Epistemological Approach to Ascertain Human Comfort in Rural Houses in the Indian Context

Residents’ expectations of rural house design are considerably more than just shelter; they also indicate their way of living. Comfort and quality are the two most important factors that influence rural house design. It is vital for rural residents to invest their money carefully since they spend their entire lives saving for their houses. As a result, this study is required to truly understand the current situation of rural houses in terms of the transition of the material, human comfort, and quality of houses. The study’s aim is to explore the reason for the transition of vernacular material to modern material, human comfort, and the quality of rural houses in the Indian context. Since human comfort is multifaceted and impacted by a range of elements, this research is limited to thermal comfort. PRISMA methodology was utilized to conduct a systematic literature review using Scopus and Google Scholar, two online academic databases. Finally, research is divided into two parts first half explains the transition from vernacular to modern houses in the Indian scenario and the second half concludes the required indicators of human comfort and quality of rural housing by expert opinion using Pareto analysis. The research concluded with a literature gap in rural houses and key performance indicators of transition, human comfort, and quality. Occupants, researchers, and professionals involved in rural housing would be benefited from the findings of this study, which will assist to expand it further.