CONTENTS Introduction Research Question Aim and Objective Methodology and Structure Scope and Limitations C h a p t e r 1 Overview of Culture, Religion and its in.uences on Houseform 9 1.1 Culture in Built environment 1.2 Religion as aspect of culture 1.2.1 Meaning of sacredness in cosmos 1.2.2 Establishment of the centre 1.3 Religious in.uences on house form 1.4 Related examples 1.5 Summarized observation C h a p t e r 2 Gokarna -A background 29 2.1 Introduction 2.2. Physical Aspect 2.2.1 Location and Signi.cance 2.2.2 Climate and topography 2.2.3 Area and population 2.3 Historical account 2.3.1 History of Gokarna 2.3.2 Myth 2.4 Important religious Institutions 2.4.1 Mahabaleshwar temple 2.4.2 Koti-theerth 2.4.3 Vinayaka temple 2.4.4 Tamragauri temple 2.5. Gokarna Community Account 2.2.1 Present situation in Gokarna 2.2.2 Lifestyle of the people 2.2.3 Religious and Orthodox caste 2.2.4 Family structure and social customs 2.6 General attributes of community 2.6.1 Ceremonial 2.6.2 Festival 2.7 Brief Introduction to the settlement 2.7.1 The Settlement 2.7.1a The Street network 2.7.1b Built v/s Open 2.7.1c Socio- cultural and socio-religious factors 2.7.2 The Houseform 2.7.2a Spaces within the house 2.7.2b.Elements of house C h a p t e r 3 Analysis 65 3.1.Criteria for selection of case study 3.2.Framework of Analysis 3.3.Case Study: 3.3.1 Joglekar House 1 3.3.2 Gopi House 2 3.3.3 Shubhramanium Sanmukh House 3 3.4 Comparative Analysis 3.5 Observation 3.6 Conclusion Appendix (complete set of drawings) 165 Illustration and credits Bibliography Glossary Acknowledgment