Shifting Identities Of The Wateredges-Architectural Thesis

Figure 1 / Shifting / Source- Dantom

Abstract

Although the meaning of the term ‘wateredge’ seems self-evident as land adjacent to a water body, many definitions abound. Researching for ‘official definitions’, the following definition and description emerge: The American Heritage Dictionary defines wateredges as land abutting a body of water. My encounter with the wateredges around India has led me to describe the Wateredge as a pause point- Between the movement of the water and the stillness of the land where this pause lets the human interact with the water diversely across India. Diversity is the only legible term to describe life in India. This motion is the guideline of any activity performed by the people which naturally brings an Identity to the lifestyle and the architecture of the place. Diversity can be easily understood in terms of the languages spoken in India, clothing, rituals, lifestyle, religion, dance, food, architecture, and urban growth, but still, there is a hierarchy regarding occupying their spaces to perform different functions leaving an impression, In a physical sense, the impression is permanent and historical in Indian cities, but its experience keep changing. Similarly, as the flow of water changes its pace in every region, the expression of its wateredges also changes. Depending upon the geography, cultural and surrounding influence from serving as ghats, to housing to, occupation, to celebrating festivals that boomed on the wateredges. Since water is considered holy it is at the edge of India's waterbodies that one can see the amalgamation of life and divine.