Documentation, observation and site analysis with primary objective understanding the layers constituting and affecting the built environment of the Pole, Anand, Gujarat
The Gamtal Area known as Pol area consists of residence 64% and mix-use buildings 22%, whereas mix-use buildings have shops on the ground in the front area and residences on the first floor and backroom.
Religious buildings mainly consist of temples and very few mosques. They are traditional construction, a few extensions are made than the previous layout for few temples.
Few buildings are converted into commercial buildings mainly seen at the edges of the major streets which were previously either residence or mix-use buildings.
The Gamtal area consists of 16% of residences which are 120-200 years old and 20% are 80 – 120 years old which also includes mix-use buildings.
These buildings are majoring in Poor – Fair condition, where few buildings are repaired using new building materials like cement.
Rest is constructed using traditional materials and requires few repairs, conservation.
The major number of buildings are 25 – 80 years old which is either in good condition and few are modified as per their function, use and materials.
Only 6% of buildings are built 25 years back which are newly constructed demolishing ancient buildings.
The buildings built by ancient construction methodology and traditional materials like wood, timber, sandstone and bricks (thin and large in size) are only 15% remaining in the Gamtal area.
The buildings which are repaired or parts are reconstructed using new materials are 26% where major construction technique is the traditional methodology and materials. These buildings are deteriorating because of unknown repair methods and without traditional knowledge.
22% of buildings have gone through major repairs where majorly new building materials like cement are used and a few traditional materials like timber columns, lintels and brackets are remaining.16% of buildings are demolished completely and built new, few buildings have similar planning as old but rest have adopted new concepts and materials of buildings construction.
