RETHINKING MUZIRIS
RETHINKING MUZIRIS A Thesis submitted by SARAT CHANDRAN K P 2011701052 in �artia� fu����ment of the re�uirements for the award of the degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE under FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING IN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING
ANNA UNIVERSITY CHENNAI 600025
DECLARATION
I declare that this thesis titled “Rethinking Muziris� is the result of my work and prepared by me under the guidance of Prof. Sita.K.R, Ar.Biju Kuriakose and Prof. Sunalini Esther and that work reported herein does not form part of any other thesis of this or any other University. Due acknowledgement have been made wherever anything has been borrowed from other sources.
Date :
Signature of Candidate Name : Roll no :
BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE Certi�ed that this thesis forming part of Course work AD � �551, of �th Semester, B. Arch, entitled “RETHINKING MUZIRIS” submitted by “SARAT CHANDRAN K.P., 2011701052” to the School of Architecture & Planning, Anna University for the award of under graduation Degree in Architecture is a bona�de record of work carried by him under my su� pervision. Certi�ed further that to the best of my knowledge the work reported herein does not form part of any other thesis or dissertation on the basis of which degree or award was conferred on an earlier occasion on this or any other candidate. Date :
Signature of Supervisor Name : Designation :
As I step into the shade and gaze back, the mud wall seemed to be positively come alive, shimmering in the mid-April Kerala heat.
A fragment of old pottery - how simple, how unassuming. Yet it had outlasted me by an entire millenium.
how do we see, perceive, and talk about our past? What is the role of art (or architecture) in doing so? How do we use our present day opportunities to turn a lens to our past?
Muziris this ancient city narrates the story of how 2300 years ago, the world came to the south west coast of India.
trade networks in the old world much before what we consider globalisation and the age of discovery in the present ages, trade, commerce and religion had linked the old world civilisations (circa 2000 years before present day). There was an exchange of goods, ideas, religions, and even people.
Early Historic Iron age
1000BCE500 BCE 500 BCE300 BCE Iron age to Early Historic transition
Modern
300 BCE500 CE
500 CE 1500 CE
1500 CE onwards
Medieval
as a hub of the trans-oceanic network, Muziris had integrated the peninsular Indian region (Tamilakam) with the larger urbanisation process across the Indian Ocean, two millenia ago.
the city however, had not found a place in the collective mythology or folklore of any particular culture, save a few mentions. It has entered the collective consciousness again only recently, after the archaeological excavations and a few efforts like the Muziris Heritage Project and the Kochi Muziris Biennale.
Pattanam, Kerala
Pattanam was an otherwise ordinary village. Its significance was revealed in the early 2000s after ancient artefacts began to be discovered on and near the site. After a preliminary study, archaeo logical excavations have been carried out at Pattanam since 2007 under the guidance of the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR)
kiln fired tiles (left)
remains of toilet features
excavated boat and wharf structures
area : 2.3 sq.km population: 250-300 families occupation: mainly agriculture and service fields location: 25km north of Kochi, in North Paravur district p f2 g
Pattanam
excavated brick structures
Pattanam is what archaeologists call a multi-cultural site, one that was occupied over several centuries and different historical periods. the roughly 4 m of occupation deposit and layers have been divided into fie cultural periods, based on the archaeological material within the strata as well as dates acquired through scientific techniques. amphorae sherds
miniature gold axe
turquoise glazed pottery
indo-pacific trade beads
Mapped here are the archaeological sites which have already been excavated in Pattanam. Developing an archaeological trail which has at its core, the idea of preserving these sites as is - displaying what has been excavated and allowing users to develop their own interpretations as they follow the trail along the village.
Pattanam archaeological trail
the vision Any response to a context as sensitive and unique as Pattanam poses several challenges. A unique opportunity present in Pattanam is that given the lack of any strong image, architecture can step in and fill that void. The design would be a destination of sorts, for everyone ranging from a tourist to a local resident. By evolving a new design language which does not try to imitate the past, but is also not insensitive to the present, the design can evolve into a centre for Muziris - for its past, for Pattanam’s present and the combined future.
Mangrove shrubs also thrive in the wetland ecosystem present around the site.
* SITE AREA : 7.6 aCRES The entire context is dotted with wetland farms which follow a special two crop cultivation system
Water into these fields are let in and out with the help of sluice gates like this which are opened periodically.
ha
rc ea
gic
lo eo
ail
r al t
ativ
Given a strong historic context, what does the area require in its transition to become an
archaeological hotspot?
c
du
eI
e An
nte
i nd
al a
n atio
et rpr
g st a
How can history and archaeology combine to
accessible to public and sensitive to academia?
form a result which is as much
Pattanam excavations and research as a larger enquiry into the history of Kerala and India in prehistory
stage II
How can the living realities of Pattanam become a part of the now
history of Muziris?
romanticized
Archaeology in the public sphere
A cosmopolitan centre as the seed of a new renaissance
Pattanam as an archaeological hotspot
st a
ge
III
A contemporary identity of Pattanam developed
Archaeo-science laboratory : XRF suite: 1,29,083 artefacts 5,16,676 diagnostic potsherds 1,40,165 non-Indian pottery sherds
storage & display of artefacts
45,00,000 body sherds (forming a non-diagnostic part of pottery)
Chemical analysis of samples
SEM suite:
Scanning electron microscope
Sedimentology Lab:
Processing, analysis and storage of samples
Informatics Lab:
GIS and remote sensing
indian institute of archaeology : Administration Area Classrooms/Studio - 2
(With scope for expansion)
scientific/technical support for excavations Scientific analysis, experiments, radio carbon dating
sensitisation to archaeology Methodology, Principles, Techniques
Library Services/Miscellaneous Accommodation
(Researchers, Students and tourists)
public library : Anthropology, Archaeology and History departments
museum
View from outside the Public Library
PUBLIC LIBRARY The public library would be the primary public realm for local residents. It also acts as a public repository of all research work done at the institute. The natural texture of mud also helps to integrate it into the site while also allow it to stand out.
Public Library
Research
research The research centre serves as a middle ground for archaeologists working on the laboratories and students in the Indian Institute of Archaeology to interact. It follows the same materiality as the public library
View from inside the Research Centre
View from outside the Research Centre
the loop The spatial journey of the user through the archaeological loop occurs in three phases - the experiental archaeology space, the pottery units display phase and finally the subterranean chamber. The entirety of this experience lies entirely underground, with the play of light, material and spaces accentuating the feel.
The experimental archaeology space takes the user through three identical chambers containing artefacts from three different time periods. The contrast in the materials used bring alive the spirit of the place - the concrete, housing the remains from the rough mud wall next to it. Concrete, apparently timeless, and yet it is the mud which has stood the test of time that leads us on.
The pottery space is a half cylinder concrete shell on either side, rising obliquely from the ground. This space uses predominantly a minimum of materials and forms, such that the natural form of pottery itself is up for full display.
Through the space, the user comes across the first pause point - water. Let into the site through a channel, the water is a physical pause in the user’s journey, forcing him to retrace his steps and go to the next stage or choose to move on to the above ground plane.
subterranean chamber The starting point of design evolution in the site itself, the subterranean chamber serves a dual purpose - as a storage unit for the research team of archaeologists working on site as well as an experiential landscape for the tourists and visitors to the site. The depth of the chamber (4m below ground) is the level upto which cultural deposits have been found at Pattanam.
The story of Muziris doesn’t stop here. When provide with the chance to do so, architecture has the best ability to create meaning where none may be apparent. The idea of this space is immutable; however it can adapt itself to the multiple scenarios around the world.
The layers of the earth, cut open, seemed to flow free. Undisturbed, untouched, I was walking on Muziris again, while the world went about its usual business above me.
the team
ashwin
navin
anjali
and Ramanathan
+