Page 52 - JCAU-6-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism A study on the spatial characteristics of gara

Figure 9. The basic form of gara (Type B). Source: Compilation by the authors from Kinariwala (2012), Ahmedabad (1990), and Baradi & Malhotra (2009)
 Type A: Single bay with a courtyard. Three single-bay buildings with a courtyard were
 Type B: Single bay with atrium. found. The functions starting from the entrance are divided
 Type C: Single bay with a backyard. into a balcony (Otla), entrance space (Khadki), living room
(Baithak), eating space, kitchen (Rasodu), and storage space
The basic gara type, affected by insufficient residential
area, had the homestead land divided into Type A with a (Thanki), which can be simplified as entrance space – living
courtyard. Due to changes in the functional requirements, space – ancillary space (food, storage) (PA-3, HI-3). NA-1
Type B with an atrium evolved into Type C with a backyard. is unique and comes from the division of homestead land.
The reasons behind these changes are as follows: (i) Type B In a single-bay building with a courtyard, the ancillary
has the most abundant existing samples; (ii) whether spaces (catering, kitchen, toilet, and storage) are usually
it is the shophouse with similar flat forms or the haveli located together with the yard. It can be divided into three
traditional Indian house, their basic forms typically types, where the first and second types have a yard in the
include a courtyard; and (iii) the depth of Figure 10: NA-1 middle of the building, whereas the third type has a yard
is relatively short and is derived from the basic type. located in the back of the building:
(i) Type 1: entrance space – courtyard – living space
5.2. Gara plan classification (BO-2, BO-3, BO-4)
As demonstrated in Figure 10, only four buildings (NA-1, (ii) Type 2: entrance space – living space – courtyard –
PA-2, HA-5, and NA-2) exhibit an east-west orientation, auxiliary space (BO-5, PA-1, HI-4, HI-5, and HA-3)
all of which are located in the inner city of the block with (iii) Type 3: entrance space – living space – auxiliary space –
a non-grid texture. The remaining buildings have a south- courtyard (BO-1, PA-2, HI-1, MED HA-1, HA-2, HA-5).
north orientation. A more detailed analysis was performed In South Gujarat, the concept of backyard is popular
according to the number of courtyards and bays. in rural typology. In the Haripura area, predominantly
Analyzing its width directions, the number of bays in inhabited by artisans, both family and commercial
the width direction can be divided into the following three activities were carried out within the building, resulting in
categories: a transformation of basic types and the establishment of a
(i) A single bay. backyard, often combined with service spaces. In essence,
(ii) A double bay. trade played a crucial role in the evolution of housing.
(iii) A triple bay. The evolution from a single bay to a double bay
Similarly, the number of courtyards in the depth represents a change in homestead land; for example, the
direction can be separated into the following four categories: expansion of homestead land moved ancillary functions to
(i) No courtyard. the side of a single-bay building, reducing the building’s
(ii) A courtyard. depth (NA-3 and NA-4). Another change is the abundance
(iii) Two courtyards. of homesteads, with sufficient width and direction, leading
5
(iv) Three courtyards. to the construction of twin houses. It comprises two
almost identical building units (MED HA-4, HA-6, and
Combining the bay types and depth directions results in HI-2). Except for two buildings (NA-3 and HA-6) without
12 types, with four types not found in existing samples. Most
samples belong to the single-bay and one-courtyard type. 5 Twin house: The two bays of a twin house are similar.

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1797