SITE VISIT TO ALLAHABAD (INTACH)

The purpose was to study historical and regional architecture of Allahabad and to
establish its relation and association with river Ganga.
The project “CULTURAL MAPPING OF RIVER GANGA” was a part of Central
Government project “NAMAMI GANGE” which solely aims at the documentation of
all historical structures with the span of 5 Km on both sides of river Ganga. INTACH
was preparing the listing of Allahabad, Mirzapur and Varanasi in this project.’
I was the part of Allahabad listing and was a member of team of 6 including four
interns and 2 architects. City of Allahabad is comprised of 6 tehsils namely,
Allahabad, Phoolpur, Soraon, Meja, Handia, Karchana. Teams of two were made
and has to cover two Tehsilseach. I was the part of Phoolpur and Allahabad Tehsil.
Several historical structures were studied, research work is carried out in the
archives and state library. I was involved in reading book called “PRAYAG
PRADEEP” and connecting history to present day conditions of Allahabad.
Phoolpur is comprised of many villages of which Old Jhusi, New Jhusi,
Pratishthanpur were thoroughly studied. In Allahabad Tehsil, I studied the Chowk
area, which is meant to be one of the oldest settlement of Allahabad city.
During this project I learnt various historical and architectural terms, research
methodology, interacting with local people, and Indian and colonial architecture.
Structure of Jhusi : Samudrakoop
Samudrakoop : It is located in the Ulta Qila Premises in Old Prtishthanpur, Jhusi
and is one of the ASI sites of Allahabad. It is believed to be constructed in 326 AD
Samudragupt Maurya. The well is believed to have a water level equal to the sea
(Samudra) level, giving it its name. The locals believe that if a person who follows
celibacy, resides at the well and takes a sip of holy water along with taking a round
around the well, he/she will liberated and reach a state of ultimate bliss.
The well and a rectangular structure are raised on a circular, high plinth adomed with
decorative bands and pan-patta ornamentations. It is comprised of arches and
shrines of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The structure is covered with stone slab
resting on wooden beams. The well constructed in stone masonry, comprises of
stone pillars attached with an iron rod to support the pulley. Traces of an earlier
paan- patta ornamentation band and stone blocks sculpted with Lord Ganesh can be
seen on the interior walls. A copper plate dating back to 1027 AD is found on site.
Materials used:
1. Lime Plaster- Lime has been used for approximately
2000 years within mortar, internal plaster,external
render, foundations, flooring, infilling of walls, casing
of water conduits, jointing compounds and
decorative applications.
Lime mortar is made in a three-stage process called
the lime cycle:
1. Calcination: CaCO3+heat →CaO +CO2
2. Hydration: CaO +H2O→Ca(OH)2+Heat
3. Carbonation: Ca(OH)2+CO2→CaCO3+H2O
 2. Red Sandstone- Sandstone is the main type of
building stone used in Historic India. Although a
durable material, sandstone is also naturally
porous, making it prone to erosion if subjected to
water and wind over time. Correctly used and
maintained, however, stone is a sound, stable
building material – as shown by our many
prehistoric buildings.
Many stone decay problems begin with the failure
to maintain buildings. Regular inspection and repair of roofing leadwork,
rainwater goods and underground drainage will help to prevent water from
entering and saturating stonework. You should also look out for pointing
missing between individual stones, as moss, grasses, small bushes and
saplings may begin to grow in these gaps, damaging the structure further.
Historic buildings are expected to show signs of ageing:
a. sandstone can erode and decay to quite a depth before causing structural
problems that must be fixed.
b. the surface patina that forms over time is very valuable, as it adds a sense
of history and a protective layer, and it can also be attractive.

Sketches on site:
Gangolia Shivalaya, Jhusi:

It is located on the banks of river Ganga near Baba Hasandas Ashram, Old Jhusi. It
has an ancient Shiva Temple believed to have been built by a brahmin merchant of
Agra, Ganga Prasad Tiwari. This temple has gained local popularity and is now one
of the pilgrimage during the Kumbh Mela.
The temple precinct is entered through a southern entrance gateway, with a
multifoliated arch and projections supported on decorative brackets. A single storey
temple is built on high sandstone plinth. Comprised of flat arches, Intricately carved
brackets, and columns. Blind Jharokhas can be seen of on the four sides of the
temple. Square in plan, temple is comprised of the Garbhgriha topped by an
ornamented shikhara. Jali windows, pan-patta ornamentation were the major
attractions. The temple complex is also comprised of two other structures behind as
well as adjacent to it.
Material Used- Mirzapur sandstone (Yellow Sandstone) which is very easy to carve,
Limestone Plaster, Marble stucco
Sketches on site:
Building of Chowk, Allahabad: Laxmi Mandir
Laxmi Mandir- It is located in Malviyanagar chowk, Allahabad,Uttar Pradesh. It was
Constructed in the 18th century and was built as a Residence with influence from
Colonial Architectural features.
It is a two-storey structure built on a high-plinth. Residing on a large plot,it has
influence from colonial architecture with semi-circular arches and corinthian columns
in the corridor. Turrets like structure can be seen on the both sides of facade with
dentils, pediments, chajja and quoins. Mixture of red and yellow sandstone can be
seen in the building with lime mortar which has now blackened showing the age of
the building. Traces of use of bricks can also be found on site. Intricate metal jalis
were forming the railing of parapet and jharokhas.
Amalgamation of Indian and Colonial architecture can be sensed by observing the
jharokhas and the different designs of dentils as shown in the sketch. Plain
rectangular plan and heavily decorated arches and columns shows creativity in the
simplicity.
Owner of the building has ancestral property rights and their generations are still
continuing the occupation of jewellers.

Materials used: Sandstone, Lime Mortar, Iron railings, Clay bricks

Sketches on site:
The building is following courtyard planning having both exterior and interior
courtyards, separating public and private spaces. However, exterior or the front
courtyard is not properly maintained.

Similarly, about 340 buildings were documented in the region of Allahabad. The
project was further carried out to Mirzapur and Varanasi, of which I was not the part.
BUILDING STUDY OF FACTORY BUILDING IN MAYAPURI
INDUSTRIAL AREA PH-2, NEW DELHI
Address- B-85, Mayapuri Ph-2, New Delhi
Client- Mr.Baldev Singh (Businessman by profession)
Site Area- 21832.142 sq ft (0.5 acres approx..)
Client requirements- Halls for the purpose of renting out.
Site setting-

Floors – Basement+ G+1

Materials Used:
RCC – M20 (1:1.5:3)
Reinforced concrete, or RCC, is concrete that contains embedded steel bars,
plates, or fibers that strengthen the material. The capability to carry loads by
these materials is magnified, and because of this RCC is used extensively in
all construction. Reinforced materials are embedded in the concrete in such a
way that the two materials resist the applied forces together. The compressive
strength of concrete and the tensile strength of steel form a strong bond to
resist these stresses over a long span.

RCC Specifications:
• Shuttering shall be done using seasoned wooden boards of thickness
not less than 30mm.
• Surface contact with concrete shall be free from adhering grout, nails,
splits and other defects.
• All the joints are perfectly closed and lined up.
• The shuttering and framing is sufficiently braced.
• Nowadays timber shuttering is replaced by steel plates.
• All the props of approved sizes are supported on double wedges and
when taken out, these wedges are eased and not knocked out.
• All the framework is removed after 21 days of curing without any
shocks or vibrations.
• All reinforcement bars conform IS specifications and are free from rust,
grease oil etc.
• The steel grills are perfectly as per detailed specifications.
• The covers to concrete are perfectly maintained as per code.
• Bars of diameter beyond 25mm diameter are bent when red hot.
• The materials proportion should be as per the specifications of the
concrete.
Brick -A1 Grade
On the basis of quality, Bricks are of the following kinds:
First Class Brick: The size is standard. The color of these bricks is uniform yellow or
red. It is well burnt, regular texture, uniform shape. The absorption capacity is less
than 10%, crushing strength is, 280kg/cm2 (mean) where it is 245 kg/cm2
(minimum). It doesn’t have efflorescence. It emits a metallic sound when struck by
another similar brick or struck by a hammer. It is hard enough to resist any fingernail
expression on the brick surface if one tries to do with a thumbnail. It is free from
pebbles, gravels or organic matters. It is generally used-
• in a building of long durability, say 100 years
• for building exposes to a corrosive environment;
• for making coarse aggregates of concrete.

First class brick Second class brick Third class brick

Cement – Ultratech
Cement, one of the most important building materials, is a binding agent that sets
and hardens to adhere to building units such as stones, bricks, tiles, etc. Cement
generally refers to a very fine powdery substance chiefly made up of limestone
(calcium), sand or clay (silicon), bauxite (aluminum) and iron ore, and may include
shells, chalk, marl, shale, clay, blast furnace slag, slate. The raw ingredients are
processed in cement manufacturing plants and heated to form a rock-hard
substance, which is then ground into a fine powder to be sold. Cement mixed with
water causes a chemical reaction and forms a paste that sets and hardens to bind
individual structures of building materials.
Chip Flooring
Aggregate flooring, also known as epoxy stone flooring or chip flooring, is an epoxy-
based floor that is covered in small stones or chips. This textured floor is covered
with a hard epoxy glaze that makes it durable and long wearing. An aggregate floor
can be installed anywhere and a wide range of different colors is possible. Installing
an aggregate floor is as simple as painting and does not require the same kneeling
or bending that a tile floor does.

Stages of Construction:

Excavation
 Basement levelling Steel bars binding

Slab casting Basement slab casting

Staircase slab casting Beam casting

Sketches related to the project:
Building Study of Residential House Mansarovar Garden, New
Delhi
Address- A 20, Bank Enclave, Ring Road, Mansarovar Garden, New Delhi
Client- Ad. Rajesh Chawdhry
Site Area- 1800 sq ft
Client Requirement- Addition and Alteration of spaces without disturbing the frame.
Site Setting:
Materials used:
RCC – M20 (1:1.5:3)
Nagpur Teak- 4”x2.5” frame for 8’ door height
Place of origin is Nagpur in Maharashtra. This teak wood is quite well-known in India and
used a lot for making teak furniture.
Whether it be for furniture or flooring, teak wood has been a preferred solid wood material
since many long years. The advantages of teak wood far outweigh the disadvantages. The
only major deterrent is the high cost because of the low availability and high demand. If not
for the high cost, even today most of the people would have been gladly buying teak wood
instead of the particle boards and plywood, just as their forefathers did in the earlier days.

White Marble
Marble is a very popular natural stone used for tiles and slabs for floors, countertops,
and walls. It is a metamorphic rock that forms when a sedimentary stone, such as
limestone, is transformed under heat and pressure into a harder stone with beautiful
color and veined patterns.
Pros:
• Available in broad range of colours, patterns and designs, thus you can select
from a variety of designs. No other material looks as elegant and beautiful as
marble.
• As marble is translucent material, when exposed to sunlight, marble flooring
glows and increases radiance in the room.
 • It is extremely durable and long lasting, it can withstand any external
pressure, and any sudden change of weight can easily be handled by this
material.
• It has high resistance to fire, unlike wood flooring.
• It is very easy to clean marble flooring.
Cons:
• Marble flooring gets very cold in winter season. Hence, it is not suitable for
very cold weather regions, as you cannot walk barefoot on it.
• very expensive as compared to other flooring materials.
• Marble is a natural material which reacts easily with an acid. Their interaction
result in stains on its surface.
• Also it is a porous material and stains will be easily formed due to spillage of
liquids such as tea, curry, dal, coffee, wine, juices, sauces, etc.
• Marble is innately a softer stone, which makes it susceptible to scratches from
sharp or hard objects.
• Installation of marble flooring is very much time consuming, and requires
skilled labourers, particularly when you have to match veins of marble.
• requires proper care and maintenance. Marble flooring should be regularly
polished periodically..
• Marble floors are very slippery when wet, which can be hazardous and can
result in accidental falls.
• It is very difficult to change/replace marble flooring once installed, as the
stone of same colour and design is hard to find after few years.
Fly-ash bricks
Fly ash bricks are hi-tech well-improved quality bricks used for construction of brick
masonry structures. They are used as replacement for normal clay bricks and has
better properties than it.
The important compositions of fly ash bricks are:
• Fly ash
• Cement
• Sand
• Water
Sources of Fly Ash
72% of India’s power plants are coal based. These
power stations generate nearly 40 million tones of
fly ash annually. Fly ash contains Co2 emitted from
Thermal power plants, industries using coal as a
fuel emits unwanted ash and smoke from which fly
ash is produced. In all the power plants and industries, they separate the fly ash by
using the cyclone converter. This fly ash is then used as a raw material for
manufacture of bricks. The CO2 emission is about ninety million tons out of cement
and forty nine million tons out of clay bricks production in India. As per the ongoing
practices in India, each million clay bricks consume about 200 tons of coal (or any
other fuel with equal quantity of thermal values) and emit around 270 tons of CO2.
Fly ash bricks production in energy-free route saves the emissions totally, befitting
the project to qualify under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as envisaged by
Kyoto Protocol towards the welfare of Mother Earth.
Sketches related to the project: