The Use of Traditional Materials and Natural Resources: A Case of Goan Houses in India

Abstract

Traditional architecture is a code of good manners and practices. It is much more than a style, that has no parallel in the urban world. Indian traditional architecture has remained a testimony to the ancient wisdom which we had had inherited from our ancestors. Traditional architecture has been referred as school of sustainability. The elements of environment like water, air, solar system, forest resources, etc. They are valuable and big assets for human welfare. Since Technology and industrial development began, man started to use and over exploitation of Resources. Most of the building materials we use are made from natural resources. Today building industry is mainly responsible for spoiling the Earth atmosphere. And such an overutilization increases the demand of resources and can degrade the natural resources and thereby nature. That means the conservation of all natural resources can sustain the life on Earth. The design of Traditional Goan Houses demonstrates the maximum use of traditional materials, the use of natural light, use of natural air and its circulation, etc. so as to get maximum benefits to users even on micro climate level. The design arrangements and traditional materials, responds positively in all seasons and keep the houses cheerful and comfortable, throughout the year. This paper aims to study traditional Goan houses, and to reveal their – approach to traditional materials, natural resources and sustainable design features. The study is based on primary as well as secondary data. For primary data historians, architects and conservators have been interviewed and for secondary data literature review has been done from different books.