RURAL STUDY GUIDELINES

Handout by Ar. Pradeep Reddy Navakoti

INTRODUCTION
The village has been significant basic unit of community life through the centuries. The first
villages in history emerged when men became feed producers and they had to settle down together in
hamlets or villages comprising of a number of households. Such spatial aggregates formed social
organisations whose members all co-operated for collective tasks. Thanks pattern of growth and the way
of life of such communities very considerably, the influencing factors being topography and geology,
social structure, availability of natural resources and so on. These factors influenced the built environment
– the arrangement of Streets, communal open spaces, the nature of house types and these further articulate
the environment that man created for himself.
The economy of the Indian subcontinent is largely agriculture based and about 70% to 80% of the
population lives in rural areas. It is believed that the Indian subcontinent will continue to be rural for
many years to come. Yet we can’t regard the Indian village community as static timeless and changeless.
The impact economy. Social and cultural values need no detailed explanation.
The problems facing the village folk are many and diverse in character. Many of the problems stem from
the alarming rates of illiteracy accompanied by inherited prejudices and superstitions. These traditional
evils are still prevalent and practiced by the masses doing greater harm than good. Population explosion
has led to unemployment poverty and malnutrition, I’ll health and sub standard housing. Besides lack of
infrastructure like protected water supply, improved sanitation, inadequate transport and communication
system have isolated the rural area, leading to misery.
If our village – the backbone of our cultural heritage and tradition continues to be neglected any more,
further deterioration in the standard of living is bound to occur. The need for rural uplift is a moral
obligation and essentially a life – planers, architects, social workers, sociologists etc. The primary aim is
to identify deficiencies in the system, after careful surveys and subsequent analysis, carefully plan and
then subsequently implement development schemes. While achieving the above, precautions are to be
taken to preserve the rural character in all its aspects. The environment should suit the priorities, values
and life style of the rural community.

Objectives:
(A) To project survey data on to a design brief.
(B) To be able to design with respect to environment.
(C) To understand the use of forms in relation to open spaces.
(D) To project the need of a community in the design of facilities.

The following are the various stages of the rural development project:-
(A) Formulation of objectives
(B) Surveys
(C) Analysis
(D) Identification of the problem ( public participation required)
(E) Recommendations
(F) Preparation of development plan, types of house and community facilities
 (G) Implementation
(H) Monitoring
(I) Review
 Formulation of objectives
The rural development project should aim at
(A) Community development ( general uplift of people in terms of social life, education, economic,
development and improvement in health)
(B) Improvement in infrastructure ( includes improvement in housing conditions, proper water supply
and drainage, electrification, marketing and storage facilities and transport linkages).
 Surveys:
This comprises the study of the rural environment and the influences the occupational pattern and
population characteristics, the physical environment and the available infrastructure. Surveys are
undertaken to get statistical information regarding existing conditions.

 Physical surveys: effort is made here to arrive at approximately, the access, boundaries, street
network and levels if any, of the existing village. Besides this, the impact of zone of influence
surrounding this village will have to be looked into.
 Visual survey: the visual impact created by important landmarks such as temples, water
bodies like tanks, ponds, rivers, besides, the pattern of growth of the village and it’s
relationships with surrounding environment will be dealt with. The rural scene and the
activities in all its aspects will be realized through the survey.
 Socio- Economic survey: this is a house-to-house survey giving data regarding family size,
income, occupation, and aspirations etc of the households.
 Housing survey : design aspects and construction aspects regarding housing are to be dealt
with. Details regarding existing house types based on plot and plinth areas, materials used,
construction techniques adopted and structural conditions are collected. Traditional methods
of building with rural materials are to be covered.
 Infrastructure, public amenities and environmental survey.
 Analysis:
With the study of the village on hand, the various groups have to analyse every aspect, visual surveys
analysis will help us to identify the physical characteristics, retention of important landmarks, future
growth pattern, retention of rural survey analysis will have to identify village boundaries, house
boundaries, open spaces to be preserved areas under cultivation and that which could be cultivated,
areas for device, etc. Socio-Economic analysis will help us to broadly classify the household with
various income and occupation groups, caste and ethnic composition, literacy percentage, etc with
this we will broadly able to identify the economic base. Whether the village is economically
backward or not what sort economic activity can support the village in future, etc. The housing survey
will broadly classify or otherwise. They will list out the design of present housing and the survey on
services will help us to identify methods of garbage disposal, sources of water supply, sanitary
conditions etc. Other facilities to be identified for example, health, education, transportation etc.

 Rural study guidelines and survey groups

1. Physical survey
I. Mapping of street network
II. Mapping of existing land use
 III. Village key plan / plan of village
IV. Mapping of street skyline and elevation
V. Mapping of village skyline
2. Visual survey
I. Identifying landmarks focal point, scenic vistas ( temple, ponds, water,
bodies, tress etc ) and interaction nodes
II. Visual documentation by drawings, photographs and sketches
III. Observation of village day life and night life
IV. Sketching the ambience of the village.
3. Socio-Economic survey
Demographic data of the village- village population, sex ratio, village area,
literacy rate etc
Demography survey of individual families of various types
Family size, occupation, family annual income, no of literates,
land ownership etc.
Questionnaire survey- lifestyle, social life, social issues, culture, traditions
and festivals etc.
Fact file of the village, history of the village and important structures like
temples, heritage buildings etc.
4. Housing survey
Documentation of house of all typologies ( plan, section and elevation)
I. Design aspects
II. Construction techniques
III. Structural system
IV. Climatic aspects
V. Materials used for construction
Documentation of major landmarks like temples and important heritage buildings
Plan, section, elevation, photographs and sketches
5. Infrastructure, public amenities and environmental survey
Services- water supply, drainage system, sanitation, electricity, garbage disposal, street
lighting, communication facilities- telephone, TV etc, transportation etc. ( Infrastructure
mapping)
Public amenities like primary health care centre, post office, bank, school, public library,
provisional store, market etc.
Environmental survey- air and water pollution etc.
On site and off site survey, built up space Vs open space.