Embracing Traditional Ideologies

Chaukor Studio has designed a house that goes back to traditional practices for addressing the challenges of the local climate and context.

- Sahiba Gulati

Architect’s Note: The house is designed through a holistic design process; architectural design of a building is a physical manifestation of the social, cultural, political and geographical patterns of that region. The Minaret house not only embodies the climatic principles but also the social patterns that the architectural heritage offered.

In the world of today for many people it is hard to imagine living without a holistic dependence on air conditioners and heating systems, especially in areas such as the National Capital Region of India that experiences very hot summers and equally extreme winters. However, with our all embracing or perhaps dependent attitude towards today’s technology, our usage of traditional ideologies had taken a backseat. It was possible to live without air conditioners in an earlier age; were the temperatures considerably lower; were our bodies accustomed and adapted to the heat intake; or were we just more intelligent in our methods of dealing with the situation? There still are thinkers and professionals who wish to take the load that we put on our natural resources off by going back to those traditional ideologies that achieved the desired affects.