The need for vernacular mud huts of Ranchi to adapt to the changing climate of Ranchi

Abstract

Mud huts with 450/500 mm thick mud walls, clay-tiled roofs and often having courtyards are a common form of vernacular architecture in areas around Ranchi in Jharkhand. They have been vernacular solutions to the then prevailing climate of Ranchi. The climate has changed to some extent over the last three decades. The paper discusses the design features of the existing mud huts of Jharkhand with reference to the climate. There is an attempt to identify the changes and to relate them to desirable adaptations in response. The focus is the temperature and humidity measurements, studied with respect to the general conditions of thermal comfort for naturally ventilated spaces.

Keywords:

• Mud huts
• Climate
• Insulation
• Thermal comfort