THE EVOLUTION OF URBAN HOUSING ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA: A HISTORICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Housing has many social, economic and political dimensions. Both at the settlement level as well as within the dwelling unit, space is organized in conformity with the social considerations. There had always been a distinct imprint on the nature of settlement structure in the past. Old megalithic and iron age archeological sites existed in India. The earliest settlements Indus Valley civilization in India recognized for its comprehensive urban planning. Houses built out of stone and mud bricks with uniform and identical in their characteristics. With the end of Indus Valley civilization and the rise of different empires and dynasties throughout the country began reflecting the use of rock-cut architecture and stone construction exhibited the values and traditions of the community. Further the country witnessed a rise in dominance by the emperial rulers and during British and European rule through typical architectural features and native architectural style. After independence developing of planned cities emerged. By the 1990swith the onset of liberalization and the entry of the private sector into real estate. The stories of the apartment buildings grew, the cost of living increased and the houses in rural areas have also started adopting the materials used in the urban context, concrete, and glass. In the present time excess demand for affordable dwellings. Small rental market and an oversupply of high-end housing seen especially in urban areas.