Essay On Indian Architecture

Socio-cultural factors like religious beliefs, hierarchy of classes in a

community, available technology etc. influence architecture and its

forms. In every society there are certain norms and ideologies that

are accepted by the majority, thus leading to variations in architectural

design which are a result of different socio-cultural beliefs that are widely

accepted.

The experience of an architect leads to shaping of a building and hence

a building is not merely a structure but a reflection of the philosophy of

the architect, the time period it is in and the culture of the place.

The paper aims to analyse how architecture of various places are

influenced by the culture, religion and beliefs of the society.

PAPER

INTRODUCTION

A

IMPACT OF INDIAN CULTURE ON ITS ARCHITECTURE:

"One of the most enduring achievements of the indian civillization is its architecture. Indian

architecture has evolved through centuries and has been tranformed by the forces of social,

geographical and historical factors considered unique to India." (cultural india)

The rich Indian architecture thus is influenced by the ethnicity, tradition, livelihood and deep rooted

traditions of the Indian culture. (shubhankar and amol, 2013)

Typical layout of an indian house largely consists of a public space for gatherings, bedrooms and

a ' Rasoi ghar' which serves as the dining area for the family. The layout of the house is affected

by the Indian belief system of keeping the kitchen pure at all times. Hence traditionally all indian

households have their kitchens set away from the general circulation.

The temples of India bear an imprssion of their relegious and spiritual beliefs. the shilpa shastras

(Hindu texts that define rules, principles and standards for architecture) also govern the