Indian historic water structures: graphic studies and analyses to understand the significance of transition in a traditional stepwell

The study aims at analysing an historic water structure built in Ahmedabad (Gujarat state, northwest India), a pretty desert region where water is scarce and the concept of a well with steps leading to the water was crucial for the survival of cities. The so called “stepwells” were primarily built solely for practical purposes, but over time, architectural elements such as decoration, niches and multifunc- tional pavilions were added to celebrate the water. Among these structures, for the urgent need of maintenance and its bad state of conservation this research wanted to take into consideration and analyse the whole composition of the Bhavani Mata stepwell (Ahmedabad) identifying architectural characteristics related to local cultures. Tangible and intangible aspects were recognized and correlated with the built structures as well as the transition between the interior spaces along the step path. The conclusion stresses that the stepwell has a fundamental role in disconnecting from the environment. It creates a substantial shift in the ambiance and the transition types via linear spaces establish the character of the place through the difference in light to dark, warm to cold, arid to humid atmosphere, open to enclosed. A place that should be studied, documented, and protected to be passed to future generation as an extraordinary example of humankind answer to hard environment constrains and amazing case studies transitional spaces design.