Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c55.8

v1.c55.8

The Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra's śālā-houses can solve our house problem. The material to be used is within the easy reach of all and the accommodation is just to satisfy the essential wants. The śāla-bhavanas can serve any variety of tenement. They can be built, also on a large scale. Some of the modern materials like cement, concrete, if employed, will make the houses last longer. They are best suited to the climate of India. The roofing should never be of reinforced concrete slab, instead the ṣaḍdāruka, tree timber planks obtained from such trees as mango, Mahuva or Neem abounding in every corner of the land should be employed. Walls, for security reasons may be made of brick and lime or brick, sand or cement. If the new townships or suburbs, the branch towns, the Śākhā-nagaras (vide the Town-Planning, the last part of the study) are planned, the houses therein should be planned in rows of śālā-houses, consisting of symmetrical, frontal varandahs, the Alindas together with porticos, the Bhadrās and hind portions the Parisaras. The central spaces are open and are large enough for plantation and vegetation etc.