SUSTAINABLE QUOTIENT OF TRADITIONAL HOUSES - A PANORAMIC VIEW OF AGRAHARAMS IN AYANAVARAM

Sustainable Architecture aims to minimize or nullify the negative impact on the environment, which happens mainly due to the use of inappropriate building systems. Building system is an umbrella term that constitutes building construction methodology, Choice of building materials, building maintenance and servicing and disposal of a part or whole building at the end of its service life. Building system especially after the advent of ordinary portland cement, was found to have a very high negative impact on the environment due to the emission of green houses and dioxins during the manufacture of building materials during its service life or after disposal.This paper brings into light the sustainable quotient of an Agraharam (a series of houses built near or around a Hindu temple that serves as residential Quarters to the Brahmins who serve in the temple) that was built before 211 years at Ayanavaram, Chennai.The Agraharam has 13 identical houses in structurally sound condition, very little modification has been carried out in all the houses and these modifications are mostly limited to services such as incorporation of power supply, plumbing and drainage. Hardly any modification has been done on the superstructure that is built with burnt clay bricks, lime and sand. The Agraharam in reference can be analysed thoroughly for its characteristics that make it a good example for sustainable architecture.