Orientation and proportion in Indian traditional domestic architecture

ABSTRACT

From ancient times, the traditional architectural practice ‘Vastusastra’ is rigidly followed and practised in many parts of the Indian sub-continent and has a unique position in Indian architecture. In Indian traditional domestic architecture, a hand calculator table and an index number system are used for finding the proportion and orientation of the building. The mathematical and logical background of this traditional practice, which is not known at present, is investigated in this paper. The study reveals that there is a strong and complex mathematical background behind this traditional architectural practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Traditional architecture
• Vastusastra
• orientation
• proportion
• buildings
• hand calculator table

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

M. Dhileep is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Muthoot Institute of Technology & Science, Kerala, India. His research interests are in Mathematics, Wind, Earthquake and Structural Engineering. He got more than 15 years of experience as a consultant in the field of Civil and Structural Engineering. He obtained his Master Degree from Madurai Kamaraj University in Structural Engineering. He has published several research papers in reputed journals and conferences.

Ajesh K. Kottuppillil is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at SAINTGITS College of Engineering, Kerala, India. He has a Master Degree in Geomechanics and Structures from Mahatma Gandhi University. He has inherited expertise in practical Vastusastra and is practicing as a consultant in the field of Civil Engineering. He is an associate member of Institution of Engineers (India), Kerala Chapter.

Dr Babu Kurian is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Muthoot Institute of Technology & Science, Kerala, India. He has a Master Degree from IIT Bombay in Structural Engineering and a PhD from Structural Engineering Division of IIT Madras. He has more than 35 years of teaching and research experience. He is closely involved in the research and consultancy projects and is associating with various firms for finding practical solutions of problems related to Civil and Structural Engineering. He has published papers in reputed journals and conferences. He is an executive committee member of Institution of Engineers (India), Kerala Chapter.

ORCID

M. Dhileep http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0321-7101