W hat is the most critical part of a house - foundation, wall, roof, openings or staircase? The obvious answer is roof, hence may be the metaphorical meanings when we say ‘roof over the head’. It is of course, less visible than the walls, hence often gets lesser attention, especially where front elevation looks are more demanding.
While walls enclose the room providing protection, it is the roof that provides the true shelter. Unlike any other element of domestic architecture, here we face multiple issues to grapple with. Immediate thought could be about the structural issues, as to how to support the roof itself. Traditional architecture worked around local materials to solve this issue, while modernity has opened up innumerable options.
People across the societies have felt the need to innovate on roofs, either because there never has been a totally satisfactory design or roofs have had the scope to play with them. While the flat and sloping roofs have dominated at large, all other options have continuously knocked at the door.
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Amazing forms
Contemporary architecture using advanced software to generate profile, computer-controlled manufacturing of components and on-site technology to assemble them all have created some amazing roof forms across the world, with architects like Frank Gehry and late Zaha Hadid leading the pack of innovators. But do they mean in our small town contexts we need to be deprived of them? No.
The Learning Centre located at Salem proves the point. With the passion of promoter Sanjay and involvement of builder Arun, their team has managed to build a magical school building. It’s it not the just the roof which is special here, but the totality of design and building.
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As such and with the concept of minimising cement and concrete, the design revolved around mud and clay.
Roofing with clay Mangalore tiles has been around for over the centuries; but it needs to be only sloping due to the interlocking grooves. By replacing them with flat clay tiles, one could create a curved profile. However, placement or direction of the clay tiles is important to ensure smooth curvature and to ensure that rain water does not clog anywhere.
Typical computer formulae will not help in resolving the S-curved roof which adorns the school building, but only an experienced structural engineer like Ravindranath could resolve it. The structure also has domes, vaults, varied kinds of filler roofs, stone slab roof and such others. As such, the behavioural patterns of roofs needs to be studied and equilibrium planned for.
Special attention
Of course, special attention is called for while assembling the roof for labour safety, joint filling and water proofing the joints. The fabrication also has be done to precision, lest the blocks may not be seated properly.
Curved clay flat hourdi roofs have advantages other than merely the novelty. They perform better for speedier construction, reduce steel with their lighter weight, ensure different aesthetics as against RCC ceilings and are easier for maintenance.
Be it the roof, wall or the whole building, architecture should not be driven by the idea of fancy, however attractive these new designs may appear to be. All the elements of design and components of construction should together aim to provide a holistic perception and experience.
(The writer is an architect working for eco-friendly designs and can be contacted at varanashi@gmail.com)