HOUSE CONSTRUCTION IN INDIA: November 2014

VAASTU SHASTRA

Vaastu Shastra, a sanskrit word meaning science of architecture and construction is an ancient Indian science developed thousands of years ago by ancient Indian sages.

Vaastu Shastra has been practiced for centuries and lays down guidelines to create old architectural wonders like temples, palaces, monuments etc.

Vaastu is derived from the sanskrit word ‘vasathi’ which means ‘comfort’. Comfort is related to the right proportion and positioning of the five elements agni=fire, vaayu=air, vaari=water, prithvi=earth and akash=sky in our surroundings. The complex interplay of the above elements along with the eight directions (E, W, N, S, NE, SE, SW, NW) can profoundly influence the lives of the people living or working in the premises either positively or negatively.

Shastra is the sanskrit word for ‘science’ and stands for the principles and guidelines laid down for the construction of a building. Therefore, Vaastu shastra is the science of arranging the above-mentioned elements in their respective places so that they are in harmony which in turn will make the lives of the inmates happy and peaceful.

The fundamental principle of Vastu Shastra is to add ‘Value to the Life of man’ staying in a building by bringing about harmony between man, nature and the built environment. So, buildings designed according to Vastu guidelines are believed to vibrate with Universal Positive Energy and create a feeling of ‘contentment and well-being’ for the occupants whereas the improper positioning of rooms with respect to the elements causes imbalance in the equilibrium of the energy in the house.

Vaastu Shastra, has its roots extended in Indian Philosophy, maths, geology, geography, religion and takes into account, factors influencing a Site, such as topography, roads, structures around, Sun’s effects, Earth’s magnetic field, cardinal directions, Earth’s energy fields and elements of Nature.

The subject of Vaastu Shastra has been discussed under the following categories:

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION IN INDIA

Today, with the easy availability of housing loans, with better and competitive professional services, with innumerable building materials and products in the market and with ample information on the net, house construction in India seems like a walk in the park!

But in reality, constructing a house in India or anywhere for that matter can pose its own challenges in terms of varying cost, lack of knowledge, risks involved etc.

Construction is a science and has been practised for ages but it is one aspect that is not documented well enough. In this blog I, a Bangalore based architect want to share with you some invaluable tips, ideas and advice from the experience that I have acquired. I hope to clear all your doubts and misconceptions and make the process of construction interesting, smooth, hassle free and enjoyable.

The Construction of a House involves the stages listed here. To make it simpler, I have classified the stages under these sub-categories:

STAGES BEFORE THE START OF CONSTRUCTION:

Mistakes that people make before construction
Preparing the project brief
Choices
Vaastu Plan
Choosing an Architect
An Architect's Services
Selecting the right Architect
Briefing the Architect
Evaluate the Design plan
Estimate
Selecting a Contractor
Plan Approval

STAGES AT THE START OF CONSTRUCTION:

Rituals to be performed before start of construction
Digging a borewell
Temporary Shed and power
Building the Sump
Building Materials

STAGES DURING THE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION:

Digging the Foundation
Raising the Walls
Building the Staircase
Wiring and Electrics
Casting the roof slab
Plastering
Laying the floor
Painting

MATERIAL SELECTION:

Selecting wood
Doors and windows
Bathrooms
Kitchen
Flooring Materials
Railing and Gate
Water Tank

STAGES AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE:

Electric Meters
Connecting to services
Interiors

DESIGNING A HOUSE

A house has many rooms like bedroom, dining room, living room, kitchen, study room and bathrooms. There are many things to consider when designing a house. Generally, people expect personalised designs based on their needs, tastes and budget which will make them happy and comfortable.

Here are some tips on designing a house and the rooms of a house.

DESIGN OF A HOUSE

DESIGN OF A BATHROOM | TYPES

VAASTU SHASTRA FACTORS

VAASTU SHASTRA FACTORS -
Vaastu Shastra takes into account environmental factors that affect man and his buildings, in laying down guidelines for the design of buildings, so that man can benefit from the positive and useful effects of these factors and is protected from their harmful and negative effects. The environmental factors and their effects on man and his buildings have been explained here:

Vastu Shastra lays down fundamental principles of Architecture that should be followed in designing, so as to ensure a beautiful, aesthetic, proportionate, comfortable sized and well oriented building. These fundamental principles are explained here:

VAASTU SHASTRA PRINCIPLES

DESIGN DRAWINGS

A designer’s principal language is through his drawings. These drawings help the client to understand what the designer has in mind. These drawings include plans to explain the horizontal layout, elevations to explain the external vertical view and 3-d images that give an almost realistic perspective. The drawings that are normally given by an Architect to explain his design ideas are described here.

These drawings will help you to interpret Design of a house better.

DESIGNING A HOUSE

VAASTU SHASTRA PRINCIPLES

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF VAASTU SHASTRA

Vaastu Shastra lays down fundamental principles of Architecture that should be followed in designing, so as to ensure a beautiful, aesthetic, proportionate, comfortable sized and well oriented building. These fundamental principles are explained here:

The Selection of Site is an important consideration since the plot represents a ‘fixed form’ which radiates positive as well as negative energy depending on its, location, shape, orientation, slope and soil condition. The Vastu guidelines for selecting the ‘right’ Site are explained here:

VAASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING SITE

BEDROOM FURNITURE

A bedroom is one of the most important rooms, since it is such a personal room and homeowners spend a lot of time there. An uncomfortable bedroom means un-restful sleep and even a general feeling of disharmony.

The main furniture in a Bedroom include the Beds, bedside tables, dressing tables, closets and sometimes TV unit.

TYPES OF BEDS
SPACE SAVING BEDS

NATURAL MATERIALS FOR FLOORS

NATURAL MATERIALS FOR FLOORS: These include naturally occurring materials like Marble, Granite, Kota, Slate, Wood etc

MARBLE FLOOR: Marble provides elegance, beauty and luxury to a room and therefore is best suited in residences. But it is avoided in large commercial areas and heavily trafficked areas because it scratches and stains easily.

GRANITE FLOOR: Granite is hard, doesn’t easily scratch and is stain-resistant making it suited for residences and commercial areas. But it is expensive.

KOTA STONE FLOOR: Kota stone is hard and strong, economical and non-slippery when rough, making it useful in exteriors and high traffic areas. When polished, Kota takes a shiny finish and so is suitable for interiors. But it scratches easily.

SLATE FLOOR: Slate is highly durable, water resistant, stain resistant and hence suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.But it is grey and dull.

HARDWOOD FLOOR: Hardwood flooring consists of real wooden blocks that are laid in desired patterns and fixed with hot glue. It is used in homes as it is elegant, charming, long-lasting and provides a warm look. Because of it's acoustic qualities, it is also commonly used in auditoriums, dance halls, gymnasium floors etc. But it is high maintenance and expensive.

VAASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING A SITE

VAASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES ON SELECTION OF SITE -

The Selection of a Site is very important in Vaastu Shastra, since the Site represents a fixed form that will radiate positive as well as negative energies depending on its location, orientation, shape, slope and soil quality. Therefore, these are the 5 important aspects to be considered when selecting a Site.

Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines on the ‘design of the House’ so that the inmates get maximum benefit of the natural elements like the Sun, wind, Air, etc.

VAASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN OF A HOUSE

VAASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING A HOUSE

VAASTU SHASTRA FOR INTERIORS OF A HOUSE: Vaastu Shastra lays down guidelines on the 'design of the Interior of a House' so that the inmates get maximum benefit of the natural elements like the Sun, wind, Air, etc. The Vaatu Guidelines for the interior rooms of a House are explained here:

VAASTU SHASTRA FOR EXTERIORS OF A HOUSE: Vaastu Shastra lays down guidelines on the 'design of the Exterior of a House' so that the inmates get maximum benefit of the natural elements like the Sun, wind, Air, etc. The Vaastu guidelines for the Exterior of a House are explained here:

Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines for the Construction of a House, right from the rituals to be done before the start of construction, the preparation for the construction to the actual step-by-step construction of the House. These Vaastu guidelines have been explained here:

VAASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOUSE

VAASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A HOUSE

VAASTU GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION STEP BY STEP - Vaastu Shastra lays down guidelines for the Construction of a House, right from the rituals to be done before the start of construction, the preparation for the construction to the actual step-by-step construction of the House. These Vaastu guidelines have been explained here:

VAASTU GUIDELINES BEFORE START OF CONSTRUCTION:

VAASTU GUIDELINES | STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSE :

Vaastu Shastra can be applied to buildings other than houses. The Vaastu guidelines for Apartments have been explained here:

VAASTU GUIDELINES | OTHER BUILDINGS

VAASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR APARTMENTS

VAASTU SHASTRA | OTHER BUILDINGS -

Vaastu Shastra can be applied to other types of buildings such as apartments, hospitals, schools, office buildings, factories. The guidelines are very similar to those for houses. But a few differences are there and they have been explained here.

VAASTU SHASTRA | APARTMENT SITE

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