Mangalore tiles
Interlocking terracotta roof tiles
Born in Karnataka coast, Kerala, Konkan.
How it works
Interlocking fired-clay tiles on a pitched roof shed the monsoon fast, while the fired terracotta and the ventilated attic under it keep the ceiling from soaking up the sun. A whole coastal building culture grew around the tile factories.
In a modern home
A ventilated, tiled or double-skin pitched roof over the top floor; the vented air gap is the part an apartment terrace can borrow.
What it answers
Built from
Source
Basel Mission tile industry, Mangalore; coastal Karnataka and Kerala vernacular.
Follow the threads
The courtyard houseshares poor ventilation, plan & form, cool→Buffer & transition spacesshares heavy rain, plan & form, cool→Courtyard stack ventilationshares poor ventilation, cool, warm & humid→Filler-slab roofshares roof heat, cool, warm & humid→Insulating & green roofsshares roof heat, cool, warm & humid→Kyoto townhouseshares poor ventilation, cool, warm & humid→