pols in ahmedabad.pdf

POLS IN AHMEDABAD

AN EXAMPLE OF TRADIT IONAL INNER CITY IN INDIA

SEMINAR REPORT

KUSHAL KUMAR 2008BARC017 SEVENTH SEMESTER, Dec.’11

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE

BHOPAL December - 2011

DECLARATION

This is to certify that the Seminar entitled "Pols in Ahmedabad, An example of Traditional

Inner City in India" submitted by me is a record of my own work carried out under the

supervision of Ar.Geeta Vishwakarma. The matter embodied in this seminar work, other

than that acknowledged as reference, has not been submitted for the award of any degree or

diploma in this or any other institute.

School of Planning and Architecture Kushal Kumar

Bhopal.

December - 2011

CERTIFICATE

It is certified that the declaration given above by Kushal Kumar regarding his/her Seminar

work is true to the best of our knowledge.

Ar.Geeta Vishwakarma Dr. Sanjeev Singh

Seminar Guide, Head of the Department,

Department of Architecture, Department of Architecture,

School of Planning and Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture,

Bhopal. Bhopal

Acknowledgement

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report could not have been written without Ar. Geeta Vishwakarma (Mentor), who encouraged and challenged me through my academic program and the valuable feedback given by her time to time. She never accepted less than my best efforts. Thank you.

What I collected in this report are materials that I found in articles or in books. I make no claims to be comprehensive. A special thanks to the authors mentioned in the bibliography page.

I would like to express my gratitude to the people of all the pols I visited in Ahmedabad and to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for organising the heritage walk. The tour would not have been so easy without their support.

I would also like to warmly acknowledge Ar. Sonal Tiwari (Subject co-ordinator, Seminar) for her guidance and input throughout the process of this study, as well as Ar. Arvind Kumar Meel (Subject co-ordinator, Seminar) who went all his way and invested time in making me compete with the deadlines of the submission and providing with the format. This has helped me achieve several additional insights.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPT) for the use of their resources, such as online databases and library, without which the compilation of this report would have been incomplete and complicated.

Most especially to my family, friends and MANIT seniors for their consideration, motivation and encouragement which enabled me to complete this report. A special thanks to my friend Jigar for guiding me in Ahmedabad city and translating Gujarati. And to my roommate Mahesh for going the extra mile with me to Ahmedabad for the kind of support and help that puts flesh on the bones.

School of Planning and Architecture Kushal Kumar

Bhopal.

December - 2011

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Abstract

Abstract

In today’s society social bonds have weakened and cities have become collections of individuals as public spaces have changed from being a part of the society to being part of more impersonal and dispersed urban environment. The upcoming residential housing societies are lacking some very basic neighbourhood living and fail to convey the psychological, sociological as well as ontological meaning of home. The quest of this study is to understand the neighbourhood living, physical planning of the pol by providing basic amenities as well as creating open spaces for recreational purpose, thermal behaviour, occupancy patterns, and operation of a typical pol house through the seasonal cycles.

It is believed that the Pol housing sustained itself for almost over two centuries but did not adapt itself to the rapidly changing lifestyle and perception of the people of Ahmedabad. The seminar will focus on interpreting the Pol as sustainable neighbourhoods. The inspiration for this work largely lies in the essence of the traditional Pols, the street life, use of outdoor spaces etc.

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Index

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Cover

Certificate

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Index

Chapter 1 Introduction 1 - 3

1.1 Introduction ………….. 1

1.2 Meaning of Pol ………….. 2

Chapter 2 Neighbouring and Neighbourhood Pattern of Pol 4 – 7

Chapter 3 A Pol House 8 - 11

3.1 Planning of a typical Pol House ………….. 8

3.2 Architectural Elements of a pol House ………….. 10

Chapter 4 Pols as Responsible Architecture 12 - 17

4.1 Pols Response towards Climate ………….. 12

4.1.1 The Summer Season ………….. 13

4.1.2 The Monsoon ………….. 14

4.1.3 The Winter Season ………….. 15

4.2 Pols response towards Social and Custom Needs ………….. 15

4.3 Pols response towards Political and Economic conditions ………….. 16

Chapter 5 Present Conditions of Pols: A Live Case Study 18 - 22

5.1 Heritage Walk in the Walled City ………….. 18

5.2 Desai-ni-Pol, Khadia ………….. 20

Chapter 6 Future of Pols 23 – 24

Chapter 7 Comparison with other similar Places 25 - 27

7.1 Maleka/Georgetown (Malaysia) ………….. 25

7.2 The Historic Site of Lyon, Rhone-Alps, France ………….. 26

Chapter 8 Outstanding Universal Value of Pol 28

Chapter 9 Conclusion 29

Index

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List of Figures

Bibliography

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Chapter 1: Introduction

Department of Architecture, SPA, Bhopal

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1

Introduction 1.1 Introduction

India is home to some of the oldest, deepest and most sophisticated forms of urbanity anywhere in the world. Old cities such as those of Cochin, Ahmedabad, Surat, Delhi, Haridwar, Varanasi and a hundred more encapsulate a sense of urbanity and cosmopolitanism that we have everything to learn from. They are still the liveliest parts of towns after hundreds of years of existence. Hindu-Islamic concepts of urbanity in the Indian subcontinent, is an unexplored area of research. With nearly eight centuries of Islamic political supremacy in India, from the tenth century to the pre-Colonial era, notions of the Islamic city have been superimposed on the Hindu model. The result of this has been the establishment of a whole new series of new cities of high urban and architectural value such as Shahjahanabad, Lahore, Bhopal and Hyderabad. Ahmedabad however is unparalleled in its refinement.

The city, in the Indian context, is a complex entity, combining immense diversity with overall ambiguity. History in the eastern context tends to be a living entity rather than a subject of retrospection as in the west. Primordial pattern exist in quite the same manner as they did in the past. The energy of the Indian city has always contained an implicit element of chaos!

Fig. 1.1: Figure-ground map of Ahmedabad city showing the old (right) and new city. Source: Residential Cluster, Ahmedabad: Housing based on the traditional Pols, Kanika Agarwal

The historical evolution of the city cannot be associated with definitive morphologies as, is the case in the west. Urbanism in India cannot be categorized as Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Humanist, Neo-Classicist, Commercial or Industrial. It is characterized by a complex and dynamic continuum of impositions, assimilations, amalgamations, variations and reinterpretation of values as a result of diverse cultural influences. It would be reductivist to dissect one influence from another, as events taken place in isolation. A better approach is one that aims to understand this pattern of continuum as transformation and reinterpretation of the influences and variations, and their physical manifestations in terms of urban form, which has been tried to achieve through this article.



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These neighbourhoods are their own universes. Like the Pols in Ahmedabad, they are self-contained and preserve a very strong sense of identity, without being exclusive or closed to the rest of the city. They stand in sharp contrast to the gated colonies that are the norm in middle-class suburbs. A closed gate marks the end of the city.

1.2 Meaning of ‘Pol’

The word ‘Pol’ conjures up an image of an old world charm and a series of innovation in sustainable architecture dovetailed into the built form. ‘Pol’ architecture is an interesting evolution in urban living space.

The term pol is derived from the Sanskrit word partoli meaning the torana or gate or entry. The pol is a small residential unit consisting of a single street (usually a dead end street) with a group of houses is generally protected by a massive gate at the entrance. They are densely populated and when put together they look like a maze with winding narrow lanes forming a series of micro- neighbourhoods.

Fig. 1.2: An aerial view of the chowk in Desai-ni-pol, Ahmedabad

Source: Memories of my Pol in old Ahmedabad,City hertitage collection & CRUTA Foundation

These are traditional houses of Gujarat but are an urban phenomenon and conform to a general character in their organisation and expression with narrow frontage representing composite wooden facade and sharing of common walls on longer sides; defined spatial components; bonding-timber construction; and densely articulated within confined settlement pattern – an empirically evolved labyrinths.

These enclosures housed individual, interconnected living spaces, each growing according to the dictums imposed upon it by need and space. Exquisite facades inter-twining reliefs in wood illustrated the grandeur and opulence of the inhabitant. The entrance porch was of height allowing it to be parallel to carriages and carts to make for easy cartage of goods and people. Iron rings were attached to the stone base to hitch the dray animals connecting alleys and lanes, paved over by well worn flat stones, were deliberately slowed to enable a planned drainage system. In fact, the old city had a concealed drainage


Department of Architecture, SPA, Bhopal - 3 ‐

system which in parts is still in use. Key points had wrought iron poles serving as escapes as vents for the subterranean tunnels.

These characteristics were the product of cultural pattern of time, caste division, male-female equation, expansion of joint family, social, and religious mores as well as dependent on climatic and structural requirement.

Fig. 1.3: Pol houses as seen from the chowk Source: Author

Chapter 2: Neighbourhood Pattern of a Pol


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2

Neighbourhood Pattern of a Pol

Ahmedabad has been planned in a semi-circular type of pattern i.e. the ‘Karmuka’ or bow-like pattern of town planning according to the ancient Indian tradition. All the major roads having gates meet in the central portion of the city – the Manek chowk area. These roads intersected each other forming sectors.

Fig. 2.1: Map of the old city of Ahmedabad

Source: CEPT Library

It is these sectors that the network of pol has developed within the fort walled city of Ahmedabad. A pol is generally approached from the main road. At its entrance it has a narrow approach through an entrance gate, aligned with the houses opening into an open chowk. In this chowk various activities of the pol is found taking place. It is the heart of any pol. The development of pol took place in certain manner. It gradually changed from time to time. During the time of Maratha period people tried to be safer by making the streets curved to create barrier. In some the chowk is found to be at the end. This was done in order to perform social events by creating visual barrier. Each pol is linked to the neighbouring pols via secret pathways which can be confused with houses. These secret passages are hardly even 3 feet wide. The roads which connect the streets or the city are also classified into three main categories (Fig. 2.2):



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• Completely commercial streets (Bazaars)

Fig. 2.2: The Bazaar (commercial area) at the Manek Chowk, Ahmedabad Source: Mahesh Kumar

• Commercial cum residential streets (Ol, Vado)

Fig. 2.3: An Ol in Ahmedabad Source: Author

• Completely residential streets (Pol, Khancho, Khadki)



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The pols comprised a labyrinthine hierarchy of the main pol street, khanchas (lanes), khadkis (joint family courts/cul-de-sacs), and finally the khinchis (or secret paths leading to adjacent pols used in times of emergency).

Fig. 2.4: Zaveri Pol, Ahmedabad Source: Author

Fig. 2.5: Tamboli-no-khancho, Ahmedabad Source: Author

Fig. 2.6: Tat-ni-khadki, Ahmedabad Source: Author

Fig. 2.7: Cul-de-sac in a pol, Ahmedabad Source: Author



The size of the pols could range from a residential cluster of ten families (as in Haribhakti ni pol) to over 2000 family (as in Mandvi ni pol).

Fig. 2.8: Figure-ground plan showing the road hierarchy and the plot sizes in various pols


Due considerations and allowances were made in the urban concrete to accommodate acclimatized birds and animals within the cityscape. Deliberate holes and apertures were carved into the outer façade created nesting possibilities for squirrels and birds such as sparrows and parrots. Central court of the pol had aesthetically ornamental bird feeders in carved wood and stone with communal granaries attached.

In many of the pols, Parabadi or bird-roost is also found in the chowk area. The residents not only feed the birds but a mutual relation exists. The birds eat away the worms found near the open drains of the pol thus help keeping it hygienic too.

Inside the pol was a temple, a tree or a well which sometimes played an important role in naming the pol. All these elements are needful to the inhabitants of the pol.

Fig. 2.11: A parapadi, Ahmedabad Source: Author

Fig. 2.9: Detailing in a parabadi Source: Nilesh Dave

Fig. 2.10: Activity in a parabadi Source: Nilesh Dave

Chapter 3: A Pol House


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3

A Pol House 3.1 Planning of a Typical Pol House

The wooden traditional houses of Gujarat – an urban phenomenon – conforms to a general character in their organisation and articulation – i.e. narrow frontage representing composite wooden facade and sharing of common walls on longer sides; defined spatial components; bonding-timber construction; and densely articulated within confined settlement pattern known as pols – an empirically evolved labyrinths. These characteristics were the product of cultural pattern of time, caste division, male-female equation, exigencies of joint family, social, and religious, also contingent to climatic and structural requirement.

Fig. 3.1: Ground floor plan of a pol house Source: CEPT Library

The primary spaces of the house were identified by particular names; not in conjunction with their allocated functions. Proceeding from the street-to-house level, the entrance is defined by a narrow raised plinth with steps known as otla or otta (front verandah) – a prelude to the threshold of the house known as umro (innermost room).

Fig. 3.2: The otla Fig. 3.3: The paniyaro, puja and the tanka in the chowk Source: Author Source: Author



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Otla – a communication zone between outsider and the house residents – 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. Its elemental nature was highlighted by its carving which made it ornate and exquisite in beauty – as an image builder for the house. The otla leads to a buffer space mainly used as reception room and thereby nominated as baithak (sitting room), which was directly associated to the open-to-sky interior courtyard known as chowk – a nodal point linking all the spaces together. The interior facades flanking the chowk were richly carved like the frontal facade, befitting the main centre of the house. 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. The chowk, therefore apart from acting as transitional and functional focus, also represented the religious centre of the dwelling. Parsal was a semi-open space connecting chowk and the living areas like ordo or ordoo, which was the last room, furthermost from the street and thus the most private room. They open in the chhindi (a narrow rear street) by the means of small windows that facilitated cross ventilation. The function of these rooms was for both storage and sleeping.

Fig. 3.4: The chowk Fig. 3.5: The chowk, upla chowk, parsal with orado at the end Source: Gujarat tourism Source: Mahesh Kumar

The need for privacy in the business transaction (mainly in North Gujarat) led to the development of divankhanu, on the upper floor, which ultimately became sign of aristocratic and symbolized high status and wealth of the owner. The roof of these kind of houses were invariably sloping covered with naliyas (clay tiles), but some areas were also left flat (known as agasi) and are used for sleeping on summer nights and also for several domestic activities.

A pol would get organised generally by people of the same social group or community. Thus the city characteristically grew very organically into a dense built fabric reflecting not only the culture of the local people but also the climate it was set in. Pols can be considered as neighbourhoods with strong response to the climate of Ahmedabad. Since they have grown up organically they respond to the social and cultural life of the ‘Amdavadies’ and also of their economic conditions.



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Fig. 3.6: Section of a pol house Source: CEPT Library

3.2 Architectural Elements in a Pol House

In Ahmedabad wooden construction was preferred to stone masonry which was common in western India during medieval times. The structural system for all dwellings was timber post or beam. The wooden skeleton had brick and lime masonry infill along the party-walls as well as the partition wall of the orado. Most other partition was in timber. The roof was usually hipped with timber purlins and clay tiles. Despite the party-walls, it is observed that the timber structural frames of individual houses remained independent.

Fig. 3.7: The roof stone slab resting on timber purlins Fig. 3.8: The façade of a pol house Source: Author Source: Mahesh Kumar



All exposed façades, i.e. the street façade and the chowk façade, were in timber with exquisite carvings depicting religious symbols, floral motifs and geometric patterns. In general, horizontality was stressed over verticality. Modes of timber construction and choice of timber for various elements were based on treatises such as Raj Vallabh, Brihasamitha, and the Parimanamanjari. The standardization of building components led to the uniformity of the scales and proportion, resulting in an overall cohesiveness of the residential fabric of the pols.

Fig. 3.9: Details of the front façade Source: ‘Naqsh’ published by CEPT

Chapter 4: Pol as Responsible Architecture


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4

Pol as Responsible Architecture 4.1 Pols response towards Climate

The city of Ahmedabad is considered to have summer all the year round. It can be described as a hot climate with average outdoor temperatures between 20°C and 34° C. May is the hottest month with peak temperatures rising up to an intolerable 45°C and January the coldest with an average day temperature of 20°C. The city really never faces winters except a few months (December, January) when the night time temperatures reach as low as 10-14°C. For most part of the year Ahmedabad is hot and dry, with tropical rains for only three months from August to September. Mild season (November to February) is within the comfort zone for most parts of the day.

Ahmedabad is marked by strong solar radiation throughout the year and it is understood that solar control is the one of the most effective strategies. It is seen that while the mild season experiences lower temperatures the amount of solar radiation received is still very high especially on the south vertical face. With regards to residential indoor comfort, where the indoor environment does not need to be fully controlled, ceiling fans offer a good compensation for coolers and air-conditioning.

At latitude of 22.42°N with a remarkably high incident solar radiation throughout the year, the streets of the Pol remain shaded and ensured outdoor comfort. In the survey done in Ahmedabad during the field study, it was observed that more than 72% of the people standing in shade felt comfortable outdoors at a temperature as high as 31°C even with very little air movement. Technical analysis showed a street in the old city was able to obstruct more than 50% of the direct radiation.

Fig. 4.1: Section of a Pol house with projected Fresulting in shading of the street.

ig. 4.2: Shaded pol street in the afternoonSource

: Author




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Fig. 4.3: Air movement in pol house through the street Source: CEPT Library

hermal Behaviour in a Pol House

over the seasonal cycle in Ahmedabad, is a function of the sitting

.1.1 The Summer Season (mid-March to mid-June)

T

The thermal behaviour of the pol house and massing of the house, shading, solar radiation, thermal mass and the occupancy of the residents.

4

ading, earth coupling and evaporative cooling work

ding. The shared long party walls while exposing narrow end walls is a

ing solar radiation with self

In the pol houses, strategies of occupant migration, shin synthesis to create a bearable microclimate within the house. The house functions as a protective shell, keeping the outside heat at a distance and providing a microclimate of shade, cool surfaces and cooler, more humid air within the house.

The pol house is well sited for shasuccessful strategy. The wall surfaces exposed are furthermore on narrow streets which tend to shade the house facades during much of the day. The strategy of cloaking the exposed mass walls with carved wooden details makes it even more successful. The low thermal capacity of wood facings provides a shield between the incident solar radiation and the thermal mass of the house.

The tall and very narrow proportions of the chowk clearly minimises the incomshading which would otherwise enter the courtyard, heating up the interior mass of the pol house. In many houses the inside elevations of the chowk are also detailed with carved wooden details keeping the walls much shaded like the exteriors. The floor of the chowk is tiled and coupled either to the earth or the water tank below. The floor surface gets heated throughout the day, but is kept from overheating by the daily practices of the household. Cleanliness in the houses of Ahmedabad is culturally dictated and in many households an obsession. Thus it is a technique of evaporative cooling which is practised.



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Fig. 4.4: household chores aid in evaporative cooling Source: Mahesh Kumar

Window openings which have often wooden shutters rather than glazing are opened during the cooler night hours and closed by 8 am to prevent the heat of the day from entering. The house is flushed with cooler air during the night and hot air is exhausted through the stack of the courtyard. The house moves from an open shell at night to a closed refuge during the hot day. The activities are carried out on the ground floor, moving around the chowk through the verandah space, while the upper floors are too hot to be occupied. At night the terrace is washed and allowed to cool, the beds are brought out. They are used for evening talks, watching television and sleeping.

Fig. 4.6: Activity seen during summer in the pol house Source: CEPT Library

4.1.2 The Monsoon (mid-June to mid-September)

The particular problem posed by Ahmedabad is that the hot dry months turn so dramatically into hot humid and building moves from the desert to the tropics nearly overnight. When the rains arrive, the heat built up in the mass of the city fabric and the individual houses is flushed out. The daily patterns of occupancy and operation give way to the house as a open connector with the outdoors throughout the day. The overcast sky and the coolness of rains becomes the important external factor in thermal comfort.

During monsoon the lack of exposed building skin may become a problem for normal houses but in case of pol houses though with minimal exterior openings, it is difficult to cross ventilate but stagnant and

DAY

NIGHT

Fig. 4.5: View from chowk with shaded walls Source: Devansh Jhaveri, www.flickr.com



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dampness does not occur due to use of lime which has tendency to absorb moisture. The chowk area now is no more a comfortable zone during rainy hours but a pleasant area for evening tea when it does not rains and drying of eatables/ clothes by keeping vigilance. The verandah now becomes the most active area where one enjoys the rains and does the household chores.

4.1.3 The Winter Season (November to February)

As the temperature cools down in November and everyone emerges from the eight months ordeal, the pol house again begins to function on a diurnal basis. Now, however, the upper floor and terraces provide a comfortable place during hours that the sun is shining. This can be seen during the January kite flying festival, during which the entire city takes to the roofs of their houses and flies kites. The orientation of the terraces and street facades becomes important, since those pol houses with south facing exposures can open the shutters and admit sun into the upper rooms making it warm for the nights. Even the December noon sun is rarely enough to penetrate farther than the top floors adjacent to the chowk. The chowk, however does provide a stable environment, sheltered from the winter winds and, as in the simmer, a useful connection with the outside.

Fig. 4.7: Activity seen during winters in the pol house Source: CEPT Library

4.2 Pols response towards Social and Custom Needs

People felt a need to live amongst their close families, community or caste, or similarities based on profession and the business they carried to be more secured. This character of the pols and their subdivision has one of the reasons for the safety and security in the lives of the people there. The historical and political events forced people to settle in a communal group. With this a sense of communal aspect also developed in the residents of the pol. The city due to this communal feeling has also witnessed one of the worst riots in the country.

A pol has one open ‘chowk’ or ‘chokathun’ either at the entrance, in the centre or et the end. In this chowk the various activities take place. The chowk is the heart of the pol. All sorts of religious and social activities were performed in the chowk, be it wedding ceremonies, bhajans, meetings, garba during

DAY

NIGHT



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Navratri. The place was also used on the daily basis in summers to sleep outdoor, play area for kids. Nowadays in most of the pols if the gate is wide enough to drive the car in, this space is used as car parking.

Fig. 4.8: The chowk in Desai ni pol, Ahmedabad Source: Author

Another sight common in every pol is the presence of the place of worship in the chowk. One can find a Jain temple if it’s a Jain pol or a Hindu deity temple if it is a Hindu pol or a mosque in case of Muslim pol.

Fig. 4.10: Women of the pol meeting in the ‘otla’ Fig. 4.11: Kite flying in the pol Source: Memories of my Pol in old Ahmedabad,City hertitage collection & CRUTA Foundation 4.3 Pols response towards Political and Economic Conditions

The pol offered socio-homogeneity, economic stability, security and even opportunity to its inhabitants. This generic morphology is an introverted one with respect to the city at large, yet it is highly extroverted within itself. The pol gateway and a clear notion of the peripheries are distinct icons of this attitude. While an immediate hostility to strangers, members of other socio groups or unrelated pols can be experienced, inhabitants of the same pol share a very close existence. A perpetual social interaction exists between members of different households: leaving doors unlocked, the accessibility of all households to all pol

Fig. 4.9: A Hindu temple in a pol, Ahmedabad Source: Mahesh Kumar



inhabitant and non differentiation of residential areas by wealth, are attitudes that can be observed. The pol panch, an elected council of prominent members of the community, involved themselves in the general maintenance and welfare of the pol affairs. They set up a framework of rules to be obeyed by all community members, regarding sale or mortgage of houses, public functions, celebrations and religious feasts, common funds to be spent on maintenance, community assistance, marriage and law and order.

Fig. 4.12: The chowk where pol panch ‘Mandal’ gathers in pol Source: Author

The extroverted spatial character within the pol is accentuated with the presence of one or more community chowks. These are an essential ingredient in all the pols and have been discussed earlier.

The spatial character of the pol streets and squares is further demonstrated by otlas of individual dwellings that extend the domestic realm onto the streets. The direct vista from the pol streets to the domestic courts of the individual dwellings enhances social participation in the community. The street to the court interaction amongst members of the community and a constant awareness of the events in the pol as well as strangers is particularly notable in the narrower khanchas and delas. This also serves as an efficient means of control.

In the pols of Ahmedabad, the instinct to establish an individual identity is suppressed in favour of establishing an expression for the collective domain. All intervention seem to contribute in the articulation of the representational realm of the community at large. This is also facilitated by the administrative activities of the pol panch.

Chapter 5: Present Condition of Pols- A Live Case Study


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5

Present Conditions of Pols: A Live Case Study 5.1 Heritage Walk in the Walled City

To understand more about the inner cities a live case study has been made in which a visit to many pols of Ahmedabad have been covered to understand all the realms of urbanism which one can observe in these kind of inner cities.

Fig. 5.1: The map showing the route of the Heritage walk Source: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

With the hot, arid climate of Ahmedabad, the dense and compact morphology has observable environmental implications. The high aspect ratio of the pol streets with their multi-storied wooden houses, with carved unpainted fronts, and the narrower khanchas with lanes that meet across is very beneficial in terms of climatic control giving shade for most of the day. Keen study in the area reveals that the hierarchical urban fabric very effectively creates a hierarchy of micro environmental levels both in terms of physical performance which may be thermal, relative humidity, acoustic and lighting or psychological and perceptual responses such as visual, acoustic, tactile, kinesthetic and smell. One can find a gradual transition in the human experience from the harsh, crowded, dusty conditions of the public domain to the comfortable conditions of the community domain and finally the stable conditions of the



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private dwellings of the pol house. This effect is in sharp contrast to the jarring changes in the environmental conditions, often experienced in the modern metropolis, across the river.

People in the pols paid a great attention to health and hygiene around their pol area. Evidences of sewer lines laid during the time of British India can still be seen with outlets for gases. The municipal water supply also started in 1892 which can be seen in front of every house which is used for washing clothes and cleaning utensils.

Fig. 5.2: Vent pipes to remove gases from sewer pipes Source: Mahesh Kumar

These daily chores help in keeping the outside area clean and cool due evaporative cooling. The waste generated is mainly the household which is effectively collected on a daily basis from house to house by particular people who are into this service only. However most of the kitchen waste is fed to the cows and stray dogs.

Dwellings had party walls along the major axis and covered almost entirely their narrow deep plots with exception to the central court. The narrower side constituted the street façade at one extremity and was backed with another dwelling at the other. Narrow, well-like, open areas at the rear of the dwellings were also quite common.

While walking through one can easily distinguish between the richer families, the wider and more embellished was their street façade. The larger dwellings of the rich and prominent members of the community were usually located on the main pol street. The general disposition of the dwellings, within the hierarchical fabric of the pol was also indicative of the social status of the occupants.

The heritage walk dealt with observation of the pol and its surrounding which did not include visiting any pol houses from inside. While wandering through the streets of Kalopur in Ahmedabad the hierarchy of roads could be seen, the completely commercial streets, the commercial-cum-residential streets, the completely residential streets laid way to pol, the khanchos, the khadkis and cul-de-sacs. All pols were linked internally through secret passages which were used during times of emergency. While wandering through these streets we reached Desai-ni-pol which has its own history.

Fig. 5.3: Garbage collector sitting in front of community toilet. Source: Author



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5.2 Desai-ni-pol, Khadia The binding factor between the inhabitants of the pol is the social factor of community of profession one such is Desai ni pol in Khadki area. The Desai were the revenue collector during the times of Mughals in India. The leading and well to do families of this pol formed their own group called ‘Akha Bhaghat no Khancho’. Most of the houses are well maintained with one house which has been declared as a heritage house of Himanshu Mehta and the other one which has been preserved by CRUTA Foundation.

Fig. 5.7: The chowk in Desai-ni-pol, Ahmedabad Source: Author

Fig. 5.4: Bracket having Chinese influence Source: Mahesh Kumar

Fig. 5.5: Arch having Islamic influence Source: Mahesh Kumar

Fig. 5.6: House with plain façade Source: Author



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As discussed earlier while visiting the pol houses the major spatial components of all the types of dwellings typologies could be seen comprising the otla, the khadki, the chowk with the rasodan, paniyaro, and the puja, the parsals, and the orado. On visiting these places one can find the flexibility and multiplicity of spaces and functions within the dwellings. Domestic activities are articulated through the ‘subtle-layering’ of public, semi-public, and private realms.

Though this particular house has been developed very differently though the areas have been kept the same but some of their use has been changed. For example the chowk is now used as a living room with covering on top. The innermost room is still used as the store room while the parsal serves as dinning space. The rooms on the upper floor are bedrooms and passages have been converted into bathrooms with attached toilets.

The house has been remodeled for which it has received several recognitions and prizes.

Fig. 5.8: The ground floor (left) and first floor plan of Himanshu Mehta in Desai ni Pol

The other house was built by Dahyabhai Ijjatram Mehta in 1896. Ita is a typical example of traditional living within the walled city of Ahmedabad. The building is being used by Centre for Health, Education,



Training and Nutrition Awareness since 1996. The house was restored and this restoration project paved the way for the revitalization of the walled city of Ahmedabad.

This pol house has been developed keeping the old traditions intact.

Fig. 5.9: the ‘otla’ in Ijjabhai Mehta residence Fig. 5.10: The parsal around the chowk with the Source: Author ‘Hinchko’ (swing)

Source: Author

While travelling through the city areas one can experience the efficiently manipulated perceptual modalities in the pol houses. The experience of arrival at the dwelling, from the heat, dust and hubbub of the city bazaars to a dark khadki, with its cool floor below the bare feet is one of sheer delight. One can also sense the hierarchy which exists from the most public realm to the private and purely domestic court. This is articulated into distinct levels with appropriate transition elements. Firstly the three gates create a transition between two kinds of public spaces, (the royal square and the public square); the otla and khadki provide a transition between the community pol and the domestic chowk; and the chowk in turn provides a transition between the public (otla, baithak), semi private (parsals) and totally private areas (orado) of the dwelling. Along with it the comprehensible scales of the residential units, urban streets and squares and the changing vistas due to winding streets and informal community chowks greatly enhance the spatial character and perceptual experience. The ‘space-place’ relationship at the level of the representational public realm, the community domain and individual dwelling is very much notable in the walled city of Ahmedabad.

Chapter 6: Future of Pols


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6

Future of Pols

The soul of Ahmedabad lives in the Walled City that lies east of the Sabarmati. Till recently, people born and brought up in the western part of the mega city that Ahmedabad has become, find it hard to believe this.

For them, the old city, with its traffic congestion, lack of planning and chaotic commerce, was not the place to live in. But that perception is now changing.

People born and brought up in a centuries-old Pol in the Raipur area of the old city for them even today, when western Ahmedabad has emerged as the hip place to live in, they cannot think of life outside the Walled City without the comforting company of my friends and well-wishers of their pol.

On interrogation it was found that residing in the pols have never lived alone. To live in a place (or an apartment block) even the neighbour is unknown as they feel, is a nightmare which they do not want to experience. They feel that one of the blessings of life in old Ahmedabad is that everybody instinctively believes in ‘pahelo sago padoshi’ — i.e., your neighbour is your first relative.

Life in the old city essentially is the life lived in its Pols where, what to talk of human beings, even stray dogs and cattle are cared for. No one in the Pols — human being or animal — goes to sleep hungry. Even today, residents of the Pols feed and help destitute people almost every day. And this is what they say they will continue to do.

Fig. 6.1: The chowk used as parking and animal feeding place

Source: Author

People born and brought up here become friends for life, bound to each other by mutual understanding and trust. There is no institutionalised tradition behind this but it is not uncommon to find boys and girls of one Pol getting married to partners in other Pols of the old city. A Pol in Sarangpur, for instance, is known for such marriages.

Chapter 6: Future of Pols


Life is not always charming in the pols when people fight, they fight differently (as it appeared). Everybody knows each other’s strengths and weaknesses and perhaps this is why when two people quarrel, neighbours step in to calm down everybody. The neighbours also rise to the defence of a fellow resident when an outsider behaves offensively. These values will remain in the pols until there is some intrusion of outsiders or differences created between them.

Nowadays one can see that many people have left their ancestral houses as it is too big for them and very difficult to maintain. The people have rented these houses to storehouses and cottage industries which are deteriorating it furthermore. They are also responsible for creating traffic jams and other inconvenience to the other residents. Parking of cars is another major issue in the pols. When these were built there were not even two wheelers owned by people but today everybody owns a car. The khidkis and khanchos have become parking lanes creating problems for passersby. The chowk is also used for parking which completely ruins the purpose of chowk.

People are realising this and are concerned to preserve their heritage. Some well to do families have restored their ancestral houses in a very traditional manner. People are following this tradition of restoration largely these days. Some conservationists and trusts are working together to restore the dying glory of the pols.

A ‘Pol Samiti’ has been set up which frames rules and laws regarding the land use of the pol areas.

The women and children of Verai Pada Ni Pol in Khadia have joined hands for a unique campaign to save their pol community life. Tired of illegal parking by traders in the area, they are planning dharnas and chakka jams to block vehicles from entering their pol which create noise pollution disturbing the quite atmosphere which would otherwise exist.

Realising its potential the government of India and Gujarat have decided to nominate it as a world heritage city status. The core zones selected for nomination exemplify the significant zones with historic character which is still preserved. This is also based on the survey of properties under taken earlier this decade when the major survey work was done. Based on this identification, the present core zones are marked. The historic city is also dotted with 29 ASI monuments which have their own regulated zones which are now controlled by the ASI in terms of their developments. The core zones and buffer zones identified are linked through associated buffer zones which are in form of a serial link which cover the important areas of the historic city Kalupur I-II, Dariyapur I-II, Khadia I-III, Jamalpur, Shahpur to name a few. The Heritage Cell through AMC is already working on Restoration of the properties and the AMC has undetaken this measure to control the process of deterioration. Through such intervention the AMC is planning to safeguard the listed properties in the historic city and preserve these in their original condition so that the character is retained.

Chapter 7: Comparison with other similar Places


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7

Comparison with other similar Places

The immediate comparison available to Ahmedabad is the historic town of Melaka - Georgetown in Malaysia and the historic city of Lyon in France. This also is because of the similarity in Melaka's founding period which dates back to 15th century. Lyon is more historic but its substantial expansion dates back to 15th century.

Like Ahmedabad, Melaka- Georgetown and the historic city of Lyon are merchant and trading towns, though the geographic locations differ in its character the population's main economic base has been similar, that is trade and commerce. Melaka and Lyon both since their founding have been multi-cultural towns like Ahmedabad and were also planned similarly with each community having their own defined settlements. The evolutionary trends in these towns also are comparable where the cities retained their homogeneity and traditions and graduated into their evolving phases retaining their traditions. The following points mark a comparative proposition for these towns with Ahmedabad.

7.1 Melaka/Georgetown (Malaysia)

• From Historic point of view, both cities illustrate development of settlements of diverse cultural groups in the layering of the present cities.

• The architecture of the houseform and settlements illustrate application of various influences during the successive periods of external influences brought in by their trade and mercantile exposures to other cultures.

Fig. 7.1: The external facade in Melaka houses Source: www.culture360.org

• The architectural styles which are the central feature of the entire settlement parttern in both exhibits a very rich heritage while comparing with the other cities in their respective regions.

• In both cases the house forms exhibit a strong cultural trait which characterizes their architecture which is unique and which in case of Ahmedabad also influenced the regional traditions.

• The intangible heritage out of which the heritage of the settlement emerged is also an important feature of the cultural traits illustrating the fusion of different multi-cultural identity in both cases.

Fig. 7.2: Pol houses as seen from the chowk Source: Author

http://www.culture360.org/



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Fig. 7.3: Commercial Street in Melaka Source: www.4.bp.blogspot.com 7.2 The Historic Site of Lyon, Rhone-Alps, France

The special quality of the historic site of Lyon derives from its exceptional setting, on two hills at the Influence of two rivers, combined with the material manifestation of its way of life through its town plan and its architecture.

• By the mid 15th century it was one of the mostly heavily populated cities in Europe, with some 65,000 inhabitants.

Fig. 7.5: An aerial view of Lyon Source: www.superstock.co.uk

• The wealth of Lyon and its worldwide mercantile contacts attracted 28 banks from the Far East to the as well as encouraging the creation of banking institutions by the Lyonnais themselves.

• The life-style of Lyon is an original one: its social codes come from a community of merchants, of enterprising townspeople, who are fiercely independent, combining seriousness, a taste for taking risks, and a sense of reality with idealism. Preferring substance to style, Lyonnais society has always conscientiously and resolutely adapted its way of life to its aspirations.

• Being oriented willingly to economic and social expansion, it has always eschewed any form of ostentation. Its sights have been directed in a rational manner towards change and fashion, which has

Fig. 7.4: Commercial Street in Ahmedabad Pol Source: Author

Fig. 7.6: Aerial view of kite flying festival in the pol Source: Murugan S Gopal, eyeforindia.blogspot.com

http://www.4.bp.blogspot.com/



enabled Lyon to preserve continuity in its way of life and to pass this on with remarkable authenticity.

• The historic site of Lyon may be regarded as "an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement," which combines an exceptional site with an urban continuity that is remarkable for its harmony.

• The unusual homogeneity of the urban fabric that strikes the eye results from harmony in the architecture that goes beyond stylistic evolution and from the symbiosis between the natural site of the city and its urbanization.

Fig. 7.7: A street in Lyon Fig. 7.8: A Pol street, Ahmedabad Source: www.shunya.net Source: Halimi, surfaceintervals.blogspot.com

Fig. 7.10: An entrance to a pol Source: Author

Fig. 7.9: A gate in Rhone Alps Source: i18.stockmediaserver.com

http://surfaceintervals.blogspot.com/

Chapter 8: Outstanding Universal Value of Pol


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8 Outstanding Universal value of Pol

The culture of the city of Ahmedabad is credibly expressed in the settlement form through the traditional houses which attribute;

• Form and design in terms of climatically most suitable with a house form exhibiting symbolically the character of the occupant. The design of the facade with projecting layers of upper storey to create a shaded street profile at settlement leve1. The entrance area with raised 'otla' forming the outdoor spaces along the streets 'pol' are also very characteristic of the life style of occupants highlighting sharing at community leve1.

• The use of timber and local bricks in a composite construction also was a unique approach in construction with houses sharing the side walls.

• The houses were designed with an internal courtyard which actually controlled the climate of the house.

But symbolically it was articulating nature within a living environment which made the house a complete habitat unit with its own environment and self contained function with its own water harvesting and disposals. The areas for use were also distinctly planned in terms of family hierarchy of relationship with the outside world. The public areas of the house were in the front, the family areas in the rear and more private areas on the upper floors.

• The Street and settlement patterns were generated through a community oriented planning, with shared areas for usage and certain symbolic elements as collective needs for community functions like bird feeders, well and a shrine for daily worship. The unique system of managing community affairs was through a 'panch' which comprised of five representatives who would take care of all the community's organizational needs in maintaining and sustaining the community's interests.

• The locations of important communities were in the proximity of the important zones of the town. Each community had an entrance gate (where 'panch' office was situated on upper level( which controlled the inner settlement. There were always right of ways and secret access and exits through the 'pol' which were necessary to link the communities internally even if the main entrances were closed.

Chapter 9: Conclusion


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9

Conclusion

Ahmadabad's walled city has a history of last six centuries. It has a unique settlement which has acquired significant importance for its patterns and homogeneity of community living which is characteristic of .its economic reliance on trade and commerce since centuries. This has now bestowed on us a priceless heritage of urban living which is traditionally unique.

The value of the traditional heritage is enormous:

1. It represents a unique lesson in city's settlement formation (pol) and its basic constituent, the traditional house with carved wooden facades. The historic architecture of the city exhibited an important interchange of human values over its span of time which truly reflected the culture of the communities which were the important inhabitants of the city. Its settlement planning through mutually accepted norms of communal living and sharing and its monumental buildings representative of the religious philosophy exemplified the best of the crafts and technology which actually saw growth of a regional architectural expression which is unparallel in India.

2. Its wealth of traditional wisdom represented in its physical settlements is a rich resource of cultural heritage, characteristic of this merchant community and their preference for tasteful life ordained through their religion.

3. The city's settlements and traditional house forms bear an eloquent testimony to the cultural traditions of various socio-religious bearing and have given a unique identity to the settlement which is world famous for its craft traditions and local wisdom in establishing a social order which emanated from their beliefs and adherence to the values enshrined in it. The house as a self sufficient unit with its own provisions for water, sanitation and climatic control (the court yard as the focus) as a functional unit and its image and conception with religious symbolism expressed through wood carving and canonical bearings is the most ingenious example of habitat. This is one of the most important values. Its wealth of wooden architecture of settlements is also a great heritage for which the city is well known since centuries and is considered a storehouse of integrated crafts which extended from block making for textile printing to some of the finest expressions in traditional houses and temple building arts.

4. Its economic enterprise sustaining the city and state, its wisdom in financial expertise and its guild tradition for community co-existence, leading to a world class status in textiles in 19th century

5. Its institutional building traditions and record of civic architecture, leading later on to attract world renowned architects to come to the city to build institutions of world repute and excellence. Comprising eminent architectural practises such as those of Balkrishna Doshi and Anant Raje protégés of Le Corbusier and Louis I Kahn along with pioneers of modern Indian architecture - Achyut Kanvinde and Charles Correa.

List of Figures

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List of Figures Fig. 1.1: Figure-ground map of Ahmedabad city showing the old (right) and new city Fig. 1.2: An aerial view of the chowk in Desai-ni-pol, Ahmedabad Fig. 1.3: Pol houses as seen from the chowk Fig. 2.1: Map of the old city of Ahmedabad Fig. 2.2: The Bazaar (commercial area) at the Manek Chowk, Ahmedabad Fig. 2.3: An Ol in Ahmedabad Fig. 2.4: Zaveri Pol, Ahmedabad Fig. 2.5: Tamboli-no-khancho, Ahmedabad Fig. 2.6: Tat-ni-khadki, Ahmedabad Fig. 2.7: Cul-de-sac in a pol, Ahmedabad Fig. 2.8: Figure-ground plan showing the road hierarchy and the plot sizes in various pols Fig. 2.9: Detailing in a parabadi Fig. 2.10: Activity in a parabadi Fig. 2.11: A parapadi, Ahmedabad Fig. 3.1: Ground floor plan of a pol house Fig. 3.2: The otla Fig. 3.3: The paniyaro, puja and the tanka in the chowk Fig. 3.4: The chowk Fig. 3.5: The chowk, upla chowk, parsal with orado at the end Fig. 3.6: Section of a pol house Fig. 3.7: The roof stone slab resting on timber purlins Fig. 3.8: The façade of a pol house Fig. 3.9: Details of the front façade Fig. 4.1: Section of a Pol house with projected resulting in shading of the street. Fig. 4.2: Shaded pol street in the afternoon Fig. 4.3: Air movement in pol house through the street Fig. 4.4: household chores aid in evaporative cooling Fig. 4.5: View from chowk with shaded walls Fig. 4.6: Activity seen during summer in the pol house Fig. 4.7: Activity seen during winters in the pol house Fig. 4.8: The chowk in Desai ni pol, Ahmedabad Fig. 4.9: A Hindu temple in a pol, Ahmedabad Fig. 4.10: Women of the pol meeting in the ‘otla’ Fig. 4.11: Kite flying in the pol Fig. 4.12: The chowk where pol panch ‘Mandal’ gathers in pol Fig. 5.1: The map showing the route of the Heritage walk Fig. 5.2: Vent pipes to remove gases from sewer pipes Fig. 5.3: Garbage collector sitting in front of community toilet. Fig. 5.4: Bracket having Persian influence Fig. 5.5: Arch having Islamic influence Fig. 5.6: House with plain façade Fig. 5.7: The chowk in Desai-ni-pol, Ahmedabad

List of Figures

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Fig. 5.8: The ground floor (left) and first floor plan of Himanshu Mehta in Desai ni Pol Fig. 5.9: the ‘otla’ in Ijjabhai Mehta residence Fig. 5.10: The parsal around the chowk with the ‘Hinchko’ (swing) Fig. 6.1: The chowk used as parking and animal feeding place Fig. 7.1: The external facade in Melaka houses Fig. 7.2: Pol houses as seen from the chowk Fig. 7.3: Commercial Street in Melaka Fig. 7.4: Commercial Street in Ahmedabad Pol Fig. 7.5: An aerial view of Lyon Fig. 7.6: Aerial view of kite flying festival in the pol Fig. 7.7: A street in Lyon Fig. 7.8: A Pol street, Ahmedabad Fig. 7.9: A gate in Rhone Alps Fig. 7.10: An entrance to a pol

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Bibliography

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Bibliography Unpublished Thesis

• Singh, Ravindra G., 1981, Traditional Urban Indian Neighbourhoods: A case study of ‘Pols’ in Ahmedabad

• Dyan, Belliappa, N.N. Mehta, 1992, Neighbourhood succession: A study of commercial ingress into the Pols in the Walled city of Ahmedabad

• Pereira, Lisa, 1998, Sense of life in a traditional environment as created through its pattern: the case of the pols in Ahmedabad

• Chunawala, Jabeen, 2001, Revitalisation of the living environment in the walled-city of Ahmedabad.

Published Works

• Kenneth L. Gillion, 1968, Ahmedabad, A study in Indian urban history, University of California Press Berkely and Los Angeles.

Articles & Journals

• Vivek Nanda, 1998, “Urbanism, tradition and continuity in Ahmedabad”, Mimar 38 Architecture in Development, 1991.

• M.Susan Ubbelohde and George Loisos, “The Ahmedabad pol house”. http://www.coolshadow.com/images/research/Pol_House.pdf

• Jay Thakkar, 2004, “Naqsh- The art of wood carving in traditional houses of Gujarat”, Research Cell, School of Interior Design, C.E.P.T.

• Kanika Agarwal, 2009, “Residential cluster, Ahmedabad: housing based on the traditional pols”, Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, UK.

• ‘Illegal parking irks pol residents’, The Times of India: Feb 28, 2011.

• ‘Old Ahmedabad keeps your humanity alive’, DNA: Sunday, Apr 18, 2010.

• Ahmedabad one step closer to World Heritage City status, The Times of India: May 11, 2011. Websites

• http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5616/

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http://www.coolshadow.com/images/research/Pol_House.pdf

http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5616/

pols in ahmedabad.pdf

Documents

architecture bhopal

ahmedabad city

hisher seminar work

environmental planning

sanjeev singh seminar

geeta vishwakarma mentor

abstract abstract

special thanks