New Muziris. Territorial proposal a cultural landscape

NEW MUZIRIS

TERRITORIAL PROPOSAL FOR THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF KODUNGALLUR AND NORTH PARAVUR, KERALA

LUIS FEDUCHI ARCHITECT

Building Type Sites.

New Muziris. Territorial proposal for the cultural landscape of Kodungallur and North Paravur, Kerala Research line: Type-Site Museum.

Team: Rocío Conesa Marta Jarabo Instituto de Arquitectura y Diseño Universidad Camilo José Cela C/ Castillo de Alarcón, 46 28692 Madrid www.arquitectura.ucjc.edu © 2016 Instituto de Arquitectura y Diseño UCJC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive summary

1

Context. Early historic port cities: Muziris and the indo-roman trade

3

Research by design. Three design studios on the concept Building Type-Sites.

Pattanam. Construction as collaboration

7 11

New Muziris. Territorial proposal for Kodungallur and north Paravur

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Timeline Bibliography

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following is the result of the research work conducted at UCJC School of Architecture and Technology during 2014-2016 that emerges in the context of the III KCHR-BM International Workshop, 2015 and from the collaboration since 2014 between Professor Luis Feduchi and Professor P J Cherian, director KCHR and the lead archaeologist of Pattanam excavations.

Developed by a team of architecture students and architects, it investigates the concept of building as ‘type-site’ by developing detailed interventions for the archaeological site of Pattanam and, at the same time, a territorial proposal for Kodungallur and north Paravur area where Pattanam is located, to protect and plan the present and future urban developments OF this cultural landscape.

Preliminary research for the concept ‘type-site’ was initiated in 2013 by Professor Feduchi during his stay at University of Queensland.

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Early historic port cities

CONTEXT

EARLY HISTORIC PORT CITIES: MUZIRIS AND THE INDOROMAN TRADE

“Indo roman trade comprises a small episode within the much broader history of indian Ocean activity. This interaction was characterised not only by the exchange of goods, but also culture, such as shared language. The convergence of textual and archeological evidence during the Classical period makes it an especially rich field. From the fifth millenium BC, small networks operated within the larger realm, exploiting the two main arteries of the Arabian/Persian Gulf (hereafter the Gulf) and the Red Sea. Bronze Age trade between north-west India and the Gulf and Old kingdom links between Egypt and East Africa are but two examples. Under the Seleucids during the Hellenistic period the Red Sea became more active than previously. Although not continuous, contacts intesified from their beggining, through European expansion and into modern day.” [1]

cities as the spring board, the workshop attempts to bring discussions and examination of Pattanam architectural remains. [2]

The third International Workshop organized by the The Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) in collaboration with the British Museum “Early Historic Port Cities: Architectural Features, Techniques of Construction and Conservation with special reference to Pattanam” focused on the port cities that demand archaeological attention in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Mediterranean littoral. With architectural features of these port Fig. 1 Tabula Peutingeriana, copy XII CE, Austrian National Library at Vienna. ( Scroll, splitted in four parts for display). The scroll depictis the area under the Roman rule, dated to 5th AC.

[1]. Roberta Tomber. Indo Roman Trade. From pots to pepper .

London: Bristol Classical Press, 2008,pp 15.

Roberta Tomber is co-convenor (with P. J. Cherian of the Kerala Council for Historical Research)

The nine seasons of excavations by the KCHR in Pattanam have unearthed a large volume and array of Indian and non-Indian artefacts belonging to different cultures and cultural periods. The location of Pattanam, as well as the material evidence unearthed here, point to the possibility that Pattanam could have been an integral part of the long lost, legendary port of Muciri Pattinam or Muziris, copiously mentioned in Indian and European classical sources.

“Mouziris…is a flourishing [place] with ships from Ariake coming to it, and also Greeks. It stands on a river, and is 500 stades distant from Tundis by river and by sea, and 20 stades from the mouth of the river…”

[The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, 1980, G.W.B. Huntingford, The Hakluyt Society, London]

of the British Association of South Asian Studies Research Group ‘Ports and Indian Ocean Exchanges

[2] III KCHR-BM International Workshop. 23-27 November 2015, Ernakulam, India.

Organized by

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4 Pompeya

Slalah | Kohr Rori

Socotra

Sri Lanka

Kizhakkekallada | Nelkinda Korkai Tissamaaharama

Quangzhou

Guangzhou

Khao Sam Kaeo

Guangzhou

Manthai Arikamedu

Bharuch | Barugaza Chaul

Ormara

Moca | Muza Basora | Teredon

Zanzibar Al Mukalla | Cana

PATTANAM | MUZIRIS?

Aqaba | Aquaba

Qift | Coptos Quseer | Myhos Hormos Berenice

Turkey and Greek islands

Pozzuoli | Puteoli

23rd November 2015_ Introduction to Pattanam

25th November 2015 Contemporary ports in India

Morning Session 11 am- 1 pm 11 Documentary on Pattanam excavation methodology (film) 11.15 Introduction to the site and its architectural features — P J Cherian 12.15 Life in Pattanam as evidenced by the unearthed artifacts and ecofacts — Preeta Nayar

Morning session 10 am-1.15 pm 10 Architectural remains from Arikamedu and the Sangam Tamil texts — V Selvakumar 10.45 Urban geography of Early Historic Poompuhar as gleaned from the literature — Athiyaman 11.45 Structural remains of the Early Historic period ports of the east coast of India — SilaTripathi and Rudra Prasad Behera 12.30 Consumerism, economy and ports — Pratapachandran S

Afternoon Session 2- 4 pm 2 Holocene paleogeographic reconstruction of central Kerala, South India – evidences from coastal wetlands and palaeo-beach ridges — Linto Alappatt, P.G. Gopakumar, S. Sree Kumar, Manfred Frechen 2.45 Important architectural features of 9th season excavation of Pattanam — Deepak Nair 3.30 Understanding the pits and dumps in Pattanam Archaeological site — Dineesh Krishnan

Afternoon session 2.15-4.45 pm 2.15 Field observations on ancient harbours on the western coast of India with special focus on the ‘Periplus’ port of Kamrej on Tapi — Sunil Gupta 3.00 Burnt bricks and roof tiles in Tamil literature and archaeological sources —V Selvakumar 4 Connecting Indian Ocean port sites: the ceramic evidence – Roberta Tomber

24th November 2015_ Contemporary ports beyond India

26th November 2015 Traditional architecture, conservation and public display

Morning session 10 am - 1.15 pm 10 Building techniques and materials at the Ptolemaic-Roman Red Sea port of Berenike, Egypt — Steven E. Sidebotham 10. 45 The architectural features of ancient Myos Hormos (Quseir al-Qadim), Egypt — Roberta Tomber 11.45 Ancient harbours in the Mediterranean: the world-wide context – David Blackman 12.30 The use and design of concrete in Roman harbour and other maritime infrastructure — Christopher J. Brandon

Morning session 10 am -1.30 pm 10 Building type-sites. Architecture as museography — Luis Feduchi 10.45 The Mary Rose museum; the inside story — Christopher J Brandon 11.45 Traditional timber conservation theory and practices of the East — Binumol Tom 12.30 The development of the Pattanam site — discussion led by P J Cherian 1.00 Boat-making traditions of the Pattanam region (film)

Afternoon Session 2.15- 5.15 pm 2.15 Architecture of a city on the coast of Arabia: the port of Sumhuram – Alessandra Avanzini 3 Kadal mallai- an early historic port city of Tamil Nadu coast revisited — S Rajavelu 4 Coastal structures on Tamil Nadu coast and their relevance to maritime archaeology — Sundaresh 4.45 Pottery traditions of the Pattanam region; Goldsmithing traditions of the Pattanam region (films)

Fig. 2 Early historic ports and maritime trade, I AD.

Fig.3 III KCHR-BM International Workshop Programme Schedule

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2013 Building Type-Sites 4th year, University of Queensland, Studio L. Feduchi and J.Kopinski Students: Cajamarca (Peru) by Adrew Uttley, Kachiqhata ( Peru) by Bradley Kerr, Pingyao ( China) by Chris Norton, Berlin ( Germany)

by Christopher Skinner, Lima ( Peru) by Abdon Dantas, Liangzhu ( China) by Ross Summergreene, Detroi ( US) by Michelle Duval, Berlin ( Germay) by Ali Dabirian, Brisbane (Autralia) by David Vun, Sendai ( Japan) by Tamarind Taylor, Berlin ( Germany) by Shannon Winsor, Pattanam ( India) by Elliot Harvie, Pattanam ( India) by Michael Martin 2014 Building Type-Sites, UCJC University, Studio M. Toral 2015 Building Type-Sites, 4th year, UCJC University Studio: Luis Feduchi and Rocío Conesa.

Students: Guangzhou (China) by Nelly S. Tarazona, Khao Sam Kaeo (Malaysia) by Karen Carrillo Tamralipti (India) by Luis A. Tapia, Arikamedu ( India) by Jorge B. Quishpe, Korkai (India) by Carlota Luengo, Tissamaharama (Sri Lanka) by Nadia Kassara, ‘Kadalundi’ (India) by Marta Rayón, Chaul (India) / Barugaza (India) by Jose M. Pizarro, Ormara (Pakistán) by Susana Calviño, Mukallah‘ (Yemen)

by Jorge Bellido, Zanzibar (Tanzania) by Alejandro González, Berenice / Myos Hormos (Egipto)

by Pablo Carretero, Coptos (Egipto) by Adam Hamsho, Aquaba (Jordania) by Alberto Prior, Thessaloniki (Grecia) by Adamantios Kounavos, Pozzuoli (Italia) by Luca Impellizzeri.

Research by design

RESEARCH BY DESIGN.

THREE DESIGN STUDIOS ON THE CONCEPT OF BUILDING TYPE-SITES.

During the last three years three design studios from the University of Queensland and UCJC University under the name Building Type-Sites have contributed to develope the concept ‘type-site’ [3], a term adapted from geological, archaeological and museographical discourses, investigating the role of architecture in establishing meaningful dialogues between specific loci, histories and contemporary material cultures By comparing interventions in different regions and cultures within a nominated list of cities and early historic port cities it is argued that the application of ‘type site’ as a linguistic framework will allow new forms of interaction and tension between content and the architecture of museography to emerge.

Here, it is argued that the museum should become more than just a book or a building. It has the potential to become a book that can be walked through and a building that can be read.

The research by design produced during these design studios and the knowledge gained from these experiences is applied to propose a new procedure for the architectural interventions developed in Pattanam archaeological site.

Fig. 4 Location of the cities studied by each design studio.

World map based on the Dymaxion map developed by Buckminster Fuller, 1946.

[3] The concept type-site emerges in the first design studio Building Type-Sites, University of Queensland, 2013

Fig. 5. Next Page Collection of interventions designed by students during the three design studios.

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2013 Building Type-Sites Interventions in heritage sites or cultural landscapes.

Each intervention designs an intervention related to the meaning and the history of the place.

The description of student´s projects follows scheme: Site - heritage site | Proposed programme.

Cajamarca - Acueduct and quarrey | Exhibition pavilion

Kachiqhata - Temple and quarrey | Bath house

Pingyao - Burial site | Jade workshops with exhibition area

Berlin - Historical palimpest | Archeo. laboratory and museum

Lima- Urban remains | Site museum

Liangzhu- Wetlands and rice fields | Open air museum

Detroit- Mansions ruins | Centre for demolition

Berlin- Fassade Ruin | Community and sports center

Brisbane- Windmill and reservois precinct | City archives

Sendai - Earthquake | Agricultural centre for the university

Berlin - Quarters and Berlin wall | Community center and memorial

Pattanam - Urban remains | Women´s institute and school

Pattanam - Urban remains | Graving dock and museum

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Research by design

2015 Building Type-Sites Interventions in Early Historic Ports belonging to the IndoRoman trade routes. Each intervention designs a temporary roof structure to cover the trenches while the excavation is going on and a proposal to reuse later on those structures into a permanent mark.

The description of the student´s projects follows scheme: Site - temporary structure typology | Converted programme.

Guangzhou - Hexagonal module wooden and pycarbonate dom | Multifunctional pavillions

Khao Sam Kaeo - Trapezoidal Wooden structure | Site museum

Tamralipti - Domed structure | Community center and exhibition pavillion

Arikamedu-Folded wooden and textile structure | Transportable roof

Korkai - Hexagonal wooden and poycarbonate umbrella structure | Site museum

Tissamaharama - Folded metal sheet | Site museum

Kadalundi - Tensed textile and wooden posts | Viewpoint tower

Chaul - Tetraedric metal structure| Museum

Ormara - Wood and textile | Shaded public square and site museum

Al Mukallah- Wooden triangular umbrella structure | Site Museum

ZanzĂ­bar - Folded plywood structure | Market and exhibition pavillion

Berenice - Cantilever metal structure | Site museum

Coptos - Polygonal metal and textile structure | Transportable roof

Aquaba- Wooden big span structure | Site museum

Thessaloniki - Metal structure | Viewpoint platforms

Pozzuoli - Metal structure | Cultural center

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Research by design

Temporary facilities for the excavation site | Project 5#

Muziris cultural platform | Project 4#

Pattanam Women´s Institute | Project 3#

Wharf Roof and Site Museum | Project 1#

Wharf Roof and Site Museum | Project 2#

PATTANAM

CONSTRUCTION AS COLLABORATION

Five projects located in Pattanam, developed during the above mentioned design studios or by the Institute of architecture UCJC, are selected in order to illustrate in context the possibilities of museography for an archaeological site within an urban fabric.

time, the location within a village creates a strong interaction with the place. The variaty of possible programmes investigate how the archaeological site becomes, not only a museum meaningful for the visitors, but an agent in the construction of social identity and local development with the participation of the residents.

The Pattanam archaeological site (N. Lat. 10°09.434’; E. Long. 76°12.587’) is located in Vadakkekara village of Paravur Taluk, about 25 km north of Kochi in the Ernakulam District in Kerala, India. This is a coastal densely populated village located in the delta of the Periyar River surrounded by palaeo channels, a backwater, lagoons and streams.The Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) presently owns about 5 acres of the site and is striving to develop it into a model archaeological site [4]. The significant material unearthed by the KCHR, links Pattanam to the Muziris Heritage project (MHP), an il initiative of the Kerala Government to conserve and promote the heritage sites linked to Muziri/Muziris and the modern city of Kochi.

However, the location of Muziris in Pattanam has not been scientifically proved yet, further studies could find the core of the ancient port some kilometers away. If this happened, the museographical importance of this site would be secondary, therefore, the projects test the autonomy of different functions, configurations and settings over the time and over the context.

In addition, as a contruction project, the proposals also seek to produce a new platform through collaborative processes where both local crafts people and global research and industry experts would work together towards delivering an outcome that would speak of past, present and future practices [5].

The archaeological site is a fieldwork, the projects considered link the archaeological process, in any of it stages, with the exhibition display creating a live museum that evolves with the time. At the same Fig. 6 Plan, Pattanam. 1:10000 In pink, excavated plots and location of trenches.

Image based on Julián Gil Benegasi PFG site plan.

[4] Catalogue of the exhibition: Unearthing Pattanam, Histories, cultures and crossings. National Museum-New Delhi, 2014. Edited

by Arundhati Chowdhury

[5] University of Queensland. Art platform Muziris, a proposal for a collaborative construction in the context of the Muziris Heritage Project and the forthcoming Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014.

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PROJECT 1# WHARF ROOF AND SITE MUSEUM

Fig 7.

Axonometry.

Collaboration with KCHR, the project seeks to protect and conserve a significant archaeological excavation site in Pattanam through the Isometric view of Pattanam Wharf construction of a roof structure Roof and In-Situ Museum. and site museum.

Through exploration and excavation, the foundation is laid out without disturbing the ancient structures and the rising roof structure will be built on this

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foundation. The structure will serve two purposes: to house the site museum to showcase the archaeological finds from the site and to protect the ancient structures from weathering due to tropical sun and monsoon rains.

Site students: Héctor Prats, Valerie Codesido

UCJC Institute of Architecture in collaboration with KCHR, 2104 Main architect: Luis Feduchi UCJC Team, Site Architects: I-Wen Kuo,Eugenia Muscio, Daniel García, Marta Toral, Camilo García.

Research by design

Fig 8. Bottom Wharf roof bamboo prototype.

The Timber Prototyping workshop organized by UCJC and Cept University (1st- 18 th December, 2014) and the collaboration of KCHR with the Kochi Muziris Biennale aimed at the construction of the prototype of the Wharf Roof with the participation of students and university teachers.

This workshop was an experimentation and the incorporation of an international group formed by students of the UCJC in Madrid and the CEPT in Ahmedabad . The collaboration brought the construction of the pavilion to an end within a timespan of two weeks by means of the installment of an

international workshop that ended with the finalization of the pavilion, coinciding with the inauguration of the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014.

Workshop organized by UCJC and Cept University, 2014 Prepared by: Luis Feduchi, UCJC Instructor Team: CEPT University & UCJC Daniel García Eugenia Muscio Parth Taker Marta Toral Guinea Fátima Martín Student Team: Aayushi Mody Ahammad-al-muhaymin Akhila Mutha Amrita Kaur Slatch Avani Dedhia Beatriz Riber Lope

Bhaavan Bhavsar Devendra Patel Dharal Surelia Elena Pietx Hektor Prats Lopez Hitarth Turakhia Kanisha Vora Nilosha Dave Palaksha Shetty Prakash Saraswat

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PROJECT 2# INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY

Fig 9.

Axonometry.

The KCHR develops an educational programme for archeology students besides the excavations works. For this purpouse, there is a need for a building that integrates, administration offices, auditorioum for conferences, classrooms, laboratories, photography laboratorie, library... and facilities for the students such us a dormitory, living room and

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communal kitchen.

The slight wooden structure will make use of traditional keralan construction technichs.

Final master project UCJC, 2016 Tutor: Marta Toral Guinea Student: HĂŠctor Prats

Research by design

PROJECT 3# PATTANAM WOMEN´S INSTITUTE

Fig 10.

Section 1:200.

or offices grouped around central screened outdoor rooms.

The research institute is configured as a set of timber platforms on the tartan grid, the lowermost and archaeological stratification, with architectural episodes interpretative or revealing of historical remains.

This raft steps up into a public floor, by way of an overscaled stair as auditorium in an outdoor room. The stratification continues, with upper floors of classrooms

Design studio project , University of Queensland, 2013 Tutor: Luis Feduchi and Jonathan Kopinski Student: Elliot Harvie

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PROJECT 4# MUZIRIS CULTURAL PLATFORM

Fig 11.

Axonometry The intervention on the archaeological site aims to combine history, culture, tradition and education as part of the Muziris heritage project. The intervention include temporary structures to support to excavation necessities: laboratory, exhibition hall, changing rooms, which subsequently will equip the district’s equipment that lacks, primarily educational and cultural

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as social services, local character with connection to the Internet, space for farming, workshops, playground, library, multi-purpose space, stage to outdoor...

The most interesting of this intervention will be the situations that are created in the tour and the observation points at different levels.

Final master project UCJC, 2016 Tutor: Arturo Blanco Herrero Student: JuliĂĄn Leopoldo Gil Benegasi

Research by design

PROJECT 5# TEMPORARY FACILITIES FOR THE EXCAVATION SITE

Figs. 58 Imagen de proyecto.

Fig 12.

Image The management plan of the project is based on using the site of Muziris as a tool to bring together the local people and their historical and geographical identity.

The building includes, working spaces, warehouses and laboratories; as well as resting spaces and temporary housing for the workers of the excavation.

The plan is complemented by

a public exhibition of the found material, the walkable roof will provide to the visitor a high viewpoint for the excavation trenches and above the trees.

Design Studio Building TypeSites, 2014-2015 Tutor: Marta Toral Student: JuliĂĄn Gil Benegasi Esteban RodrĂ­guez Ruiz

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New Muziris

NEW MUZIRIS

TERRITORIAL PROPOSAL FOR KODUNGALLUR AND NORTH PARAVUR

The proposal for New Muziris arises from the conclusions extracted from the projects developed in Pattanam. Muziris is treated as an invisible city to be uncovered, not just as an excavation site. Past, present and future urban-architectural features form the stratigraphy of the proposal. By recovering the memory of the place, adressing present subjects and imagining the future of cities, the three times are brought together and integrated in what is called New Muziris.

Nowadays, the Kodungallur and North Paravur area, where Muziris is thought to be located, is compromised by human activities and natural degradation.The design issues require the identification of principles, methods and strategies that address the preservation of archaeology, the reading of the place as a cultural landscape, the increasing turism activity and the sustainable urban growth of the area.

Fig 13.

Site Plan.

North Paravur and Kodungallur in relation to Kochi, largest city in Kerala.

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Early Historic Port citiEs: arcHitEctural FEaturEs, construction tEcHniquEs and consErvation witH sPEcial rEFErEncE to Pattanam

iii KcHr-Bm intErnational worKsHoP worKsHoP on indian ocEan tradE and tHE arcHaEology oF tEcHnology

1.

Design Workshop Building TypeSites 2013

3.

Workshop Timber Prototypingp

5.

Fieldwork of Pattanam Village and Surroundings

7.

Timber prototyping workshop

2.

Proposal Art Platform for Kochi Biennale

4.

Proposal for Wharf roof

6.

Design Workshop Building TypeSites 2015.

8.

III KCHR-BM International Workshop abstracts compilation.

TIMELINE

2007 KCHR starts excavation at Pattanam 2013 Design Workshop Building Type-Sites

University of Queensland

Studio L. Feduchi and J.Kopinski Proposal Art Platform for Kochi Biennale 2014 MOU KCHR and UCJC University

Design Studio Building Type-Sites UCJC University

Studio M. Toral Workshop Timber Prototyping

CEPT University and UCJC University

Construction of Prototype in Kochi Biennale

CEPT University and UCJC University

Proposal for Wharf roof

Institute of architecture UCJC

Exhibition Unearthing Pattanam, Histories,

cultures and crossings. National Museum-

New Delhi, 2015 Fieldwork of Pattanam Village and Surroundings

Design Studio Building Type-Sites UCJC University

Studio L. Feduchi and R. Conesa

Institute of architecture UCJC

Proposal for Indian Institute of Archeology

Institute of architecture UCJC

Architecture Degree Final Thesis

III KCHR-BM International Workshop.

Participation Luis Feduchi 2016 Territorial proposal for New Muziris

Institute of architecture UCJC

Proposal for Kochi Biennale 2018

Institute of architecture UCJC

Fig 12.

Booklet´s covers and posters of related activities.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Text

Institutions

Calvino, Italo. The invisible Cities. Turin: Einaudi, 1974.

British Association of South Asian Studies Research Group ‘Ports and Indian Ocean Exchanges

Cherian, P. J and Jaya Menon. Unearthing Pattanam: Histories, cultures, crossings. Catalogue for the 2014 exhibition National Museum-New Delhi.

British Museum, BM Kerala Council for Historical Research, KCHR

Cherian P.J. and Preeta Nayar. Interim Report of Pattanam Excavations 2012. Thiruvananthapuram: KCHR Publication, 2012.

Cherian P.J. and Preeta Nayar. Interim Report of Pattanam excavations 2013. Thiruvananthapuram: KCHR Publication, 2013.

Kochi-Muziris Biennale Muziris Heritage Project, MHP UCJC School of Architecture and Technology

Settis, Salvatore. Se Venezia muore. Milan: Einaudi, 2014.

University of Queensland Schildt, Henri. The traditional Kerala Manor: Architecture of a south Indian Catuhsala house. Pondicherry: All India Press, 2012.

Tomber, Roberta. Indo Roman Trade. From pots to pepper . London: In Bristol Classical Press, edited by Richard Hodges, 2008,pp 15.

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