Vernacular Architecture of Weaver’s Settlement—A Case for Creating Resilient and Sustainable Environments for Handloom Cluster at Bargarh, Odisha

Odisha is famous for its rich culture, heritage, and handloom. The handloom weaving industry of Bargarh, West Odisha, India, is known worldwide for its beautiful silk, tussur, and cotton weaving. But due to several reasons, the handloom sector in Odisha has recorded a steep decline post-liberalization. When we study the reasons for the decline, much focus has been on the absence of marketing, growth strategy, profit margins, and time factors. However, an important aspect seems to have been unnoticed—the dilapidated living environment of their homes and civic amenities which escalates their exodus rate to urban areas for alternative employment. Thus, this paper identifies and studies the living spaces and settlement planning of the two vernacular handloom clusters of Bargarh, namely Bhatli and Kushanpuri to understand their living conditions, construction techniques, typical planning, and materials used in their dwellings. The study tries to do an assessment of these same parameters. It also tries to analyze the developmental and potential threats via primary survey. The research was basically done in two phases, one was a regional study and the second was a community-level study. The work aims to comprehend the existing conditions and challenges of the weaver’s settlements and focus on the physical needs of the community which will help strategize about retaining the vernacular character of the settlement and make a resilient environment for the weavers prioritizing their weaving needs. It helps in giving policy level and technical recommendations.