Best Collection Of 91+ Charming Old South Indian House Design Most Outstanding In 2023

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South India is a region enriched with culture and history, and is home to many ancient and magnificent architectures. These architectures come in all types of styles and design, such as houses, temples, monuments, and more. Out of these, old South Indian house designs are particularly well-loved and admired for their ornate and intricate designs. This article will explore the best old South Indian house designs and take a glimpse of their astounding past.

Traditional Chettinad House Designs

Chettinad houses are traditional houses belonging to the Chettinad people from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. These houses are one of the oldest and most beautiful traditional house designs in South India. The design of these houses usually feature a black and white combination of verandahs with clusters of columns, surrounded by tall walls with wooden grills and intricately carved door post. The unique feature of this house designs is its open courtyard, which serves as a living and often also dining area. The roofs of these houses are usually thatched, which not only gives it a rustic look, but adds to the overall traditional character of these house designs.

Traditional Chettinad House Designs

Kerala Nalukettu House Designs

Nalukettu house designs are unique to Kerala, and have been around since medieval times. This kind of house design has a traditional and large inner courtyard, which is the central focus of this house design. The courtyard is often surrounded by four large halls, with the entrance of the house usually located at the front, under a large gate. Nalukettu house designs typically have a distinctive 'tope' or 'pandal' construction at the entrance, with tall pillars and intricately carved toranam or gate lintels. The walls of these houses have wooden latticed windows and doors, and the roofs are usually tiled. The kitchens of these houses feature a large open hearth for traditional cooking.

Kerala Nalukettu House Designs

Tribal House Designs from South India

Tribal house designs from South India are unique in many ways. These houses are usually built in log constructions, and feature wooden and bamboo walls with layers of grass and hay roofs. The flooring of these houses often consists of either wooden blocks or natural stone pieces. These houses tend to be small, and have no windows or doors. The entrances of these houses are typically covered with reed mats or bamboo mats. The houses have no chimneys, and the smoke of the wood fires used for cooking comes out through the roof. Also, tribal house designs usually don’t feature furniture, and instead feature sleeping mats, baskets and storage boxes.

Tribal House Designs from South India

Vernacular South Indian House Designs

Vernacular South Indian houses feature walls of mud, bamboo and wood construction. The vernacular nature of these houses is evident in their traditional sloping roofs and wood-shingled walls. The windows of these houses are generally small, and latticed with strings of wood and bamboo. The floor of these houses are usually made with mats and mats are sometimes used for furniture as well. The entrances of these houses are usually large and decorated with wooden doors in intricate designs.

Vernacular South Indian House Designs

South Indian Kuchcha House Designs

Kuchcha house designs are traditional houses built by the Kuchcha tribe, native to South India. These houses feature walls of mud and stone construction, with thatched grass or hay roofs. The windows of these houses are usually small and covered with dried gourd skins, and the floors are made of either stone or mud. The entrance to these houses are typically small and without a gate, and the furniture consists mostly of mats made of bamboo or reed.

South Indian Kuchcha House Designs

South Indian Pagadi House Designs

Pagadi house designs are one of the oldest and most traditional house designs of South India, and are still practised by many of the tribal people from the region. These houses feature walls of wooden planks attached on three sides, and the entrance usually has an arch made of wood or bamboo. The roofs of these houses are either of thatched hay or grass, or of wooden construction. The windows of these houses are usually small and covered with dried gourd skins, and the floors are made of either stone or mud.

South Indian Pagadi House Designs

South Indian Bamboo House Designs

The bamboo house designs of South India are a creative and practical way of constructing houses. The walls of these houses are usually made of bamboo poles and wooden planks, tied together using ropes, which are then covered with either mud or thatched hay. The roofs of these houses are made using bamboo and usually covered with either dried grass or hay. The entrance to these houses is typically oversized, and the windows are usually small and latticed with bamboo shoots. The floor of these houses are made of either bamboo or stone.

South Indian Bamboo House Designs

South Indian Thatch House Designs

Thatch houses are one of the oldest traditional house designs in South India. These houses typically feature bamboo walls and a roof made with thatched hay or grass. The windows of these houses are usually small, and the entrance is typically oversized. The floors of these houses are usually made of either mud or bamboo, and the furnishing of these houses consist mostly of mats and bamboo furniture. The walls of these houses are carefully interwoven to create intricate designs.

South Indian Thatch House Designs

South Indian Farmhouse Design

Farmhouse designs in South India are typically traditional houses built with mud and stone walls. These houses feature large front porches, and the roofs of these houses are usually thatched with dried hay or grass. The windows of these houses are usually small, and the entrance is typically oversized. The floors of these houses usually consist of either mud or stone, and the furniture consists mostly of mats on the floor, and wooden benches and chairs.

South Indian Farmhouse Design

South Indian Charupadi House Designs

Charupadi house designs are traditional house designs from South India. The walls of these houses are made of mud and stone, and are typically plastered. The roofs of these houses are usually slanted and thatched with hay or grass. The windows of these houses are usually small and the entrance is typically oversized. The floor of these houses are typically made of either mud or stone, and the furniture consists mostly of mats on the floor, and wooden benches and chairs.

South Indian Charupadi House Designs

Vasthu Shastra and South Indian House Design

Vasthu Shastra is an ancient system of architecture which originated in India. This system is widely used in South Indian house designs, and is based on the idea of achieving balance and harmony between nature and humans. This system is used to design and construct traditional houses of South India, and calls for symmetrical designs and correct orientations, along with alignments for optimal energy flow. These designs also focus on energy efficient construction methods, such as using local materials and renewable energy sources.

Vasthu Shastra and South Indian House Design

An Analysis of Old South Indian House Design

Old South Indian House Design South Indian house design is an age-old style, characterized by its elegant simplicity. The style is derived from the Indian architectural tradition of vāstu śāstra , which involves harmonization of the built environment with its surroundings. The houses typically feature spacious courtyards, inner gardens, multipurpose rooms, verandas, and open columns. South Indian house design seamlessly blends with its environment, providing a simple yet sophisticated shelter.

Design Elements

Old South Indian House Design South Indian house design is known for its warm colors, intricate patterns, and elegant curves. Common design elements used in the style include colonnades, carved pillars, and symmetrical forms. These are usually placed along with courtyards and perches, which provide space for family gatherings. There is also a tendency for single-storey houses. Traditional houses also feature courtyard gardens, with lots of tropical plants and trees.

Building Materials

Old South Indian House Design South Indian house design typically uses natural, locally sourced building materials. Commonly used materials include Granite, Brick, and Plaster. These materials are known to be highly durable, as well as create a cool atmosphere during hot, humid months. Other materials such as terracotta, wood, and marble are also used in building South Indian houses.

Roofs

Old South Indian House Design Traditional South Indian roofs often feature slanting roofs. They are usually made with tiles or thatch. The slanting design maximizes air circulation, providing an open ventilation system. Slanting roofs are also designed to shed water during monsoons, helping to protect the house from flooding.

Ventilation

Old South Indian House Design South Indian house design values natural ventilation over air-conditioning. To capture the most amount of air, open windows face both the east and west, allowing natural air to flow through the house. Open courtyards, inner gardens, and verandas are also common features of the style, since the additional air in these spaces helps to keep the house cool.

Conclusion

Old South Indian House Design South Indian house design is an age-old style that seamlessly blends with its environment. It features traditional elements such as open courtyards, inner gardens, perches, carved pillars, colonnades, Granite, Brick, and Plaster, and slanting roofs. The style also values natural ventilation over air-conditioning, utilizing open windows and ample ventilation spaces.

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