Abstract
Architecture not only provides shelter but also mirrors a society’s standards of living, norms and values. The old buildings are not mere tangible realities rather they provide clues to human understanding and living patterns, including aesthetic sense. This research work aims to document some residential buildings built in Colonial era in the old neighborhoods of Hyderabad (Sindh) and to explore the ornamentation patterns, usage of spaces (by different genders) and how the inhabitants have used, altered or retained the built structures. The research methodology involved in this study uses photographic, descriptive and ethnographic documentation. As most of the old buildings are threatened and are being rapidly destroyed to be replaced by modern structures, this study has been helpful in documenting their important features and various aspects of colonial architecture that are getting lost with the passage of time and replacement of the old buildings by contemporary architecture.
Keyword(s)
Architecture, Society, Norms, Ornamentation, Spaces, Colonial, Hyderabad