Assam-type architecture is an architectural style developed in the state of Assam in India during the

late modern period In many periodizations of human history, the late modern period followed the early modern period. It began approximately around the year 1800 and depending on the author either ended with the beginning of contemporary history after World War ...

. It is found in Assam and Sylhet region. The houses constructed using this style are generally termed as ''Assam-type'' houses, consisting usually one or more

storey A storey (British English) or story (American English) is any level part of a building with a floor that could be used by people (for living, work, storage, recreation, etc.). Plurals for the word are ''storeys'' (UK) and ''stories'' (US). T ...

s. The houses are built to be earthquake proof, and are made from materials ranging from wood and bamboo to steel and concrete.

History

Before the arrival of the

British in India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

, affluent families in Assam lived in expensive, elaborately constructed houses, while the others survived in huts made from mud-plastered bamboo walls and thatched roofs. With the knowledge of and access to modern science, British engineers assessed the natural environment and designed and constructed buildings that are now known as ''Assam-type'' buildings.

Present day

The present-day ''Assam-type'' buildings are a result of architectural changes that were introduced in colonial Assam.

Elements of Assam-type style

The structure

Buildings are constructed on both flat and sloped terrains. On flat grounds, the buildings are typically rectangular or ''L or C'' layout. On other surfaces, such as

highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally speaking, upland (or uplands) refers to ranges of hills, typically from up to while highland (or highlands) is ...

s, they are usually rectangular in shape, accessed via the hillside. The roof is typically erected by high gables to overcome heavy rainfall in the region, where walls are usually timber-framed, plastered with cement. With high

ceiling A ceiling is an overhead interior surface that covers the upper limits of a room. It is not generally considered a structural element, but a finished surface concealing the underside of the roof structure or the floor of a story above. Ceilings ...

s and well-ventilated rooms, the floorings are either wooden or concrete with tiled, mosaic or stone surfacing with

stilt Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates. They have extremely long legs, hence the grou ...

The configuration

The general design of a residential building incorporates a living room, verandah, kitchen, besides

bedroom A bedroom or bedchamber is a room situated within a residential or accommodation unit characterised by its usage for sleeping and sexual activity. A typical western bedroom contains as bedroom furniture one or two beds (ranging from a crib for ...

s and bathrooms. Some may additionally feature long

corridor Corridor or The Corridor may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''The Corridor'' (1968 film), a 1968 Swedish drama film * ''The Corridor'' (1995 film), a 1995 Lithuanian drama film * ''The Corridor'' (2010 film), a 2010 Canadia ...

s, connecting rooms, especially buildings such as schools and colleges.

References

Architecture of Assam House styles House types {{India-struct-stub