(MSAR 215) Traditional Wisdom & Sustainability concepts

Assignment - 02

Traditional building pattern – forms and meanings

Chettinad Architecture & its Palatial Homes / Mansions
H. Hindu | 1200500098 | MSA – 2nd Year | School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada.
Chettinad Heritage Region
Introduction

Location Map of the Chettinad

Region in Tamil Nadu The region of Chettinad is located in the southern part of the State of Tamil Nadu (South
India), with Chennai (Madras) as capital. The main town of the region is Karaikkudi, which
is 400 km from Chennai.

Chettinad is located in an area Northeast of Madurai, North of the River Vaigai and
South of the River Vellar on a semi-arid plain of 1,550 square kilometers in the heart of
Tamil Nadu-South India. It is inhabited by 110,000 Chettiars who are spread over two
cities and 73 villages.

The name chettiar is derived from the generic term ‘chetty’ which denotes
Business communities or trading groups. This could have been derived from the Sanskrit
word ‘Sreshti’which means ‘merchant’.

They were originally believed to be gem merchants in a town called Santhyapuri in

Naganad, somewhere in north of Tamil Nadu. The Chettinad is organized around nine
clan temple. The Chettiars, in particular the Nattukkottai Chettiars have played a very
important role in the development of the Tamil Country. Community divided into various
groups according to the temples they worship in. Nine such families belonging to nine
villages

– Ilayatrangudi, Martrur, Vairavan, Iraniyur, Pillayarpatti,Nemankovil, Iluppaikudi,

Sooraikudi, and Velangudi temples. As population increased, a number new village were
formed by different groups of Chettiars. Chettinadu occupies about 1554 sq.km in central
Tamil Nadu.

Ramnad district and Thirumangalam – Pudukottai district comprises these villages.

 Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
Urban Development : From Free Pattern to Urban Grid

As a result of their travels, the Chettiars have integrated diverse influences into their traditions which have contributed to their uniqueness.

SETTLEMENT ORGANISATION:
Rayavaram is one the rich settlements of chettiand and represent over 150 years of architecture. Their villages were constructed following precise
and sophisticated rules of urban planning
(orthogonal streets, specific water management schemes, technical innovation, artistic creativity, etc.). These settlements are also built in
harmony with Tamil traditions: rectangular plots, houses with an inner courtyard (often with around 3 or 4 courtyards).

Housing and community spaces in the village are located independent of each other with no distinct interrelation between the two. The village
follows a grid iron pattern to prevent mingling with foreign communities.

• The houses follow the grid pattern measuring 120 X 60m.

• Each grid consists of 4 houses measuring about 60 X 30m.
• All houses are self-contained and homogenous.Houses in two separate rows arranged such that their backyards face each other.
• Roads in the village are oriented north-south(width=9.1m) and streets are oriented east-west direction(width=7.62m)
• Due to the height of the houses on either side of the road and the small width of the road, a shadow will always be present at any place expect
for a few hours during the day.

Example of grid iron town planning in Kanadukathan, a chettinad settlement.

Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
Urban Development : From Free Pattern to Urban Grid

• Tanks in the region are designed in concentric circles with

access through a flight of steps from all 4 sides. Each tank is
dedicated to a particular temple. Rain water from each
house is taken by underground drains which collectively
terminate in the tanks. When the tank overflows, the excess
water runs into the adjoining tanks through provisions in the
previous tank.

Over the course of time, the settlement of the village of

Kanadukathan has evolved into a perfect urban grid
pattern.

The Chettiars also had a vision of planning which aimed at

connecting the Chettinad train station, the airport, the
Shiva temple and the Raja’s Island to the core of the
village with the palace of the Raja.
Example of grid iron town planning in Kanadukathan, a chettinad settlement.
Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
From the Street to the House

• The compound wall is a specific feature which is particular to the urban landscape of the Chettinad villages.
• A peripheral wall runs around each property containing the house and out houses. On the street sides, the wall is aligned with the street axis,
running from the North to South with important arches/doors facing one each other on an East to West axis.
• These arches serve as the main gates of the properties and are a demonstrable symbol of wealth. The compound wall provides an overall
coherence with the different villages of the region.
• Inside the compound the building and its facade are set back on a common alignment with the other buildings of the street.
• The space between the entrance gate and the facade wall is primarily for visitors who can sit in the outdoor thinnai. The height of the building
never exceeds 2 levels,the ground floor and a first floor.

Example of grid iron town planning in Kanadukathan, a chettinad settlement.

Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
From the Street to the House - Facades

On the ground floor, the architecture is typically Tamil, with the

outdoor tinnai and inner tinnai (pattalea), the central courtyard (nadu
veassel) with its puja rooms (rettai vidu) on each side.

However one can also see Western influences on the front façade and
higher floors, with features of classical architecture, such as a series of
colonnades, cornices, multi-level balustrades, parapets and
symmetrical organization following the classical genre.

Typical section of street

Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
The Palatial Homes

THE HOUSING PLANNING CONCEPT :

The concept of the Chettinadu house is believed to have originated from the CULTRAL INFLUENCES:
historic trading centre of Kaveripoompatnam. In the earliest house a thinnai was provided in front of the
The practice of raising the plinth by 2 metres was prevalent to prevent the house on either side of the main entrance.
water from entering the house due to frequent flooding.
This thinnai was mainly used by the male members of the
The planning concept of the house was based on houses for informal meetings.
• The occupation of the people and their desires
• Cultural influences In the later houses, when contact with the neighbours was
• Climate consideration reduced owing to cultural change, the front Thinnai was
enclosed for privacy.
The occupation of the people and their desires determined the spaces
This reduced segregation between male and female
created and their uses:
members of the house.
• Since the Chettiars were mainly involved in banking and trade, they
needed storage space for keeping their valuables. The siderooms, Ullarai
and veliarai served this purpose.

• The very nature of business conducted meant frequent visits of guests,

supporters and foreign businessmen. The planning of the house was also
geared towards providing accommodation for the guests.

• As the men folk were away on business for long periods of time, the
women had to be provided with a residence which maximized security
and made them self-sufficient. This dictated the introverted nature of
planning, avoiding multiple external accesses.

• The scale of spaces such as the kalyana kottagai and the bhojana hall
were determined by religious and family festivities.
Inner and outer Thinnai’s
Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
The Palatial Homes

Many of these houses have evolved over nearly two centuries

and are veritable palaces. Constructed on mounds, they
feature verandas, reception halls and court rooms situated
along a longitudinal axis. This organization mirrors the
structure of the society and the rules of the community.

Axonometric projection of CV palatial Chettiarhouse

in the village of Kanadukathan
Outdoor tinnai, Inner tinnai, Main Reception Hall, Main Courtyard,
Dining Room, Wedding Hall, Women’s Courtyard, Kitchen and
Servant Courtyard
Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
The Palatial Homes

ARCHITECTURE FOR CLIMATE:

Due to their settlement in a hot and semi arid region the Chettiars
have taken their climate into consideration in the design of their
homes and the materials used.

The houses are built around an East/West central courtyard

because the house as a unit was considered a cosmos within the
cosmos, and all the daily rituals were based on the movement of
the sun across the sky. This brings in shadows, light, coolness and
also facilitated the free flow of the wind inside the house and the
materials used for the construction such as bricks for the walls, lime
plasters, terracotta tiles roofing, marbles and stones floors are
essential component.
The slopes of the roofs are important and allow the collection of
rain water during the monsoon season. Drainage feeds the water
from the courtyard ponds into storage tanks.

Plan of a early Chettiarhouse

The main axis is oriented West/ East facilitating air flow and b ringing light and
shadow to the central courtyard. The rain water is collected from the central
courtyard and diverted o storage water tanks.
Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
Spatial Planning And Hierarchy - CVCT House in the village of Kanadukathan

Plan of a typical Chettair House

This orientation in the longitudinal direction, the houses were organized in terms of use of space and gender of the occupants. The outer areas
of the house were occupied by the males and the inner portions by the women and servants. The aspects of public to private zones within the
house are also in increasing gradation in the longitudinal axis. The five main parts of the house are Mugappu, Valavu, Nadu Vaasal,
Irandan Kattu and Moonran Kattu
Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
Space and Function – CVCT House in the village of Kanadukathan

Legends
1. Thinnai
2. Pattalai
3. Valavu
4. Nadu Vasal (Main courtyard)
5. Colonnande
6. Rooms
7. Doors and Windows
8. Bhojan Salai
9. Irandan Kattu
10. Moonran Kattu

Plan of a typical Chettair House showing the five parts

10.
Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
Space and Function – CVCT House in the village of Kanadukathan

Legends
1. Thinnai
2. Pattalai
3. Valavu
4. Nadu Vasal
5. Colonnande
6. Rooms
7. Doors and Windows
8. Bhojan Salai
9. Irandan Kattu
10. Moonran Kattu

Plan of a typical Chettair House showing the five parts

Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
Elements of Chettinad Architecture

Roofscape
Chettinad roofs have great importance as a tool for collecting
rainwater andfor air cooling. The repetition of rectangular plots,
positioned in accordance with the major axes East/West and
North/South, the organization of the houses in successive
courtyards and the hierarchy of the pavilions with sloping and
terrace roofs has created a specific roofscape, unique to
Chettinad.

Arches And Porches:

The rural landscape of the Chettinad region is marked by a series
of elegant arches on the main roads that go around the villages.
Further, each house has an imposing entrance porch at the level
of compound wall showcasing the wealth andthe social status of
the owner. These richly decorated porches showing influence
from various architectural styles are the essence of Chettinad
heritage identity.

Columns
Two main types of column are specific to Chettiar houses: The
wooden columns are mainly used for inside areas and stone pilars
for the courtyards (main or kitchen). In a later period, granite
pillars were used in the outdoor tinnai. The elegance of the shaped
wooden columns is very typical of Chettinad.
Regional Urban and Architectural Identity
Elements of Chettinad Architecture

Concrete Figures :
Every house is embellished with concrete figures. Front façades
were subject to particular attention and one can see different
themes of inspiration: Deities, such as Gajalakshmi , Lord Shiva
or Lord Krishna; kings and queens, rajas and ranis, British
soldiers, Hunters, or allegorical representations of fauna and
flora.

Balustrades Parapets And Cornices :

Balustrades, parapets and cornices are very much part of the
architectural identity of the region. The stucco cornices create
elegant lines around the walls which follow the different levels and
pavilions of the house. Different layers of balustrades and
parapets increase the grandeur of these huge mansions, giving
thema palatial dimension. These particular elements of
architecture are mostly made of Chettinad plaster with delicate
combinations of natural colours.

Wooden Carving Features :

Chettiars used to bring teak from Burma back to their country
Before the use of modern materials such as iron in construction,
the structures of their homes were made from bricks,stone pillars
and teak wood beams. The flares of the columns were shaped
with purelines. They brought and developed skills such as wood
carving. Tops of pillars, door frames,door and window imposts
and ceilings were delicately carved with great inspiration :
Goddesses, Yallis, flora and fauna and geometry are present in
every element. Chettinad therefore, became a centre of
excellence in wood carving skills during the community’s most
affluent period.
References

1. Yatin Pandya, “Concepts of Space in Traditional Indian Architecture.”

2. D.K.Bubbar, “The Spirit of Indian Architecture, Vedantic Wisdom of Architecture for Building Harmonious Spaces & Life.”

3. Bernard Dragon, Michel Adment,UNESCO,” INDIAN HERITAGE PASSPORT PROGRAMMEON THE CHETTINAD TRAIL
IN TAMIL NADU”

4. K. Sasidhar, Dr. R. Vedamuthu, An Anthrop – Arch Approach to the Study of the Contemporary Chettiar Dwelling of Tamilnadu,
India

5. Samyukthaa.N, Lifestyle, Architecture and planning concepts.