CHETTINAD MANSIONS RESEARCH

THESIS STUDY

CHETTINAD

CHETTINAD STYLE ARCHITECTURE.

ARCHITECTURE

• The Nattukottai Chettiar traders followed the expansion of the British Empire into Southeast Asia for their business. They brought back Burmese teak and European tiles for their mansions, and were inspired by colonial and palace architecture. They also incorporated the wealth of wood sculpting and craftsmanship from local craftsmen in their homes.

• Chettinad architecture stands out for its use of large spaces in halls and courtyards ornate embellishments like Belgian glasswork intricate woodwork spectacular ceramic tiles stone, iron and wooden pillars, together creating an indigenous amalgam of traditional Indian architecture and various European styles.

• The front of traditional Chettinadu houses always features a “ thinnai “, that is a raised street verandah used for social functions. The front door opens to a large hall or a courtyard with a pluvarium in its centre. The bedrooms and different rooms are all distributed all around the courtyard space.

CHETTINAD HOUSE PLANNING

CHETTINAD STYLE ARCHITECTURE.

Each house in chettinad is made up of Mugappu, Valavu, Irandankattu, Moonankattu & thottam

• Mugappu-The reception; entrance of the house

• Valavu - Living area of the house In the valavu, there are 4 platforms that are called as Pattalai, each at 4 corners of the valavu.

• Pattalai - Living halls of each family.

• Along with Pattalai, valavu consists of numerous Irattaiveedu.

• Nadai - Corridor

• Irandankattu - used for dining / with storerooms for storing crockery/kitchenware.

• Moonamkattu - Kitchen (adukala)

• Thottam - Garden Stables, cowsheds etc.

• The long corridors of second kattu-used for dining.

SERVICE SPACE

the scale for these spaces is not fixed the day to day activities but by the festive usage. Their location in the linear arrangement follows the living area.

MULTIPURPOSE CENTRAL OPEN SPACE located amidst the room and often used as the semipublic and commercial space.

FEASTING SPACE though this space is less commonly used it is considered as the important space and exists as the status symbol of the household

SPATIAL ORGANISATION used both for receiving the guest and for relaxation.

- RECEPTION- this is designed to express the stately image of the owner it has level variations.

-PATTAGASALAI This is used for relaxation as well for the confidential dealings which is usually a raised platform. This space usually mixes with the can tral space

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SECURED AND SECLUDED SPACE

This space is created to serve the need for storage. The scale and the intimacy of the space reveals the material stored. The composition is such that the outer room buffers the inner room.

CHETTINAD ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

SPECIAL CASE STUDY CHETTINAD KARAIKUDI

CHETTINAD CASE STUDY –

KING’S PALACE

• The rich and intricate detailing of the parapets and cornices across the houses of chettinad

• The colorful Belgian Glasswork, Stucco work was used on the interior & exterior walls; stucco sculptural work was employed on the entrance tower, façade, railing wall & compound wall.

• The Reception area with imported Italian Marble flooring

• Extensively carved Wooden Ceiling The pillars around the courtyard are in Burma teak.

• The construction material, decor items and furnishings were mostly imported from east Asian countries.

• The Central courtyard is used for weddings and religious ceremonies.

• The rich and intricate detailing of the parapets and cornices across the house.

RAJA PALACE, KANADUKATHAN

2 ft Thick walls, walls are made of raw bricks

CHETTINAD CASE STUDY –

LAKSHMI AACHI HOUSE

• This 2 storey chettinad mansion houses a hierarchy of spaces starting from the thinnai in the entrance leading to the open courtyard where family gathers for occasions.

• This courtyard is surrounded by rooms for everyone in the family. This plan is identical to the one on the 1st floor.

• The courtyard leads to the dining area which then leads to the kitchen space which opens up to the next street.

• The nadai (corridors) is about 1m in width.

• The height of each floor is upto 7-8 ft in height.

• Wooden carved pillars, aathangudi tiles, tiles from spain, Belgian glasswork, egg wash flooring, Japanese wall tiles, stain glass windows, intricately engraved architraves and ornamented balustrades add to the richness of this timeless architecture style.

• Waffle ceiling woodwork was one of the most famous in the detailed interior works.

Stairs leading to 1st level and terrace

Carved wood pillars Mugapu

Kitchen Ventilation

Sill level of windows at 1 ft.

Usage of stained glass windows Half terrace

WHY SHOULD WE REVIVE CHETTINAD ARCHITECTURE ?

References:

Yatin Pandya, “Concepts of Space in Traditional Indian Architecture.”

D.K.Bubbar, “The Spirit of Indian Architecture, Vedantic Wisdom of Architecture for Building Harmonious Spaces & Life.” Bernard Dragon, Michel Adment,UNESCO,”INDIAN HERITAGE PASSPORT PROGRAMMEON THE CHETTINAD TRAIL IN TAMIL NADU ” https://www.academia.edu/15011828/chettinad_architecture

CLIMATIC CONSIDERATION:

• A flat roof enclosed by a balustrade was used so that the lightest breeze could be caught.

• The light colored chunam (lime plaster) covering the building was very suitable as a sun radiator during the hot season.

• The building was turned away from the sun and rooms kept cool by thick walls and the whole mass of the building. Proper ventilation was ensured by the different parts of the structure being arranged around an open courtyard.

• The double-roof system kept the interiors cool while the Chajjas*1 act as sun breakers.

In a traditional house, the activities are connected towards the courtyard due to the central position of the courtyard, as it is the central breathing space of the house and becomes center of life within.

*projected element just above the window, which shades the opening, stops rain from entering the room and reduces sky glare while looking out of the room.

ORIENTATION

• The entrance of the house is towards east. The main ventilation by which the light enters the house is through central courtyard.

• On the Westside of the house there is a garden which also acts as a main source of fresh air into the house which promotes warmth in the house, and in the night the absorbed heat is radiated out through the courtyard.

• The courtyard acts like a thermostat which controls the temperature of the house.

• Negative pressure is created in the courtyard as it is surrounded by rooms and less exposed. This low pressure helps to draw more air towards it.

NIGHT ANALYSIS :

The negative pressure and effect created inside the house during the daytime escapes out during the night time due to the floor materials of the courtyard projections.

DAY ANALYSIS :

As the temperature in the day time is high, little amount of heat is absorbed by the ground due to the top opening of the central courtyard and the light is reflected in the awkward direction resulting in the rise of temperature inside the house.

RICHLY CARVED WOODEN DOORS

• The antique doors of many Chettinad mansions were carved in Burma teak that imparted warmth and grandeur to entrances.

• The door panels, frames and mouldings were heavily embellished with mythical scenes, elaborate carvings and sculptures of deities from the Hindu epics.

GRAND ENTRANCE

• The entrances or the reception foyer at the entrance of Chettinad bungalows were known as Mugappu. They were elaborately detailed and embellished with wooden handicrafts, sculptures and stucco.

• It combines with the roof of red baked clay Mangalore tiles. It’s hard to miss the intricately carved black columns and the brass locking system of the entrance door, which resembles a trishul (long-handled trident).

CARVED PILLARS

• A typical Chettiar home usually had intricately carved pillars in wood, stone or granite to support the sloping roofs, especially around the courtyards.

• The design of pillars was given a lot of importance; as a result the upper and lower portions of the pillars were minutely detailed.

MULTIPLE COURTYARDS

• The Chettinad homes were planned around extensive courtyards (at least two) and deeply-shaded verandahs that opened into the rooms and other functional spaces.

• These areas established an excellent inside-outside connect that brought in ample natural light, allowed cross-ventilation and kept the rooms cool against the summer heat.

ATHANGUDI TILES

Athangudi village in the Chettinad region is famous for its patterned athangudi tiles. These tiles are handmade by skilled craftsmen with locally available clay, which is burnt and then glazed.

• Athangudi tiles are ideal for hot climates. You can visit the workshops and even design your own tiles.

• There are also a few places where you can see the local artisans at work, making the famous Chettinad tiles, weaving cotton sarees on handlooms, working with wood and silver smiths.

USAGE OF PILLAR AS A INTERIOR ELEMENT

USAGE OF CHAJJAS TO PROVIDE SHADE FROM SUN AND DUST

USAGE OF WOOD CARVINGS FOR ORNAMENTATION

Introduction of chettinad theme into a Modern villa design through the usage of different types materials and the golden ratio of application of spaces.

USING COURTYARDS FOR CLIMATIC MODERATION IN THE HOUSE

USAGE OF THINNAIS AS FAMILY GATHERING SPACE

Usage of a mixture of materials

Double height spaces for a spacious household.

Using exposed bricks, wood, and glass

Usage of Materials emanating the spaces with a splash of modern and traditional design

USAGE of granite counter and counter top

Introducing courtyards as a light, ventilation &climatic moderation element

Semi-open spaces

Courtyard spaces, punctured balcony space, partially open spaces and bay windows in combination with the materials used create elegant spaces which create a climatic balance inside the home.

RATIO OF OPEN SPACES

Addition of Thulasi madam.

USING MUD ROOF TILES TO KEEP THE CLIMATE INSIDE THE HOUSE COOL.

USING A SINGLE BURMA TEAK LOG – CARVED PILLARS

USE OF BURMA TEAK FOR DOORS AND ARCHITRAVES

USING A SINGLE BURMA TEAK LOG - INTRICATELY CARVED OUT PILLARS.

MATERIAL ANALYSIS STUDY

TERRACOTA TILES AND MUD ROOF TILE USED TO KEEP INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE COOL

USE OF INTRICATELY CARVED BURMA TEAK ARCHITRAVES.

AATHANGUDI PALACE

MAIN HALL BUILT

LAVISHLY USING BURMA TEAK PILLARS AND BALUSTRADES, BELGIAN GLASS, COPPER ROOF PLATES, AATHANGUDI TILES, SPANISH AND JAPANESE TILES etc.

Carving of a flower on a pillar top piece.

Carving of a flower on the bottom part of a pillar.

AATHANGUDI TILES

WOOD WAFFLE CEILING DESIGN FOR LAVISH RICHNESS.

Intricately carved pillars and architraves in a courtyard in Chettinad.

TERRACOTA SLABS FOR SLOPED ROOF