Page 15 - Apr-Jun 2018
P. 15

VOL. 15 No. 2
      Colourful Chettinad Homes



      Location: Tamil Nadu; Urban
      Physical Factors: Semi-Arid plateau region; Drought prone
      The Chettinad house is an amalgamation of vernacular, South East Asian & European architecture as a
      result of constant trade links. It is decorated with marble from Italy, chandeliers and teak from Burma,
      crockery from Indonesia, and wall to wall mirrors from Belgium.

      WALL                                   ROOF                                 SHAPE
                                             The roof evolved from thatch, to     They are rectangular plots
      The characteristic feature is the
                                             a tiled roofed and was designed      laid along a longitudinal
      lime plaster or egg plaster which
                                             to collect water which then          axis in the orthogonal
      gives the walls their mirror-like
                                             drained into local village ponds.    street layouts.
      sheen.  The walls are decorated
      with stunning wall paintings done
      using stencils by painters who
      came from Kothamangalam.



      FLOOR

      The  Athangudi tiles  are
      used for the fl oor, known for
      their gentle sheen, distinct
      composition, vivid geometric/
      fl oral patterns and a diff erent
      style of assembling. It gets
      its name from a village in
      Chettinad.
                                                       LAYOUT
                                        Illustration by:   Originally the houses were single storeyed buildings
        DOORS
        DOORS                         Himanshu Harwani,
                                       IX B, All Saints Sr.   with small two-storey tower at both ends of the
        The front door is one foot     Sec. School, Ajmer  front elevation. The Kalyana Kottai supported by
        thick with a three-layered                     pillars was surrounded by Thinnai on all sides that
        teak wood frame with                           opened out into cool spacious rooms. It is believed
        intricate carving and circular                 that at least three generations exist under one roof
        door handles.                                  at any given time.


                                            ACTIVITY: NAME THEM

             DID YOU KNOW?

         Aayiram Jannal Veedu was built
         by the Nattukottai Chettiars.
         The house is famous for its 1000
         windows, 25 huge rooms, 5
         halls, and around 20 doors.       Thinnai             Athangudi      Kalyana Kottai
                                           1. _____________    2. __________  3. _______________

      Text credits: S. Harini Pritiyanhira, V, A.M.M Matriculation School, Chennai; M. Yuvarani, VII, Revoor Padmanabha Chetty’s Matric Hr. Sec.
      School, Chennai; Swetha. S, IX, Royal Park School, Salem; Rithika, II, Veveaham Prime Academy, Dharampur; K.V. Rithika, VII, Sri Sankara
      Vidyashramam Mat. Hr. Sec. School, Chennai;



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