Despite much searching, I could not find a suitable Bengali expression for the English term “Vernacular Architecture.” In Bengali, the terms sed in this context are “native architecture,” “indigenous architecture,” or “local architecture.” Some also equate “vernacular” with “heritage” or “tradition.” While these expressions can be complementary, they are never synonymous. So, what is vernacular? Simply put, if something is created based on the unique concepts of a specific community using local materials and technology, it can be called vernacular. The use and acceptance of vernacular art are maintained over
many generations. There are countless examples of this in various fields of art worldwide, including our own country. Architecture is no exception. Many examples of vernacular architecture are spread across many countries from one end of the world to the other. A notable and excellent example of this, which many of us might not know, is found in
Bangladesh. This unique architectural style in the Sylhet region is the subject of our discussion.
Although the words vernacular and heritage are not synonymous, one can complement the other. How? When a vernacular art crosses the boundaries of time while maintaining its usefulness, it becomes heritage. The vernacular architecture of the Sylhet region is not only regional but also a significant heritage for the entire country. Unfortunately, this
heritage, over one hundred and fifty years old, is now on the brink of extinction. This vernacular architecture of our heritage is known as the Assam Style House; in my language, I have named it the Assam House.
After losing the Anglo-Burmese War of 1824, Burma handed over Assam to the British. It took another two years for the British to gain complete control. In 1826, when they arrived in this province, their first task was to establish an administrative infrastructure. This included arranging offices for officials, residences, and schools for their
children. Due to geographical position and natural adversities, the Assam region was less developed than other parts of India. There were hardly any roads for transportation, and the few houses present were in poor condition. The British realized that they needed to make the area habitable for themselves first, starting from scratch.
At that time, the architectural tradition in India was the palace architecture developed by the Mughals. Although many Indian construction materials were used, they were not readily available in Assam. The British understood that it was not easy to import all the necessary building materials from other states due to the lack of transport
infrastructure. Therefore, they realized the need for a new architectural style using local materials and technology suitable for both European and Mughal traditions. This led them to start researching the climate, environment, regional construction methods, and materials.
Local kings and zamindars managed to build their buildings in imitation of Mughal architecture. The British could have done the same, but they found that these constructions were not only costly but also did not fulfill all the requirements of an ideal residence. While these buildings could prevent unwanted intrusions by thieves or wild animals, they were not suitable for the natural disasters of the region. Whether it was rain, storms, or earthquakes, these grand buildings stood helplessly against such events. The British did not like this.
They then turned their attention to the housing conditions of the common people. After careful observation, they found that the housing conditions of the common people were inadequate and had many structural weaknesses. These houses stood on bamboo poles or tree trunks, withwalls and roofs made of vine-covered materials coated with a mixture of
dung and clay. Although insufficient, this arrangement could not protect the residents adequately from nature, thieves, or wild animals. Despitethis, these houses attracted more attention from the researchers than palace architecture for three main reasons. First, this construction style relied entirely on local materials; second, using locally produced raw materials made these houses cost-effective; and third, these houses, although shaken by earthquakes, could not be easily destroyed.
Using this research-based knowledge, the British proposed a new architectural style suitable for the nature, environment, and climate of Assam. This later became known as the “Assam Type House” in Sylhet and the Barak Valley of this state. Assam had abundant forest resources. The materials for house construction came from there. The British chose bamboo, wood, and a type of aquatic grass called “Ikara” as the main building materials for the Assam houses. Before the Assam Type House construction method became popular, its predecessors were made using bamboo or, in some cases, wooden poles. These poles were inserted into the ground to form the foundation of the house. The upper part of the foundation was about a meter above the ground, which was the floor of the house. The poles were horizontally supported by bamboo or wood at three places: directly parallel to the floor, about two meters above it, and finally at the top where the roof began. Additional poles and crossbeams were added as needed for doors and windows. Once the structure was built this way, the spaces in between were filled with woven mats made of Ikara. To handle rain, sloped roofs were used. The roof structures were also made of bamboo or wood. Poorer people covered these roofs with thatch or woven mats of Ikara, while somewhat wealthier people used bamboo slats or wooden planks. The British did not change these basic principles much in their original design of the Assam houses. The bamboo or wooden poles, crossbeams, sloped roofs, and walls made of woven mats all remained.
However, some procedural changes were made to ensure the building’s durability and safety. Engineering knowledge was added, and some long-lasting construction materials were incorporated. Bricks and lime, locally available materials, were used by wealthier individuals to increase the durability of their buildings. The use of bricks began in building the foundation walls of houses. The foundation wall of bricks rose from the ground to the window sill height. Above this, the wooden poles were set and tied together with horizontal beams, following the traditional method. Wealthier individuals built their floors out of wood
instead of clay by placing beams and then planking them. In government buildings, the British began making foundations and floors out of stone, sand, and a mixture of lime and brick.
The use of Ikara and bamboo mats for wall fillings remained in place. However, a new mixture of lime, sand, and clay as plaster became popular due to its durability. The British brought the application of engineering science to the design of Assam houses. An example of this is the brick foundation wall. Other scientific knowledge added included diagonal bracing to resist strong winds and horizontal earthquake forces, extending sloped roofs to shield the walls from rain and heat, and ventilators near the roof to allow hot air to escape from inside the house.
In the new design of the Assam houses, some traditional practices were retained. To prevent fire from spreading from the kitchen to the sleeping areas, the residents left an open veranda in between. This arrangement was kept. Houses in Assam were built around a square courtyard, with the main entrance facing the courtyard for both security
and privacy. The other side of the courtyard housed the toilets, sometimes also the kitchen, separated by a veranda. This layout was maintained in the new designs. Wealthier families needed an additional room for hosting guests. This room was built separately in the front,
with another open courtyard between it and the main house.
Despite the quick acceptance of Assam houses by all levels of society, some feudal lords and wealthy individuals clung to palace architecture to maintain their social and financial status. After the devastating earthquake of 1897 in Assam, it was found that most of these palaces had collapsed, while the Assam houses stood proudly. This did not go unnoticed, leading to the construction method of Assam houses becoming popular across all levels of society overnight.
The development timeline of Assam houses in Sylhet was almost identical to that of other areas. Although the technology relied upon by the British to create this architectural concept was widely used at the grassroots level from the early 1800s to the following two hundred years, its application among the elite society of Sylhet was almost nonexistent. After the 1897 earthquake, this attitude changed. Almost all buildings in this district, which started from the early 20th century, were built based on the new concept of Assam houses. According to historians, most Assam houses in this area were built between 1920 and 1960. This architectural style also got a new name in the Sylhet area: “Bangla Baton Style,” as the walls of the bungalow-type houses were made using bamboo or wooden battens.
With the improvement of communication systems and the availability of new construction materials, some changes were made to the Assam houses.
Reinforced concrete replaced wooden poles for greater durability. Before the advent of cement and iron rods, a type of pole was made using a mixture of lime and brick dust, with bamboo splinters as reinforcement.When cement became available, bamboo splinters were initially used asreinforcement in concrete. Later, iron rods replaced bamboo splinters.
Iron bars began to be used for other major structural components. One such component was corrugated tin, mainly used for roofing and sometimes for walls. Another was the use of iron angle bars for making poles and the main structure. As iron bars could span more than wood, their use brought some changes to the shape and appearance of houses. To enhance the beauty of houses, decorative metal fringes were added to the sloping roof edges. As I mentioned, tin was used for wall construction, and besides this, wire mesh started to be used instead of woven bamboo or Ikara mats. Cement-sand plaster began to replace the mixture of mud and lime. With further technological advancement came the two-story version of Assam houses.
The black batons and white or light green walls of these houses, standing in the green courtyard with a small flower garden, were once a very familiar sight in the sunny and sometimes shaded, rainy Sylhet.
** Anwar Iqbal – Architect, Washington, USA
