Exploring Residential Typologies

Katra Dulo, Amritsar

RACHAN PUNEET SINGH
ABOUT

• The historic walled city of Amritsar is composed of traditional

residential neighbourhoods known as katras.

• The courtyard is the intrinsic characteristic of the inward looking

traditional urban houses of these katras. An attempt has been
made to understand the traditional courtyard houses of Amritsar
through the study of Katra Dulo, one of the oldest katras in the city.

• There are variations in the typology of traditional courtyard houses

that express the various concerns of their design philosophy.

• The shape and size of plot and type of courtyard of these houses
have played a significant role in defining their spatial planning and
typologies.

• The building materials and techniques adopted are influenced by

the local climatic conditions.
ABOUT

• Due to its prime location, it became a thriving

centre for trade with several prominent
merchants setting up their business along the
main approach road.

• Evidence suggests that Katra Dulo is the only

historic residential area left with its original
planning patterns, housing typologies and
architectural styles intact,

• while the planning of other katras, traditional

houses and their construction systems have
undergone extensive transformation due to
commercialisation of the whole district in
recent years.

Three dimensional visualisation of Katra Dulo showing built-open relationship

CHARACTERISTICS

• Most houses in Katra Dulo can be accessed via stepped

entrances.

• The stepped entrance may be located in the centre of the

front facades for larger houses in wider streets, while
steps are located on a side in case of smaller houses or
narrow streets.

• The entrance of the house has a tharra (seating platform)

on both sides, which is used as an informal sit-out by
inhabitants to interact with each other.

• The first space after entering the house is the deori (entrance hall) that acts as a semi-private space offering privacy to the inner sections of
the house through a winding entrance from deori to courtyard.

• The staircase is also located on one side of the deori and upper floors are accessible without passing through the intermediate floors.

• The rest of the rooms are placed around the central courtyard and used for various purposes such as the sleeping area, cooking area
storage, living room.

• Small niches are common on both sides of doors are used to place candles or oil lamps
 CHARACTERISTICS
• Residents at the upper floors can interact with others through the courtyard and things
are exchanged with help of a rope hanging through the courtyard.

• Another rope is hung outside along the facade to buy various things of daily use from
street hawkers.

• Social interaction and exchange of goods also happens from the openings of one house
to another across the street, made possible only due to the narrow streets of the Katra.

• the terrace with chaubara (room at terrace level) is an important space within the house.
• The central courtyard provides an
appropriate microclimate to the house.

• it is covered from all the three sides,

excluding the front entrance. So, it is
less exposed to direct sunlight.

• The front facade is also protected from

sun and dusty winds by narrow shaded
streets.
• The courtyard can be modified for comfortable levels of air, temperature and humidity with
the use of plants, shading devices and water fountains. Most rooms face this court, it
provides sufficient diffused light to the interiors for daily activities.
CHARACTERISTICS

• Most houses in Katra Dulo can be accessed via stepped

entrances.

• The stepped entrance may be located in the centre of the

front facades for larger houses in wider streets, while
steps are located on a side in case of smaller houses or
narrow streets.

• The entrance of the house has a tharra (seating platform)

on both sides, which is used as an informal sit-out by
inhabitants to interact with each other.

• The first space after entering the house is the deori (entrance hall) that acts as a semi-private space offering privacy to the inner sections of
the house through a winding entrance from deori to courtyard.

• The staircase is also located on one side of the deori and upper floors are accessible without passing through the intermediate floors.

• The rest of the rooms are placed around the central courtyard and used for various purposes such as the sleeping area, cooking area
storage, living room.

• Small niches are common on both sides of doors are used to place candles or oil lamps
VARIATIONS IN HOUSE TYPOLOGIES

• Housing types in Katra Dulo are analysed on the basis of

four primary criteria,

• namely

• plot shape and size

• type of courtyard,

• entrance space and plinth.

COURTYARD CONFIGURATIONS AND TYPOLOGIES

• All the traditional houses in Katra Dulo have a single courtyard.

• The only exception is a temple house located in the main bazaar, which has a double courtyard. It might be possible that one courtyard was
used for public while the other was for the private use.

• Square courtyards are centrally located in square or rectangular type of plots with traditional railing around the court at upper floor levels.
TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS
Walls

• Wall thickness varies from 33 to 90 centimetres.

• Wall masonry is done with Nanakshahi bricks (traditional brick of size 18

x 10 x 3.5 centimetres) and mud mortar or lime mortar that varies with
the time of construction and the status of owner.

• The cabinets built within wall thickness provide earth quake resistance
while use of wall thickness for storage provides optimum space-
utilisation.
• Roofing

• Traditional roofing systems made extensive use of timber

members.

• The main components include the khatambandi (false

ceiling with painted wooden panels in intricate patterns),
shateeri (main wooden beam or purlin), balli or baaley
(wooden joist), phattey (wooden planks) followed by a layer
of lime or mud mixed with broken bricks. Finally, the
terracing done in mud is laid to slope with flat bricks on the
top
TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS
• Staircases

• the staircase is constructed using nanakshahi brick masonry in lime, timber beams and timber planks.

• Timber planks act as main load bearing members embedded into walls on both sides, while the beam on
the edge of each step holds the masonry together and provides stability.
CONCLUSION
• Many of the grander historic houses in Katra Dulo, in the square and rectangular configuration, have minor issues related to the condition
of the physical fabric but are generally in a better state of conservation as compared to the smaller houses on elongated plots owned by
poorer residents or occupied by tenants. Some of the houses built on rectangular plots have not undergone much transformation but these
are few and far between.

• In most houses, courtyards have typically been converted into rooms or partially covered to use space on upper floor. These interventions
have not only led to a significant loss of authenticity but often cause serious physical issues for the original structure.

• Many houses have also emerged as a result of subdivision of the original properties. These houses have a narrow street like shape with
linear planning and offer a very poor quality of life. These houses are in such a deplorable condition that extensive conservation work
would be required in order to bring them to their original state. Unfortunately, even this may not be possible in some cases, where the only
answer may lie in demolition or reconstruction.

• The most historic of house forms seen in the city of Amritsar, the traditional haveli, where the architectural, spatial and technological
aspects of historic courtyard houses are best preserved, along with their setting within the traditional neighbourhoods, point towards
efforts at conservation so that the significance of Amritsar’s urban form can be sustained and enhanced.
THANK YOU !

ANKIT KATHIRIYA
15SA204