Page 53 - JCAU-6-1

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

Figure 10. The planar type of gara. Source: Compilation by the authors from Kinariwala (2012), Ahmedabad (1990), and Baradi & Malhotra (2009)

a courtyard located at the corner, all other double-bay houses in Northern Gujarat and are highly similar to the
buildings have a yard. houses in Northern Gujarat. In addition, as these houses

A triple-bay building, HIN-6 with a courtyard, NA-2, began to adapt to the local climate, the size of the courtyard
NA-5, and NA-6 are residential buildings with atria, all of changed, which was earlier limited to light shafts (Laina
which are located in the affluent Nanavat region, known et al., 2018).
as havelis in northern India, and are generally residential 6. Gara spatial pattern
properties for businesspeople or wealthy individuals.
6.1. Classification of stair positions
Due to maritime trade, Western culture has continued
to influence not only the urban layout of Surat but also 6.1.1. Stairs in the front of the building (number of
its architectural form. In the urban development process, samples: 13)
trade is an important component of daily life, and houses The straight staircase near the wall is relatively small,
have also evolved in response to this. At the housing level, neither affecting the normal functional use of the room
the houses in the Nanavat area show the footprints of pol nor disturbing the rear room. It is mainly present in single-

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1979