PATTERNS OF SETTLEMENT

GENERAL SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN RURAL AREA

The spatial organization or arrangement of houses along with its street system in a village, locations of a well or a pond or cultural elements like monasteries and temples plays important role in defining its pattern.

The following are the main pattern of settlement:

1. Linear pattern.

2. Circular Pattern.

3.  Checker Board or Rectangular Pattern.

4.  Star-like Pattern.

5. Fan Pattern.

6. Terrace or Contour Pattern.

7. Shapeless or Amorphous Pattern.

1.    Linear pattern

When the houses are of the village are developed more or less in a straight line along the side of major roadways, river banks etc. and along a street having two parallel rows of houses facing each other is called linear pattern.

Example: Tsimakoti in Chukha.

 “Linear Pattern of settlement is prominent in Bhutan”. Do you agree? Justify.

2.    Circular Pattern

This settlement pattern develops when many houses were constructed along the bank of a pond or lake or even a monastery, (any important spot) forming a circular shape.

Example: A settlement around the hot spring in Gasa and Gelephu.

3. Checker Board or Rectangular Pattern

This pattern of settlement develops at the meeting place of two or more roads, where the streets are either parallel or perpendicular to each other.

 

4.    Star-like Pattern

A village acquires a star-like pattern when streets radiate from a common centre. Expansion of such village is due to population growth.

5.    Fan Pattern

    Fan Pattern villages are found in deltaic and foothill areas such as in the alluvial fan               areas of the Himalayan foothills and are in the shape of alluvial fan.

6.    Terrace or Contour Pattern

This settlement pattern on the hill slopes where the houses are constructed in terraces following the contour lines.

 

7.    Shapeless or Amorphous Pattern

This rural pattern of settlement does not have any particular shape and it may develop any rural area.