Pol Houses –

Ahmedabad
Architectural Conservation
Narenthira Kumar 80
Raj Kumar 116
Introduction
• The POL houses in Ahmedabad
showcase rich tradition and
culture of past.
• The word Pol is derived from
‘Patroli’ meaning a gate or
entry.
• 6000 pols and with 12 main
entrance gates and connected
by 2 main streets.
• Pol can be defined as micro
neighbourhood with houses of
varying sizes on both ends.
Location
• The seventh largest city in India Ahmedabad was founded in
1411 which sits in banks of Sabarmathi River.
Scope
• The pol houses in Ahmedabad showcase rich tradition.
• The planning concepts and construction techniques can guide
us through problems faced in todays context.
• Thus these houses should be maintained.
• But presently these houses do not fullfill the present
requirements and lifestyle.
• But certain changes can match the modern requirements.
Need for consolidation
• Pols are the representation of the culture and traditions of the
walled city of Ahmedabad.
• The significance of pols is just not architecture but the culture ,
tradition and lifestyle it represents.
• Even today the life in pols continues to thrive as it always has
throughout the centuries. Hence it is imperative to preserve these
structures and neighbourhoods.
• The POLS are facing heavy traffic and congestion leading to lack of
infrastructure and services.
• Since located in the middle of the city, rapid commercialisation is
taking place resulting in the decay of rich traditional architecture.
• Migration of people towards modern infrastructure and amenities is
leading to negligence and deterioration.
• Streets were designed 600 years ago therefore cannot support
heavy traffic.
Brief study of the project
• Have one or more temples.
• Bird feeder.
• Elaborate facade with intricate carving.
• Narrow street
• Secret passages during exit emergencies
• Generally plots share a 3 wall boundary with
adjoining houses and have opening in the
front only.

•Spaces are divides as per public

and private.
•Water tanks are placed beneath
the floor of the chowk,recently
they have fallen out of use.
•One door to access the Pol.

•Storage for water and grains.

•Secret Entry

•Houses are mainly multi-story, usually

made of brick and mortar.

•Massive walls are supported with timber

structures.; many of them are ornamented
with wooden carving.

• The houses have peculiar construction

with entrances and the open space.There is
an otla outside the house. At the main gate,
there is some open space inside which is
used to put things like traditional cots etc.

•Then there is a space open to sky called

chowk. The rainwater falls in the chowk. The
chowk and parsal are the peculiarities of the
houses of the pol.
• There is a central hall which has a place where the housewife can
cook in sitting position. There is a provision for chimney over the
fireplace (Chulha) as an outlet for smoke of the kitchen. Then there
is a big room with two small ventilators.

Size and proportion of pol houses

Pole houses has some scale & proportions.
The ratio between the depth of house[x] and frontage[y]
variesmostX:1.5y to 3.6yDepth[x] & height[h] ratioX:1.5h to 1.6h
EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT

•The large flat bricks, which are used in these pol houses, are helpful in resisting
earthquakes as they are stable against overturning.
•Feature of structural intergrity help to distribute load among the structural
elements under transmit force to the foundation in a simple and effective way

RAINWATER HARVESTING

•Storing rain water at bottom tanks

STRUCTURAL MATERIAL

•Pol houses are contructed using locally available materials such as flat
bricks,white clay and lime water.
•Pol houses also use stones to form the base for columns and doorframes.
 Dilapidation Survey And Conservation
process
• Adaptive reuse of these houses: maintain the original fabric and just altering
the original use.
• Minor modification can be made to adapt these houses to make them
compatible to new houses.
• STRUCTURE:
• Columns in good condition except damage to paint. Rust on beams on steel
section
• Removal of old coating and applying fresh paint on columns.Removing rust
and applying protective coating.
 • WALLS: Damaged plaster due to lack of maintanence
• Removing the damaged plaster and applying fresh plaster.

WOODWORK: In good condition except damage to

paint
Application of wood preservatives and varnish to
enhance the carvings.

FLOOR: uneven settlement of stone due to lack of

maintanence.
Relaying flooring with proper leveling and matching
stone.
• The house was previously used by 12 people and now it is
used by 4 people, therefore there is ample place for some
other activities
• Upper floors are proposed to be used as restaurants,library
and informatics centre providing information about
art,culture,heritage,tradition of gujarat for tourists.
• It helps to generate money which can be used for
maintanence of these houses.
• Systems installed can be upgraded to meet modern building
requirements but they should be economical.
Inference
• We can strengthen our future strategies for development.
• The climatic,social,culturals requirements it can act as a model
for future generations to learn the principles of sustainability.
• The influence of culture is clearly visible in the planning and
construction
• The POL houses provide inhabitants safety and security when
needed.
• These are designed with climatic consideration and
earthquake resistant.
The following people will take place in conserving the
heritage

•Professional conservation architects

•Urban planners
•Structural engineers
•Building surveyers and inspectors
•Professional draftsmen and photographers
•IT and GIS and personels
•Records and archivels officer
•Public relation officer
•Publication unit
•Capacity building coordinators
Source
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_(housing)
• https://www.architectureindevelopment.org/project.php?id=
492
• http://coolshadow.com/research/Pol_House.pdf
• https://www.gounesco.com/pols-of-ahmedabad/
• http://www.ceptarchives.org/Projects/ahmedabad-pol-
houses-temples-54