A POTENTIAL SUSTAINABLE ( STONE ) TOURIST DESTINATION , BANDEBAMBLI

Ar. Nishant Nathani 1 , Ar. Pragnya Prakash 2 and Ar. Mustakeem R Khan 3 . 1. Asst. Prof., Architecture & Planning, Amity University Haryana, India. 2. Asst. Director, Town Planning, Karnataka. 3. Asst. Prof., Architecture & Planning, Amity University Haryana, India. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History

Indian village are by default sustainable because of their indigenous sustainable construction techniques and uses of building material. Sustainability in Indian settlements is a phenomenon which is shaped based on the living practices rather than an induced character to the built habitat. Bandebamli is one of such village in Karnataka which stands out due to its special architectural character. This paper will talk about the sustainable material and construction technologies used in the settlement. The basic material used for construction is visually appealing rustic stones available in plenty near to the village. The building is designed according to hot dry climate, prevailing that region. Social, economic, and artistic character of the settlement is evolved with a quality character. Explicit wooden joinery details in load bearing structure and exquisite wooden carvings symbolize the social and economic classes among the society are few unique features. Due to migration of people out of settlement for economic reasons, many of these unique houses are in stage of dilapidation and require urgent attention to save the rich traditional wisdom. There is a need to develop this settlement as a sustainable tourist destination.

Introduction:-
Sustainability in Indian villages is an inbuilt indigenous phenomenon. This paper focuses on one such vernacular settlement describing the traditional approach towards sustainability. The settlement is almost 600 years old and the buildings are 250-300 years old. The settlement -"Bandebambli", etymologically defined in "Kannada Language" as Bande -Rock, Bamback, Blinear, the village is situated at the back of the granite rock. Enunciating sustainability through Planning and Architectural practices shaped due to socio economic and environmental practices. This paper will point out the sustainable practices used by the village, which is worth to be developed a potential sustainable tourist destination. The presence of river and granite rock influence the location of the settlement. River serves for agrarian purpose, a similar practice of traditional settlements around world and granite rock serving as a defense for watching area to keep vigilant to far places. The granite rock also used as building material for construction of buildings. The bold, rustic and massive elevation made out white granite resembles the concept of forts having elements such as Overhangs, Chatries, Courtyards, highly decorative entrance doors add on to the aesthetics.

Sustainable aspects of the village:-Village Planning:-
Village planning is per the basic principle of Hot Dry Climate. Where the village is having narrow streets measuring 1.5m to 5 m wide. Low height buildings in narrower streets while building height increases with increase in street width, to shadow the streets on sunny days.
Village square:-Village is planned in such a way that there are squares at designed among few houses. Squares of village used for stack effect to drag air: The shaded streets would lead to squares. The squares paved by stones heats up air, hot air goes up, to fill that gap the air comes from the shadowed streets. Squares are major component of the settlement fabric with multiple functions as social gatherings, agriculture produce processing with larger courtyards being used for festival gatherings and entertainment purposes.

Sustainable Construction Material:-
White granite stone is the main building material used for construction. It is sustainable because found within 50 KM radius. Quarrying process is manually done. Animal driven vehicle is used for taking material to the site instead of biofuel. Masons and artisans are locally available.

Sustainable wall construction:-
The walls are made up of stone having thickness between 600-800 MM throughout the settlement irrespective of internal or external wall. Lime and clay is being used as binding mortar instead of cement Mud and lime also helps to increase heat lag, therefore reducing transmission of heat due to convection. . Section of typical stone wall has been shown in fig-4 Sustainable roof Construction:-The roof of the buildings is sustainable and is of great significance. The roof consists of 5 layers; starting with wooden beam, second layer is rafter, third is batten, fourth is Black Soil with rubble pack and top layer is clay, leaves and straw. The thickness of the roof increased in longer term as the new layer of mud applied on the top layer before rainy season. Section of typical roof has been shown in fig-5 Fenestration:-In the hot dry climate, it is desired that the fenestration should be minimal to avoid air change and stop sun to enter the house. Such kind of minimal fenestration is seen throughout the village. This artistic fenestration became one of the characteristic of village. Sustainable Toilets:- Fig-10 explains that the community toilets were present since the inception of the settlement. The toilets were raised stone slabs about 1 meter above ground and enclosed platform with slit slabs as toilet seat. The excreta slip through the slit onto the ground or pit where it is manually cleaned later or animals cleared the waste. Steps Used as Storage Racks A stone slab is fixed in wall in such a way that half of the portion towards exterior of the house is used as staircase and another half which is inside the house is used as a shelf in kitchen. These slabs are jammed at centre by stone wall as shown is fig-11.

Jharokha (Balconies)
The concept of Jharokha was adopted from Rajasthan. Jharokha were projecting and were supported by cantilever stone slabs. These cantilever stone slabs were carved to resemble the "neck of the horse" and visually pleasing. Interior of the balconies was of compactly arranged stone chips and plastered from Exterior. As in figure 12

Conclusion:-
Bandebambli has a potential to develop as a sustainable tourist destination. As the village is practicing all indigenous the sustainable technique such as use of locally available material, construction practices, farming etc. any of the practices in the village is not polluting the environment.