RELEVANCE OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE MODERN CONTEXT

Abstract

The egregious homogenization and placeless ness in contemporary architecture makes one feel perplexed and faceless in this age of technology. The repercussion of identity crisis in concurrence with the process of 'modernization' has always been an issue of debate. With a plethora of issues on contemporary architecture, traditional environment could serve as a solution, with its richness in natural activity patterns and diversity of expressions. This thesis aims to draw an attempt to understand the critical issue: Relevance of Traditional Built environment in the Modern Context. To deal with this issue with an unprejudiced mind this research begins by accepting the limitations of the case study and explore the explicit and implicit characteristics of the traditional environment and the valuable knowledge that can be drawn with reference to the MODERN CONTEXT. The study is based on the traditional Brahmin housing in Triplicane, Chennai, harmoniously surviving amidst the modern urbanized setup. Two case studies identified for the research in the same area are deliberately distinct so as to understand the continuity and diversity in the traditional house forms. For a comprehensive understanding of the built environment, analysis of mass void relationship, organization pattern and sensitivity towards human needs is deployed. The integrated approach of analysis will help in generalization of the inferences of this study. This research will culminate towards a construction of theory/guidelines on quality living. Insight gained from this study seeks to address the significance of sense of place in the built environment. Universality of this research finding will also help in reconciling the schism existing between modernity and tradition.