Terracotta Figured Roof Tiles of Odisha

Clay roof tiles - part of a pitched (sloped) roof system, with burnt clay tiles laid on (usually) a timber under-structure - are a quintessential feature in several parts of the Indian countryside. Clay roof tiles are appropriate for most parts of the country, except where strong winds and cyclones, and/or snow, are frequent. Good quality tiles, appropriately overlapped, are waterproof in ordinary climatic situations. The use of clay tile roofs in country areas where pottery skills exist and where timber (or alternative under-structure) costs are low satisfy several of the criteria for 'appropriate' building systems, as they utilise local materials and skills, promote self-reliance, and are both cost effective and energy efficient.