VILLAGE SECRETS
Max Freyberger
Srinjayee Saha
Zannatun Alim
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The ambition of our intepretation center is to expose the cultural and ecological richness embedded within the village of Thiruppudaimaruthur, offering visitors an immersive experience that uncovers its unique heritage. From the personal stories of villagers to the diverse species thriving within the temple grounds, the center aims to guide visitors toward a deeper appreciation of the phenomena they might otherwise overlook. Much like an effective tour guide, it will steer their senses to discover the village’s hidden treasures.
In addition to enriching the visitor experience, the proposed physical interventions are designed to provide meaningful benefits for the local community. Addressing key issues identified by our partners at ATREE, these interventions focus on improving infrastructure, promoting sustainable practices, and enhancing the village’s livability. At the core of the project lies interconnectivity, creating a seamless web of connections between shelters, pathways, and experiences. This network, comprising walkways, itineraries, and biking routes, ensures a cohesive journey through the village’s landscape, encouraging engagement with its stories, traditions, and biodiversity.
The overarching goals of the interpretation center are to celebrate the intrinsic bond between the people and their land, to weave together the past and present in a way that respects and honors the village’s identity, and to foster a direct connection between the community and the project, ensuring its shared success and sustainability.
DAKSHINACHITRA
a case study
Dakshinachitra, a heritage craft village located along Chennai’s scenic East Coast Road, is a living example of how vernacular South Indian culture can be preserved and celebrated. Designed as an interactive outdoor museum, it offers visitors an immersive experience that showcases the lifestyles, art, craft, and architecture of the region. Through its reconstructed heritage homes from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, Dakshinachitra invites visitors to step into a cultural journey, walking through spaces that tell the stories of the people who once lived there. Unlike a static museum, it functions as a vibrant, living heritage site where visitors can explore at their own pace, meandering through an itinerarylike path that connects one experience to the next.
The case study of DakshinaChitra offers valuable insights into how cultural preservation and community engagement can be seamlessly integrated into a larger vision. Its emphasis on creating a space where spaces area not just observed but experienced serves as a guiding principle for our interventions. By combining traditional practices, architectural authenticity, and interactive experiences, DakshinaChitra demonstrates how to honor a region’s identity while fostering a deeper connection with visitors.
What makes Dakshinachitra especially compelling is its focus on hands-on engagement and community involvement. Visitors are encouraged to actively participate in traditional activities like pottery, weaving, and puppet-making, ensuring that the crafts are not only preserved but also understood and appreciated.
Overall Site Plan
The space comes alive through the work of local artisans, performers, and storytellers, creating both authentic cultural experiences and economic opportunities for the communities involved. Its adaptability as a space for festivals, workshops, and cultural programs ensures its continued relevance, fostering deeper connections to the heritage it celebrates.
OUR INTERVENTION
Our intervention creates a seamless network of paths, shelters, and interpretive spaces, guiding visitors through the cultural and ecological richness of Thiruppudaimaruthur while fostering meaningful connections between the village, its people, and its biodiversity.
The interventions take on a variety of different forms based on the phenomenon they are interpreting. For example, while new-built fixed structures provide viewing shelters for people to observe wildlife, repurposed villager homes are the mechanism for educating visitors on local customs and traditions. The guiding idea is that the uniqueness of each design serves to help visitors better understand different aspects of life in the village.
Our research partners at ATREE have designated several challenges the village is currently facing. In order for our project to be successful, we believe that any physical intervention made for the sake of interpreting this unique landscape must also provide direct benefits that help bolster the strength of the community. Some of the key challenges highlighted by our partners include waste management, dilapidated public facilities, and a lack of social spaces for women.
While we certainly aren’t going to single handedly fix these complex issues, we are hoping that our designs may provide additional resources to help the community to address them head-on.
No interpretation center is complete without the involvement and partnership of the local community. This diagram highlights the various participants and illustrates how everyone contributes to the center’s mission. Our partnerships range from efforts to protect local biodiversity through conservation and community reserves to educational initiatives that encourage visitors to implement our ideas with care. We envision our partners playing a vital role in managing and sustaining these community-based attractions, creating opportunities for locals to engage directly in sharing and preserving their heritage.
THE COMPONENTS
Below are detailed explanations of each component of our interventions and how they are designed to function cohesively, enhancing both the visitor experience and the local community’s engagement with the project.
MADHYA MANDAPAM
central pavilion
The Madhya Mandapam, is envisioned as a vibrant space created within existing infrastructure - the library and community center, to benefit both visitors and villagers alike. By revitalizing these underused structures, the development aims to enhance their functionality, ensuring they remain integral to the community while also serving as a welcoming starting point for visitors. This is not just a place for tourists—it is a shared space that retains its purpose for the villagers, preserving the existing activities of the spaces. The belief is that through thoughtful redevelopment, these spaces will become more inviting and active, encouraging greater use by the local community. Visitors will begin their journey here, connecting with villagers, hearing their stories, and receiving maps and guidance to navigate the curated paths through the village
Given the scale and complexity of this intervention, we are adopting a phased approach. Several key functions have been carefully identified to shape this space, each contributing to its purpose.
PHASE - I
revitalizing the existing
The first phase focuses on the redevelopment of existing structures to address immediate needs and support future growth. A dilapidated building is transformed into a reception and ticket counter, creating a functional and welcoming entry point. New washrooms with bathing areas will address concerns about villagers bathing in the river and provide a safer, hygienic alternative. A water tank will be added to support these facilities and future developments. Additionally, a gateway is built to mark the Madhya Mandapam as the starting point of a broader development, establishing it as a key hub for the site’s growth.
PHASE - II
developing egress
The second phase focuses on expanding the site with a paved road to improve access and support future construction. A transportation system will be introduced to bring visitors to the site, benefiting villagers if schedules align. All construction will be carried out by local villagers, providing them with employment opportunities and allowing them to develop new skills. This phase includes the initial construction of a kitchen and craft center, while temporary shaded structures on the roof will serve as versatile spaces for exhibitions, textile sales, and community events, creating opportunities for both visitors and the local community.
PHASE - III
commercial new build
The third phase focuses on creating vibrant commercial spaces that enhance the visitor experience while supporting the local economy. Visitors can enjoy live demonstrations of traditional crafts like pottery and purchase handmade items directly from artisans. A nursery will offer plants encountered along the trail, allowing visitors to take home a piece of the landscape. The food and beverage section will provide authentic local cuisine, offering a taste of the region’s rich flavors.At the end of the day, visitors can climb up to the amphitheater to enjoy a breathtaking sunset, creating a serene and memorable conclusion to their journey.
ULNATTU TALAIYITU
domestic interventions
To explore and celebrate the domestic life of villagers, we propose repurposing an existing home within the village as a platform for learning and immersive experiences.
This house would be transformed into an exhibition space, managed and maintained by local residents already partnered with the initiative, ensuring authenticity and community involvement in its operation.
REHABILITATION OF DOMESTIC SPACES
In a typical South Indian village home, the spaces of welcome begin with the outside porch. These porches are adorned with colorful floral designs called kolams, which are drawn on the ground. Upon entering the home, visitors are greeted by a shrine or prayer room where family members perform their daily rituals, offering flowers and lighting candles to honor their deities. Venturing deeper into the home, one encounters furniture that showcases the villagers’ traditional craftsmanship. For example, seating made from a wicker-like material called sedge (also known as river grass) is common. The layout of these homes typically includes: A common area serving as a living and dining room, One or more bedrooms, A bathroom, and A kitchen. Each of these spaces plays a crucial role in the daily life and cultural practices of the village inhabitants.
EXPANDING VERNACULAR EXPERTISE
One way to showcase the vernacular methods, artistry, and expertise of local residents is by expanding upon an existing house. This approach not only fosters greater opportunities for communal engagement but also allows visitors to experience these practices firsthand.
Additionally, it creates educational opportunities for both visitors and locals, encouraging the exchange of knowledge. This shared learning experience can inspire the adaptation and application of these methods to other domestic spaces across the village.
INTEGRATION OF LIVESTOCK IN DOMESTIC LIFE
A key component of village life is raising livestock, which is deeply integrated into the daily routines of many households. Common practices include constructing vernacular-style sheds or enclosures, often built adjacent to homes, to house animals like cows, goats, and sheep, as well as ducks and birds. These structures are essential for accommodating livestock in a practical yet culturally authentic way.
This initiative also offers a way for visitors to better understand and adapt to these everyday practices, fostering appreciation for the rhythms of village life. By experiencing the coexistence of livestock and people—such as cattle freely roaming the streets, which is a common sight—visitors can immerse themselves more naturally into the local environment without feeling surprised or out of place.
LIVING HERITAGE
Our aim is to provide visitors with an immersive experience of village domestic life through these exhibition spaces. This concept will be implemented as an adaptable model across all three village clusters, with a focus on repurposing old and unused buildings.Each domestic intervention will be customized to reflect the typical house layout specific to its cluster. This approach ensures that visitors can explore different and unique perspectives of rural living across the region. By tailoring the exhibitions to local architectural styles and cultural nuances, we offer a more authentic and diverse representation of village life.Through these carefully curated spaces, visitors can gain insights into the daily routines, traditions, and living conditions of villagers, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of rural culture.
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
THROUGH DAILY PRACTICES
These spaces are designed to host demonstrations, inviting visitors to experience various aspects of domestic village life. Activities may include cooking authentic cuisines and showcasing traditional craftsmanship such as pottery and wicker weaving.
The goal is to create an environment where visitors can engage directly with locals, fostering meaningful interactions. This setting encourages open, comfortable, and heartfelt exchanges, allowing locals to share and express their culture in a more intimate and authentic way.
DUAL-PURPOSE
COMMUNITY SPACES
These spaces are designed to serve a dual purpose, operating not only during visiting hours but also as a resource and safe haven for the local community. In the evenings, after visitors have left, the spaces transform into open homes where villagers can gather and benefit from the facilities.
For example, local women, many of whom are beedi rollers, can use the space as a safe and supportive environment to carry out their work while socializing with others in their community. Additionally, the kitchen can be utilized for meal preparation, either for their families or for the next day’s demonstrations, fostering both practicality and communal bonding.
GOLU
amobile wagon
The mobile Golu we’ve designed is intended to work in tandem with our ecological interventions, primarily collecting trash throughout the village and depositing it into designated garden spaces near ecological areas. This collected waste will be transformed into fresh fertilizer and compost, helping to mitigate the waste management issues prevalent in the villages while providing nutrient-rich soil for local agriculture.
Additionally, this process offers an educational opportunity by allowing people to witness firsthand the cycle of waste collection, composting, and farming. This hands-on experience invites both visitors and locals to observe the farming process up close, learn about the importance of sustainable agriculture and waste management, and potentially participate in these eco-friendly practices. Through this initiative, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of ecological processes and encourage active engagement in sustainable practices within the village communities.
TEMPLE TALES ON WHEELS
To bring the stories of the Thirupudai Marudhur Shivan Koli temple to the community, we’ve designed a mobile prototype that serves as an educational and functional tool. This mobile golu features a mock temple adorned with murals replicating those of the original temple, emphasizing the storytelling and cultural heritage of the site.
In addition to its educational role, the mobile also addresses the pressing issue of waste management in the village. It includes a trash collection area beneath the structure, symbolizing the behind-the-scenes efforts required to maintain cleanliness around the temple. This dual-purpose prototype not only raises awareness about the temple’s history and stories but also promotes sustainable practices within the community.
MOBILE STORYTELLING: FROM MURALS TO COMMUNITY
The murals within the temple depict various aspects of Hindu mythology, focusing on stories of the deity Shiva and his consort Parvati. These intricate artworks serve as both spiritual and artistic expressions, illustrating narratives from the Shiva Purana, Mahabharata, and Ramayana. However, these murals are largely inaccessible to the public due to their delicate nature and location. They are painted on the walls of small rooms on each level of the temple, accessible only via narrow, unlit staircases, making them impractical to visit.
Additionally, when visitors bring offerings to the shrines and idols on the temple’s main floor, these offerings are often discarded outside the temple, contributing to waste accumulation in the area.
With these challenges in mind, we created the mobile golu. This mobile platform aims to make the stories and murals accessible while addressing waste management concerns. It will be managed by our knowledgeable partners, who can lead discussions and share insights about the murals, ensuring the storytelling aspect is preserved and shared with a wider audience.
VANA VIDHAANAM
canopy viewer
The focus of this intervention is to bring people as close as possible to the wonders of the TBCR’s forest canopy, and fostering such a garden could serve to encourage a flourishing habitat directly around the new viewing station. By day, these platforms provide a shaded shelter for observing common species like monkeys and the many forest-dwelling birds. By night, the shelter transforms and focuses more on bringing the nocturnal secrets of the forest to life for visitors.
One of our favorite stories while working with ATREE was from one of their ecologists who rediscovered a species of frog in the area that was thought to be extinct. This frog has a unique life cycle where it lays its eggs within a nursery of bamboo stalks, which parent frogs will guard ferociously. We hope that this shelter might also provide scientists with a functional research station for the observation and protection of such unique organisms, and we have even included certain elements like the bamboo groves and built in bat houses to aid in the ongoing conservation projects of ATREE. Finally, certain elements of this prototype like the roof panels are made of biodegradable local materials like woven palm, allowing them to be easily dismantled and replaced when they are inevitably saturated in waste produced by nesting bird species.
APPLICATIONS
DIURNAL VIEWING
NOCTURNAL VIEWING
SEASONAL MAINTENANCE
ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH
This intervention will work in partnership with the mobile golu to mitigate the ritual waste produced by the temple. We imagine that an ecologically productive garden space could be fed by the composted offerings of the temple, allowing these sacred gifts to serve a purpose beyond their expiration.
AARU NADI
river walk
The “River Walk”, the purpose of which is to provide a safe and engaging way for people to interact with the Tamiraparani. Floating platforms allow guests to walk out onto the water, and crude periscopes let them to observe aquatic wildlife, such as this Tamiraparani barb found only in this river. Structures built alongside the river rarely last due to the cyclical flood waters, and to address this, we are designing this intervention to be something that can be packed away in a floating “amphibious” shed structure.
To the locals, however, the river is far more than a wildlife sanctuary. In addition to providing freshwater for consumption and irrigation, people utilize this waterway for bathing and washing clothing. During religious festivals and times of heavy pilgrimage, new challenges arise along the river. Our partners highlighted safety concerns due to occasional drownings and issues with quick sand, and we are consequently imagining that the elevated platform of the River Walk may provide a way to monitor crowds and ensure the safety of visitors and villagers alike.
APPLICATIONS AQUATIC OBSERVATION
KATCHI THALAM
field tower
The village is almost entirely surrounded by rice paddies, and what we found striking about this landscape is that despite being manmade, it is an incredibly productive habitat that developed alongside human activity. The skies above paddies are an “averial battlefield” where countless birds and insects are constantly on the move, and the irrigation pits that run through the paddies host a variety of wetland species. Our partner organization ATREE even has a program that brings school children to these channels to learn about the insect larvae that inhabit them.
This “Field Tower” is our attempt to interpret this place. On its lowest level, visitors can observe the fascinating wildlife of the irrigation channels up close, while the upper levels provide scenic views of the endless paddies, as well as nesting roosts that bring local bird species closer to guests.
APPLICATIONS
WILDLIFE VIEWING
YOUTH EDUCATION
SHADE AND RESPITE
These towers serve different purposes. One concern of ours is ensuring that any ecotourism initiative benefits all villagers, including those in clusters 2 and 3, which are separated from the preserve by a long road amongst the paddies. We imagine that a series of these structures could serve as a visual connection between the clusters to encourage people to explore beyond the boundaries of the central village. These towers would also provide a respite from the intense heat of the South Indian sun for farmers in the fields, villagers traversing the long road between clusters, and visitors wishing to explore.
BEYOND CLUSTER ONE
While the initial focus was on cluster one, the vision extends beyond it. Over time, we wish to expand these prototypes to clusters two and three, refining our approach based on lessons learned, community feedback, and visitor engagement. Whether through field towers fostering interconnectivity or revitalizing select domestic houses, the goal is to broaden the scope and create a cohesive network across all clusters. Possible locations for these interventions have been identified, laying the groundwork for future expansion.
