Page 54 - JCAU-6-1

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

bay buildings and was observed only in one double-bay (b) Partition of homestead land: The second half
building (HA-4). of the courtyard’s buildings disappeared due to
insufficient depth of homestead land.
6.1.2. Stairs in the middle of the building (number of (c) Roof change: The pitched roof transformed into a
samples: 8) flat roof.
This type of staircase can be further divided into two (d) Change in stair position: The staircase in the
categories: straight-running stairs (PA-3, HI-6, NA-2, middle could ensure privacy and separate the
NA-5) and double-running stairs (HI-1, HI-4, MED open area of the building, indicating a transition.
HA-1). These two types of stairs are not combined with
the courtyard but are set up against the wall, which is their 6.3. Factors affecting gara formation
prominent characteristic. The staircase is located in the (i) Climate: The narrow and long building plan is
middle, ensuring privacy by separating the open areas of separated by a courtyard, which provides ventilation
the building and playing a transitional role. and natural light, making it suitable for residential
use in tropical areas. The problem of high internal
6.1.3. Hybrid (number of samples: 5)
air temperature is circumvented through the shade of
Hybrid staircases can be further divided into three vegetation planted in the yard and the shade of trees in
categories: (i) Staircases located at the front and rear (HA- the adjacent room.
6, HI-2), all twin house types; (ii) Staircases located at the (ii) Economy: Due to insufficient residential land area
front and middle (NA-4, NA-6); and (iii) Staircases located and inadequate economy, the triple-bay haveli evolved
at the center and rear (BO-1). In the second and third into a single-bay gara. Due to insufficient depth of
categories, the stairs in the middle are combined with the the homestead, the second half of the courtyard’s
courtyard and separate the privacy and open areas, playing buildings disappeared. Furthermore, with an increase
a transitional role. in the family members, the courtyard was covered and
In a shophouse, a store is at the front and living space at turned into a hall.
the rear; therefore, it has a staircase located at the back of (iii) Trade: The concept of backyard is extremely popular
the building, allowing direct access from the living space in rural typology in South Gujarat. In the Haripura
on the first floor to the living space on the second. Gara area, artisans are the main group of residents, and both
does not have a store, and residential space is on the first domestic and commercial activities are carried out
floor; therefore, gara does not have a staircase at the back within the building, resulting in a transformation of basic
of the building or an arcade space. types and the formation of a backyard, which is usually
combined with service spaces. In summary, trade played
6.2. Spatial evolution of gara an important role in the evolution of housing.
The evolution of the gara spatial pattern is depicted in (iv) Colonization: Gara was mainly influenced by
Figure 11. Western colonization, which introduced Southeast
(i) Gara spatial pattern type, with the highest number of Asian architectural styles that were integrated with
buildings having a single bay and one courtyard. traditional Indian houses, thereby forming gara.
(ii) The evolution in the depth direction of gara gradually
decreased the segmentation of homesteads. Two types 7. Causes of gara
of evolution occurred in the order of the bay. One of 7.1. Comparison between gara and haveli
them aimed at moving the ancillary functions to the 7.1.1. Similarities
side of the building, and the other aimed to establish a
twin house. (i) From a plan scale perspective, the average width of a
(iii) The evolution of the gara spatial pattern is related to single-bay gara is 5.3 m (maximum 8.3 m and minimum
the homestead area, the number of courtyards, changes 3.5 m), the average depth is 19.1 m (maximum 30.0 m
in roofs, and the location of stairs. A single bay with an and minimum 13.0 m), and the average aspect ratio
atrium (Figure 10: Type B) is the basic form of gara. is 3.7 (maximum 6.0 and minimum 1.7). The average
The atrium divides the building into two parts, front width of a haveli’s interior is 17.8 m (maximum 25 m
and back, and its space has four evolving states: and minimum 15 m) and the average depth is 23.4 m
(a) The disappearance of a courtyard: Due to the (maximum 27 m and minimum 18 m). The average
increase in household population, the yard was aspect ratio is 1.3 (maximum 1.6 and minimum 1.0).
covered and transformed into a hall, which The façade width of the haveli is 3.35 times that of the
increased the usable area of the building. gara, though they exhibit similar depth (Figure 12).

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1797