Beyond Materials: The Cultural Significance of Kutcha and Pucca Houses in India

The terms kutcha and pucca houses are reminiscent of school days when we most likely encountered these words for the first time. 

India is rich in heritage and has lots of weight to its tangible and intangible heritage. Let us deconstruct kutcha and pucca houses in the Indian context. Have you ever wondered what the cultural significance of the kutcha and pucca places in the Indian context is? And, more often than not, whenever we wish to go for a retreat or a vacation in nature, we are looking for the material palette that Kutcha Houses offer. In this blog, we will look at how these concepts originated and what they meant for Indians in the past. 

The difference between the Kutcha house and the Pucca house

The structural differences between Kutcha houses and Pucca houses are super evident, as is evident in the very name. But, the cultural significance of both is different, and it becomes even more emphasized in a country like India. 

Since we will explore the cultural significance of these material palettes and construction methodologies in the following lines, let us first decode the difference between kutcha House and pucca house.

Kutcha Houses

• From all things natural and show respect for nature

Kutcha houses personify earthy hues, appeal and feel since they are made from a natural palette. Since they are made of materials from mother nature, there is respect for nature and its creations. This is precisely why these building typologies do not go against nature or intentionally try to cause harm to it. While we approach treehouses as a means of recreation or an aesthetically beautiful setup, our ancestors created the same because they wanted to be in harmony with nature and build so that no tree was unnecessarily felled.

• Temporal inhabitation

In the olden times, kutcha houses were designed particularly when a particular place was meant to be inhabited temporally. This temporal inhabitation can be attributed to the change of season or staying uphill to gather fodder for their animals. On the other hand, Pucca houses were symbolic of places to be inhabited permanently.  

• Insulation

This material palette comes directly or with very slight modifications from nature. 

Made with raw and earthy materials, these houses also provide excellent insulation. Be it the kath khuni and dhajji divari houses of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand or the timber and wattle houses in parts of Gujarat. 

• Eco Friendly

In this era where everyone advocates for using natural materials because of being sensitive to carbon emissions, these houses are eco-friendly and respect the context of their location. Our ancestors were wise individuals who never went against the forces of nature; co-existing with all living beings has been a part of Indian culture. It is all evident in the worship of trees to date. 

Pucca Houses

Let us now look at deconstructing a pucca house. 

The government has continually advocated for the importance of pucca houses and roofs since natural calamities then hit such places worse. 

• Material palette and construction techniques that speak of durability and strength 

Pucca houses can look like corrugated iron sheet pitched roofs, concrete block walls in Himachal Pradesh, and kissing RCC skyscrapers in Mumbai. Material for kutcha houses typically includes stone, block, concrete, cement, brick, and wood. These houses are durable, sturdy, solid and intended for longevity.

• Signifiers of permanence of residence

Since everything in the past was done manually, it required a lot of time and physical effort; pucca houses were thus built only at places of permanent residence or significant importance. Also, specific Architectural styles were achieved by inviting master craftsperson from overseas. Examples still stand as pitched roof houses, dome-capped palaces with gorgeous marble inlay work.

• Learnings from the past

Be it kutcha or pucca houses, people in the past passed on hands-on knowledge to their posterity, and their posterity proudly carried forward the same and even executed it. However, these materials and styles are vanishing today, and the craftsperson and individuals trained at this are also fewer.

• Vernacular construction re-imagined

With the advancements in Architecture and Building Technology, using local and sustainable materials, buildings that last long, do little to no harm to the environment, and offer insulation and protection are now very much possible. Modern-day engineered materials may have their disadvantages, and it is essential to be cautious of the same. 

In the End 

We started this piece by looking at the difference between kutcha house and pucca house and then walked through the cultural significance of these typologies when they were envisioned in the past. Today, they have come a long way, and pucca houses are becoming symbolic of concretization! However, there is a community of Architects and civil engineers who respect the natural context and are promoting and envisioning built forms with lessons from the past. This material palette and construction techniques are increasingly being acknowledged and encouraged.