Padmanabhapuram palace adaptive use

PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE

CREDITS

Compilation -Snigdha Kureel

Plan of the resort drafted by- C.S. Gayathri

Elevation and sections by-Avinash

Individual design intervention

● Navarathri Mandapam- Snigdha Kureel

● Indra Vilasom & Oottupura- R.S.Teja

● Open mediation space- C.S. Gayathri

Padmanabhapuram Palace is considered to be the largest wooden palace in the world. Spread over an area of 6.5acres with every bit of this magnificent complex boasts of intricate woodwork that highlights the outstanding skills of the artisans of yore. Nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats this ancient architectural marvel portrays the cultural opulence of God’s Own Country. The exquisite craftsmanship of the local carpenters is best exhibited in the timber elements seen in the palace. A symphony created by brilliant artisans in wood and stone, the Padmanabhapuram Palace is an artwork in itself and it is no wonder that this monument of outstanding engineering has withstood the test of time.

Contained within the complex is a collection of 14 palaces and 127 beautiful royal rooms, many of which feature ornate wood carvings. The carved ceilings of the palace depict 90 varieties of flowers. Paintings, hundreds of years old, and stone statues, some over 1000 years old, are on display on the palace grounds.

Adaptively reusing the existing built form

CIRCULATIONAND ZONING

CIRCULATION FLOW CHARTFOR DAILYVISITORS

Navarathri Mandapam- the three part structure was used for cultural performances, music, dance, and other entertainments which were conducted every year during the Navarathri festival which will be revived and continue with the same function.

Navarathri Mandapam

Navarathri Mandapam was used for cultural performances, music, dance, and other entertainments which were conducted every year during the Navratri festival. The marvelously sculptured granite structure is in three parts. The Navarathri mandapam follows the king’s namaskara place where the king used to pay his respects following which was the Saraswathy Temple constructed by Marthanda Varma in 1744 AD.

THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE STRUCTURE

The reuse will be focus on the hall of performance and the green room. The structure will be used by the dance performers. There will be two shows a day and the cultural influence will be from tamil nadu and kerala dance forms. There will no structural changes made. The opening are indicated by arrows.

Bharatnatyam

Kathakali

Right elev.

elev.

Valiya Oottupura- the long G+1 structure on the south

west direction used to the dining hall which served around 200 people in a day is now reused as a library in the ground floor and a research facility in the first floor. The library and research facility is given to provide an opportunity for architects and researchers to learn information about the palace that can be written in black and white that will advertise and promote the palace.

FIRST FLOOR

VALIYA OOTTUPURA :

SIGNIFICANCE :

The Oottupura being a utilitarian structure, little effort is made towards embellishing it with ornate details. In the place of ornamentation, the craftsmen employed clever ways to erect a structure with maximum capacity, yet strong to sustain the footfall of such a large crowd. The ground floor is dotted with stone columns that support the ceiling beams. On the first floor, two rows of wooden columns support the roof frame and the roughly finished massive timber beams. Terracotta floor tiles cover the floor space.

MOTIVE OF ADAPTIVE REUSE :

The main motive is to give some proofs and documents of history of the padmanabhapuram palace. which can be done by some archeologists, architects, engineers and researchers. The motive is to provide some space to them. To provide some space for the researchers and space for the book buddies. the books here are mainly going to depict the tamil nadu and kerala states culture, traditions and philosophies.it mainly focuses on the publishment of that two states.

Indra vilasam- the building was constructed for the accommodation for the foreign tourists and dignitaries coming to visit the king will be reused into a three part function the porch will be used as a reception.The second space will be a bistro, the third open will be the sitting area for the customers.

INDIRA VILASAM

SIGNIFICANCE :

The long corridor of the Thekke Theruvu Malika ends at Indra Vilasam, a double storied mansion said to have been constructed during the reign of Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma as a guest house for western dignitaries who visited the royal court. Fr. Paolino Bartolomeo who visited the royal court during the reign of Dharmaraja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma had stayed at Indira Vilasam.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE :

The architectural characteristics of Indra Vilasam make it stand apart from the rest of the buildings in the palace complex. Traditional Kerala architectural vocabulary makes way for colonial style to suit the needs of foreign guests. The high ceiling, balustrade, wide wooden staircase, pillared verandah on the northern and southern façade featuring twin columns are distinguishing elements. The high ceiling and large fenestrations adds an airy touch to the interiors, whilst the southern view overlooks a landscaped garden.

MOTIVE OF ADAPTIVE REUSE :

The main reuse is done in the ground floor of indira vilasam. The main motive is to serve the traditional authentic kerala style filter coffee and to provide the reception for the resort.

NORTH SIDE ELEVATION

SOUTH SIDE ELEVATION

● BEFOREANDAFTERADAPTIVE REUSE : INDRAVILASAM

BEFORE AFTER

● BEFOREANDAFTERADAPTIVE REUSE : INDRAVILASAM

BEFORE AFTER

BhagavatiTemple adaptively reused into a Meditation Space

Reference image for location of meditation space in the site

The open area around the Bhagawati temple- the open space will be reused into the meditation space for the visitors’of the staycation. It will only function in the early morning which will not irrerupt with circulation of the daily visitors’ of the museum.

Adaptively reusing the existing BhagavatiTemple at the northern side of the Palace and its surrounding open area to create a Zen space.This adaptive reuse of the existing built up structure includes neither an addition in any manner nor any demolition. It will function in the early morning and at late evening after the visiting hours of the Palace so that the circulation of the visitors do not disturb the meditation space.

Components of Meditation space

● Store room for keeping meditation mats, etc

● Open green space for meditation at early morning and late evening

● Covered meditation space for those who want to meditate in a closed area

isometric

3D Representation of Meditation space

3D Representation of Meditation space

Thekke kottaram- It serves as a heritage museum exhibiting antique household articles and curios from the olden days giving an insight into the social and cultural ethos of that period. It will be reused as an ayurvedic centre which will be open for the resort people and also can be accessed from outside roadways as well.

of a new built form

Navaratri mandapam

The addition of a new built form in the site is for the purpose of accommodating the visitors of the padmanabhapuram palace site.

The resort and the parking for it are the only newly constructed in the site.The new built forms will be added keeping various clauses into consideration. Such as-

● Reuse Strategy

Typological: Before the reuse of the building, Literature study is a must about the original and new use to be incorporated.

Technical: Structural study and analysis with dimensions should be known and noted of the building.

Strategical:The building along with its surroundings should be taken into context thus reusing the building while keeping in mind the ‘character, sense and spirit’of the place.

● Function and use

Function and use depends on building typology, location, environmental factors, social factors, and economic factors. Environmental factors should include site features, climatic conditions and embodied energy of existing buildings.The gabled roofs and courtyard helps in better ventilation and climate responsiveness.

Antique museum

Materials andTechnology

Use of old and new techniques can be merged resulting in innovative techniques.The materials of the original structure should be ideally maintained and used unless it is in a very dilapidated structure.The roof of the poomukham is renovated and left in its original untainted self from the old original form. The new additions and preservation that are proposed can be a combination of old and new techniques and materials in the construction.The flooring of the roofing will be the flooring of the mantrashala that is the combination of surkhi and egg whites.

Structural engineering

The prime style of architecture of the padmanabhapuram palace is Kerala Mukhappu style.The structures in the padmanabhapuram palace which were usually used for the residential purpose in the olden days are based on courtyard complex i.e a open to sky space in the centre of the plan and rooms and corridor surrounding the courtyard.The dining hall was a long colonnade corridor where the gabled roof is supported by the wooden and stone columns.Some of the structures are also inspired from colonial architecture. So, all the new and old structures will be in harmony and in the same architectural

RESORT

The motive of this resort is to provide accommodation for the tourist, visitors of the palace and the researchers. The place will provide with space for recreational purposes and also with a storytelling journey through the architectural marvel. Apart of the place will also work as a research facility along with a library to give an opportunity for architects and researchers to learn information about the palace that can be written in black and white that will advertise and promote the palace. The architectural context will remain intact and will not be changed in any manner in the new built form.The prime architectural style which is prevailing in the existing built up structures is the Kerala traditional architectural style.

Plan of the resort

The resort will be a 1000 sq metres built up area and the rest of the land around will be converted into a green space which includes two water bodies in it.

GABLED ROOFS

SURKHI FLOORING

The features of the Kerala mukhappu are vast usage of teak wood, the wooden jhalis, the vast usage of granite stone in the forms of pillars and flooring is used in the palace.

● Incorporating the vernacular architecture of Kerala in this project.

● Pagoda style roof with mangalore tiles help with shading and is climate responsive.

● Stone pillars with wood cladding inspired from the poomukham columns will support the roof structure on it.

● Courtyard provide with light and act as a buffer space to regulate temperature.

● Windows with wooden jhalis ilter the light inside, provide privacy and allow, unhindered breeze to flow at habitation level