Architecture and Tamil Culture

The built environment of Tamils is so simple that many complex layers of analysis and evolution is underlaid tobringefficient andminimal solutions. The thinnai,araisedfoyer is seen in most traditional houses that serve as a space for small gathering and social interactions. Every house had this space to facilitate travelers, so they can rest while travelling. This was a public zone inside a private space. This element in architecture enhances qualities that was important in early ages. People walked days to travel other places. Which enabled typologies like Annadhana koodam, Saavadi, mandapam in temple, Thinnai in houses etc. But these spaces wouldn’t work in the modern context where we travel around the globe in hours. Thus, a thinnai inside a compound doesn’t serve its core intended purpose.

Community spaces thrived in early period. Temple architecture of Tamils is a marvel expanding temporal, communal and social aspects of a society associated with it. Temple enablesmanyactivitiesapartfrom worship. There areexclusivespaces forperformances, sports and other activities in temple. Temple tanks acts as an extensive part of rain water harvesting in a town.

As discussed earlier, food for all was a basic social understanding, Annadhana Koodam, was public space adhering this where people could eat free food. There were more social spaces than private. Even the streets were small making it pedestrian friendly and a sense of closure within a closed community. Thinnai, streets and common grounds served as places to play games like pambaram, gilli thanda, thaayam, pallanguli etc.

The spatial planning of houses was also common adhering to vernacular terms. The kitchen was mostly a semi open space behind the house where fire cooking was done. This zoning helps keep fire outside. Attached toilets are recent trend in architecture. But for hygiene and ecological factors, toilets were separated from houses and usually kept behind. Most of the houses had courtyards, small openings, cross ventilation etc., to tackle tropical heat. Architecture in the lives of Tamils was inherent and efficient.