Vernacular Wooden Architecture of Gujarat

The bohrawads/row houses of Siddhpur and Kapadvanj are chief examples of the traditional craftsmanship of Gujarat. They are characterized by wood and stone columns with square bases and doors with curved lintels. This architecture is also found in various other cities of Gujarat.

In earlier times the houses Gujarat were situated within a settlement pattern called pol. The residences were built on the basis of occupation and thus represent a socio-cultural environment. The houses are as narrow as two meters to an average of three to four meters. They have a courtyard and a rainwater storage tank.

Burma teak was used in the construction of the houses which was imported easily due to Gujarat’s trade links. Wood from a local tree mahudo and teak from Bilimora and Valsad were also used in building the houses.

The facades and the brackets are the most magnificent elements of these houses. The most traditional wooden balconies are decorated with exotic overhanging window seats called jharukho. These jharukhos are of different sizes and some are significantly projected. The brackets in the temples are beautifully carved with figurines of warriors.

Every traditional neighborhood has chabutaro/bird feeder or parabadi as it is known vernacularly. These represent the sustainable livelihood and the dexterous craftsmanship in wood. The bird feeders are ornamented with floral and geometric motifs based on mythical animals and plants such as peacocks, parrots, elephants, sunflowers, creepers and lotus. The carvings are not only a way to decorate the parabadi but also a way of displaying the culture of the place.

Unlike traditional architecture, the contemporary architecture of Gujarat uses minimum wood. However, nowadays there is a trend among people to use wooden elements of traditional houses as their home decoration.