The Pol through the Lens of Functionalism

The Pol Houses of Ahmedabad were designed to meet the specific needs of the people living in the city’s dense areas.

If you have ever walked down a long flight of stairs or long corridors, you will notice that your path is never linear, you sway from one side to the other, similarly, each new addition to the poll creates an organic path of least resistance and conducive to human motion.

The streets of Poll’s are narrow and dense, being located in hot and dry Ahmedabad, this type of design is ideal for the residents living there. The houses are built around a central courtyard, which serves as a social space for the residents. The courtyard is also used for ventilation and natural lighting, which helps to reduce energy costs.

The spaces within the homes are also organised with the rooms of the elderly being located at one of the prominent ends with visual connectivity to all the spaces.

The high plinth in front of each home divides the house from the street while also creating semi-open spaces, the spaces between the steps are taken over by animals and the remainder is left for pedestrians and vehicles.