Research

UrbanArch undertakes research in the realm of the tangible & intangible heritage of India. The major focus is on the documentation, mapping and archiving of heritage architecture and cultural practices. UAF works with various organisations including schools of architecture to undertake these documentation projects. Major research themes are the Indian Temple Architecture, Traditional houses of India, Indian Urbanism and its characters. Here are a few of the ongoing projects at the foundation.

Haveli - The Temple in resistance!

The Indian temple architecture is a diverse area which has a broad spectrum of diversity and points in the story of their evolution. The prevalent broad categorization is an injustice to such a rich history of Culture and Architecture. One such least-understood aspect of Temple typology is the Haveli Style of Temples.

Living Temples

The brutal Islamic invasion which lasted for over 1000 years made sure that no great temple survived in the northern part of the Indian Subcontinent. This resistance which was put up by the societies in the North made sure that the ancient cultural ethos survives south of the Vindhyas. It is the land of Living Temples with a history of continuous worship for over 1000 years!

Pondicherry

Pondicherry has a unique mix of architecture which is a result of french impression on Tamil vernacular architecture. This Documentation of the Franco-Tamil housing in the erstwhile French colony of Pondicherry in South India.

Naggar - Manali

Pondicherry has a unique mix of architecture which is a result of french impression on Tamil vernacular architecture. This Documentation of the Franco-Tamil housing in the erstwhile french colony of Pondicherry in South India.

Garli-Pragpur

During the high of British rule, Villeges of Garli and Pragpur were developed and houses here were designed for the Sood community. The aim of this study is the documentation of heritage villeges of Garli & Pragpur in the foothills of Himalayas in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India

Heritage Haveli in Garli Himachal Pradesh

Udupi-Sural

Documentation Residential as well as religious precinct and its cultural identity in and around the temple town of Udupi in the state of Karnataka, India.

Maheshwar

This is an ongoing project that is aimed at documentation Ghats and other religious as well as community spaces and the cultural life in the town of Maheshwar in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India

Courtyards!

Courtyards are the essential part of Indian Architecture. Life takes place around courtyard in Indian habitable spaces. This is an ongoing project that is aimed at documenting various kinds of Courtyard houses across the nation.