Upton who wrote,

鈥渢he single most important development in the vernacular architecture studies of the last twenty years has been to effect this reversal, to use objects as evidence about past and present human behaviour鈥� (Upton:1983:267).

Thus, for a host of reasons, the residential architecture is subject worth for study and research. Here in Assam, we notice a dominant style in domestic architecture, which is more or less prevalent throughout the state with slight local variation. It can be designated as Assamese Regional Vernacular Architectural Style. Along with this, some tribal communities possess certain distinctive architectural form and styles of their own. To encompass a discussion on the forms and related aspects of the residential architecture of Assam and a subsequent peep into the culture is another aim and prime objective of the study.

The building architecture and activity in the rural area is primarily a community work. Therefore, the vernacular architecture is sometime termed as the 鈥渁rchitecture without architect鈥�. Thus, the tradition, form, design, technical aspects, and knowledge are traditionally continuing through generations and that is valuable body of the folklore of the state. Simultaneously, different folklore items such as folk beliefs, superstitions, rituals, sayings, proverbs etc. are associated with the traditional architecture. The examination of the relation of folklore and vernacular architecture and folkloric importance of the subject is another objective of the study.

The study of the vernacular architecture facilitates the study of the society and social change. In this connection Upton said,

鈥淭he possibilities for studying social change using architectural evidence are extensive, yet this aspect of vernacular architecture history has been underutilized鈥� (Upton:1983:269).

This is a very significant aspect of vernacular architecture to behold the social changes along with the changes in architectures, forms, and tradition. This aspect of the traditional vernacular architecture will be another focus of the study.

The study of traditional architecture of the state is a need of the hour as the traditional architecture and its continuity is facing challenges from the different quarters. Therefore, the traditional architecture is gradually losing its ground in spite of its sustainability and relevance from varied angles. Simultaneously, the simple village architectures are perhaps the ultimate source and inspiration of other permanent architectures in India especially the religious architectures, as mentioned earlier. Therefore, there is the need to study the traditional vernacular architecture and document various aspects associated with it. There is the need to study and collect the various aspects of traditional architectures such as types of house, their forms, design, function etc. Simultaneously, it is equally relevant to codify different information relating to materials and processing, the traditional skill, terminologies along with other related aspects of this important tradition. The various architectural styles, their component and detail process of construction are deserves to be collected, recorded and documented in all possible media before it extinct. This is a prime aim and the objective of the study.

The vernacular architectures possess immense importance from varied angles. Simultaneously, it has relevance and contemporary demand for the continuity of the tradition and forms. This can be inferred from the situation of necessity to display models of such architecture in various fairs, exhibition, or similar public functions. Hence, the subject deserves a discussion and research from varied perspective. Thus, to fathom the world of these architectures and document them in a systematic way is the prime aim and objective of the study.