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    Chettinad Houses

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    Manish Bokdia
    Chettinad houses evolved over time from single-story structures made of mud bricks and thatch to multi-story mansions with numerous courtyards and rooms. They were organized around a series of courtyards that provided light and ventilation, with rooms arranged off the courtyards. Later houses were more elaborate with features like carved wooden doors, pillared corridors, and decoration including painted ceilings. By the early 20th century, Chettinad houses took on more Western influences in their architecture while still maintaining traditional elements.

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    Chettinad Houses

    Uploaded by

    Manish Bokdia
    3K views20 pages
    Chettinad houses evolved over time from single-story structures made of mud bricks and thatch to multi-story mansions with numerous courtyards and rooms. They were organized around a series of courtyards that provided light and ventilation, with rooms arranged off the courtyards. Later houses were more elaborate with features like carved wooden doors, pillared corridors, and decoration including painted ceilings. By the early 20th century, Chettinad houses took on more Western influences in their architecture while still maintaining traditional elements.

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    CHETTINAD HOUSES

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    Chettinad houses evolved over time from single-story structures made of mud bricks and thatch to multi-story mansions with numerous courtyards and rooms. They were organized around a series of courtyards that provided light and ventilation, with rooms arranged off the courtyards. Later houses were more elaborate with features like carved wooden doors, pillared corridors, and decoration including painted ceilings. By the early 20th century, Chettinad houses took on more Western influences in their architecture while still maintaining traditional elements.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    3K views20 pages

    Chettinad Houses

    Uploaded by

    Manish Bokdia
    Chettinad houses evolved over time from single-story structures made of mud bricks and thatch to multi-story mansions with numerous courtyards and rooms. They were organized around a series of courtyards that provided light and ventilation, with rooms arranged off the courtyards. Later houses were more elaborate with features like carved wooden doors, pillared corridors, and decoration including painted ceilings. By the early 20th century, Chettinad houses took on more Western influences in their architecture while still maintaining traditional elements.

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    of 20

    CHETTINAD HOUSES

     The Chettinad houses were originally single-storeyed


    buildings made of sundried brick of mud and bamboo
    and thatch.
     They evolved to become tile-roofed with a small two-
    storeyed tower at both ends of the front elevation.
     They later expanded vertically into two-storeyed
    structures, and horizontally through the addition of
    numerous halls and courtyards that could
    accommodate guests at marriages and other
    ceremonies.
     It was not unusual for three generations to live
    together in one house. The Chettinad houses
    accommodate up to four generations before separate
    houses are built by individual sons .
     The houses
    are built on a
    rectangular,
    traversal plot
    that stretches
    across two
    streets, with
    the front door
    opening into
    the first street
    and the back
    into the
    second.
     Looking in from the main
    threshold, your eye
    travels in a straight line
    across a series of inner
    courtyards, each a
    diminishing rectangle of
    light, leading out to the
    back door .
     The courtyards supply
    ample light and air
    (pickles and papads were
    dried there) but leave the
    rest of the house in deep
    and cool shadow.
    "conjugal" room second courtyard
    Veranda. First courtyard columns.

    TinnaiPuja room and storagecorridor kitchen.Veranda.


    of dowry items.
    Raised
    platform

    accountance room Kitchen


    The platforms lead off
    First comes an outer on one side into store
    thinai - Large raised rooms and massive
    platforms on either side granaries and on the
    of the central corridor, other, into the (
    where the host would Kanakupillai ) or
    entertain male guests. Accountant's room.This
    area also usually leads
    off to the men's well.
    FROM HERE, THE HUGE ELABORATELY CARVED TEAK FRONT DOOR,
    WITH IMAGE OF LAKSHMI CARVED OVER THE HEAD AND NAVARATNA
    OR NINE PRECIOUS GEMS BURIED UNDER THE ( VASAPADI)
    THRESHOLD.
    THE DOOR LEADS INTO THE FIRST OPEN AIR
    COURTYARD, WITH PILLARED CORRIDORS RUNNING
    ON EACH SIDE THAT LEAD INTO INDIVIDUAL
    ROOMS, EACH MEANT FOR A MARRIED SON, EACH
    WITH A TRIANGULAR SLOT CUT INTO THE WALL
    FOR THE EVENING LAMP.
    C O U R T Y A R D
     Then comes the second counrtyard with large
    dining spaces on either side.
     The third courtyard was for the women folk to
    rest and gossip, while the fourth, or nalankattai
    comprised the kitchens, leading out to the
    backyard with its women's well and grinding
    stones.
     No house comes with less than two vast kitchens,
    not to mention several giant grinding stones and
    rows of fireplaces in the last courtyard – all
    meant to entertain gigantic gatherings.
     Each of the small rooms off the main courtyard is
    the property of one married son in the
    patriarchal lineage of the ancestral builder of the
    home.
    ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF
    MANSION HOUSES
     1800-1840 A.D
     During this period there were small rural houses. They
    directly lie on the street edge. Main enterance opens into a
    small corridor, which gives access to a raised platform, which
    then leads an open-air inner first courtyard. The houses have
    two courtyards with a backyard. Spanning was similar to
    thatched roof. Walls were of Baked bricks and mud. Roof was
    of Timber rafters and country tiles.
     1840-1860 A.D
     They were double or single storied . The houses were now set
    back slightly with an intermediate space and surrounding
    wall. A raised gallery was built against the main façade. Front
    façade wall had windows. The Water from roof was collected
    on vessels and inner courtyards linked by underground
    canalization to temple tanks. Walls were of Baked bricks and
    lime. Roof was of Timber rafters and country tiles. The
    flooring for upper loft area was of wood topped with layers of
    leaves and sticks packed with cow dung and then a layer of
    sand and cow dung.
     1860-1900 A.D
     The houses enlarged horizontally. They become
    double storied with alteration in height. The house
    was now set back with an intermediate Courtyard
    and elaborate surrounding wall. There was a Raised
    gallery/Thinai built against the main façade and
    enhanced with a monumental porch and alcove above.
    The Central Loggia hall/Kalyana Kottagai was
    decorated heavily. Ceilings decorated with tiles and
    painted medallions.
     1900-1940 A.D.
     The houses were now set back with an intermediate
    Courtyard and elaborate surrounding wall. The
    central loggia ceilings were decorated with tiles and
    painted medallions. The Adithalam is raised to
    include another floor, which accommodates horses
    and cars. Heavily gods and British Dignitaries were
    used as ornamentation figures. Teak from Burma and
    Ceylon was majority used for roofing and columns,
    which was heavily carved.
     Since 1940 A.D
     During this period the houses emerged as villas
    or bungalows. The building is located in centre
    with large open spaces surrounding it. Highly
    decorated with classical order columns. Main
    entrance was marked with a portico the houses
    had the number of courtyards reduced to two
    courtyards of smaller size for one family. The
    ornamentation was of Anglo Indian influences.s
    The late 19th century
    House of earlier pattern of raising an
    vintage,with open space elaborate first floor just
    in front. above the main
    reception area.
    MORE MANSION OF CHETTINAD OF LATE
    19TH,EARLY 20TH CENTURY.
    HOME BUILT FROM SECOND QUARTER OF 20TH
    CENTURY BEGAIN TO DRAW MORE HEAVILY
    FROM WESTERN STYLES.
    ONE OF CHETTINAD HOUSE SHOWING THE
    RICHNESS WHICH IT HAD WITH HIGHER PLINTH

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