CULTURE &ARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD

CULTURE

&ARCHITECTURE

OF CHETTINADOF CHETTINADPrepared by : Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar Benazir, School Of Architecture & Interior Design

SOCIAL LIFE OF NAGARATHARSSOCIAL LIFE OF NAGARATHARS

SALIENT FEATURES OF A CHETTINAD HOUSE

TRADITIONS IN ARTS & CRAFTS

SPACE, FUNCTION & CLIMATE RESPONSIVENESS

COLUMNS PARAPETS AND CORNICESCOLUMNS, PARAPETS AND CORNICES

RAJAS’ PALACE IN KANADUKATHAN

NAGARATHAR HOUSES IN KARAIKUDI.

2Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture


•• C H E T T I N A DC H E T T I N A D is a regionof the Sivaganga district ofsouthern Tamil Nadu state,India.

•• K A R A I K U D IK A R A I K U D I is known asthe capital of Chettinad,which includes Karaikudi and74 (traditionally its said as( y96) other villages.

• Since Chettinad was strategically located on theold trade route, the Chettiars to work as traderstradersold trade route, the Chettiars to work as traderstradersandand moneylendersmoneylenders inin Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,Singapore, Vietnam and other South-East Asiancountries.countries.

• They prospered, returned home & built massivehomes made of Burmese teak that gave themtheir name the NattukotaiNattukotai (country(country fort)fort)

4Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecturetheir name, the NattukotaiNattukotai (country(country fort)fort)ChettiarsChettiars or NagaratharsNagarathars..

• Nagarathars are an exclusive clan, famousfor their enterprise, hard work and

t ib ti t i tcontributions to society.• They earned money by crossing the seasand their business acumen made them

f l d

• Since the 1970s, many have becomeprofessionals, entrepreneurs and industrialists.

successful and prosperous.• Their social life is Unique. At the apex ofthe family household, is the ““AachiAachi”” the

• While the Nagarathars still see their roots inChettinad, over the years, they have been movingaway from ancient traditions and customs.

senior most female in the house.• She controlled, if not every thing, thefinances of the household.

• As a result of their traveling, the Chettiarsintegrated diverse influences into theirtraditions which contributed to theiruniqueness.

• People started moving away from themoney lending business in favour of other

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture

y gprofessions.

CHETTINAD CUISINE

• Chettinad is known for its Culinary delicacies• Traditionally, meals for Chettiars are served on a large bananaleaf with rice vegetables pickles papadams along with meatleaf with rice, vegetables, pickles, papadams, along with meatdishes.

• Chettiars are very superstitious with numbers, dishes have to bed i dd b (i i di h l)served in odd numbers (i.e. seven or nine dishes per meal).

• Although the Chettiars are well-known for their deliciousvegetarian preparations, their recipes include fish and meatslalso.

• Chettinad can be considered as the master chefs who preparefood that reflects the excellence of South Indian look for in the

Chettinad cuisine traditionally eaten on a

preparation and serving of food.


Chettinad cuisine traditionally eaten on abanana leaf (vaazhai ilai)

TheThe colorfulcolorful RitualsRituals ininTraditionalTraditional WeddingsWeddings


•• C L A NC L A N T E M P L E ST E M P L E S

CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS

The community is organized around 9 clan temples. Eachmember of the Chettiar community belongs to a clan andeach clan has its own temple.

•• A Y A N N A RA Y A N N A R S H R I N E SS H R I N E SAyannar is the Tamil God “of everything ": rain maker, godof children cattle villages earth nature and villagers He isof children, cattle, villages, earth, nature and villagers. He ispresent in rural areas. His abodes are not necessarilytemples but outdoor shrines that are filled with terra-cottaofferingsofferings.•• M A R I A M M A NM A R I A M M A N T E M P L E ST E M P L E SMariamman, the Goddess of smallpox, is the deity of life,

i ll f d hild Sh t hild despecially of women and children. She grants children andcures them. The main festivals take place during the monthsof March and April. There is great fervour during thesef i i i i h h d f d h i i h

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecturefestivities, with thousands of devotees gathering in herhonour.

FESTIVALS

•• D E E P A V A L ID E E P A V A L I - On Deepavali day, there isa grand festive lighting of traditional lampsb h hi ( h Ch i i ) Th lby the achis (the Chettiar wives). The lampsare placed with other consecrated offeringson banana leaves.

•• N A V A R A T R IN A V A R A T R I -- Navaratri is thecelebration of Goddesses Lakshmi Saraswaticelebration of Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati,and Durga, the manifestations of Shakti(Female Energy or Power). Customarily, theNavaratri festival or ‘Nine Nights festival’ isNavaratri festival or Nine Nights festival isthe culmination of nine days and nignts ofjoyful celebrations when the women of ah h ld ti l l l b t d

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecturehousehold are particularly celebrated .

Temple Festival the 5Temple Festival – the 5decorated gods,Panchamurthi - theannual procession inannual procession inopen bullock carts

V ik i Vi k i fVaikasi Visakam – carrying ofkavadi, Fire walking &piercing the body with longneedles & sharp hooks

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architectureneedles & sharp hooks

Puravi Edupu – Horse festival –beseeching the rain gods for theirSevvai(Tuesday)Pongal-

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecturemercycelebrated on first Tuesday of

pongal, the harvest festival

• Athangudi tiles are

ATHANGUDI T ILESg

prepared by a uniqueprocess in which local soilalong with cement, babyg yjelly and synthetic oxidesare used.

• The tiles are cast from thelocally available clay that isfirst burnt and then glazed.

• It is the play of baseIt is the play of basecolours with typicaltypicalconventionalconventional floraflora andand lineline--drawingdrawing designsdesigns that makesdrawingdrawing designsdesigns that makesthem unique.

• It is used for flooring, wallcladding both in interiors

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecturecladding both in interiorsas well as exteriors.

STREET VIEWS


ARTS & ARTS &

CRAFTS OF CRAFTS OF

CHETTINADCHETTINAD


• The arts & crafts of Chettinad occupy a distinctposition in South Indian folklore.W dW d ii ilil b lli h tb lli h t ii•• WoodWood carving,carving, silversilver embellishment,embellishment, wovenwoven saris,saris,palmpalm--leafleaf baskets,baskets, goldgold jewelleryjewellery,, handhand--mademade tiles,tiles,architecturalarchitectural styles,styles, refinedrefined cuisinecuisine andand eggegg plasteringplastering

h i i ibl ib i hare among their more visible contributions to thewide-ranging repertoire of Indian arts and crafts.

•• ChettinadChettinad basketsbaskets has a special attraction as theyTraditional Jewellery

have intricate patterns made with date-palm leaves.Traditional thaali -Marriage necklace

Intricatewooden carveddoorframe

Twin Chettinadbaskets woven

doorframe

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture 15

baskets wovenin fine silver

Ornamentalwooden carving

Kandanghi sarees-hand woven

Kidarams bigKidarams-bigwater storagevessel

Sombu

Palmyra

Sombu -Brass vessel

CraftedSpitoons-yleafBaskets –‘Kottans’

faruvamanaiEchilpanickam

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture 16Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture&‘Koodais’

TheTheTraditionalWoodenDolls –DollsTheChettiar &The Achi

Use of Burmese teak and multi-color tiles for cupboards.

• A special feature of any chettinad house is thedecorative art of "KolamKolam" practiced everyday atdawn on the cleansed threshold of the housedawn on the cleansed threshold of the house.

• During auspicious days and especially on lifecyclerituals like birth and marriage relatedcelebrations this art form on the floor takes on a

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture 17Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecturecelebrations, this art form on the floor takes on aspecial meaning and is very elaborately done. Nadu veetu kolam

ARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINADARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINADARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD

• Most Chettiar mansions comprised of a

TYPICAL NAGARATHAR HOUSESMost Chettiar mansions comprised of apublic reception area abutting the street.

• The basic floor plan of a Chettinad houseconsists of an outside verandah (thinnai) for

• They later expanded vertically into two-storeyed structures, and horizontally throughconsists of an outside verandah (thinnai) for

guests,• with a room for conducting business onone or both ends;

the addition of numerous halls andcourtyards that could accommodate guests atmarriages and other ceremonies.one or both ends;

• an interior courtyard to be used inceremonies, with a raised seating area atone or both ends;

• The rear hall served as the women’s domainwhere the women of the community rearedchildren, engaged in food preservation andone or both ends;

• a series of small double rooms opening offthe main courtyard, for storage, prayer andsleeping and a small courtyard behind for

g g pwent about other domestic activities.

sleeping and a small courtyard behind forcooking and for the women to socialize.

• The Chettinad houses were usually tile-f d ith ll t t d t t

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architectureroofed with a small two-storeyed tower atboth ends of the front elevation.

• Chettinad architecturestands out for itsuse of large spacesuse of large spacesin halls andcourtyards, ornateembellishments likeembellishments likeBelgian glasswork,intricate woodwork,spectacular ceramicspectacular ceramictiles, stone, iron andwooden pillars like

thi l th tnothing else that canbe seen in this partof the world.


CHETTINAD HOUSES• Chettinad houses are signs of successful jointfamilies that existed in the older days.

• Buildings are divided into portions --‘‘KattuKattu’’..• Each house in chettinad is made up ofpMugappu, Valavu, Irandankattu, Moonankattu &thottam

•• MugappuMugappu – The reception; entrance of the houseg ppg pp p•• ValavuValavu – Living area of the house• In the valavu, there are 4 platforms that arecalled as Pattalai, each at 4 corners of the,valavu.

•• PattalaiPattalai – Living halls of each family• Along with Pattalai, valavu consists of numerous

•• NadaiNadai – Corridor• Irandankatturandankattu – used for dining / with

““MugappuMugappu" held by pillars made of " held by pillars made of granitegranite

Along with Pattalai, valavu consists of numerousIrattai veedu.

•• IrattaiIrattai veeduveedu –– rooms used by each family tokeep their belongings(2 rooms connected by a

Irandankatturandankattu used for dining / withstorerooms for storing crockery/kitchenware

•• MoonamkattuMoonamkattu – Kitchen(adukala)• Thottamttam – Garden


keep their belongings(2 rooms connected by asingle door)

Thottamttam Garden• Stables, cowsheds etc.,

• The magnificent mansions inChettinad are the finest examplesof combinations of vernacularof combinations of vernaculararchitecture & amalgamamalgam ofof SouthSouthEastEast && EuropeanEuropean architecturearchitecture.

• The source of inspiration derived• The source of inspiration derivedfrom can be attributed to theirconnection with Trade, Travel,Te les T aditio a d TasteTemples, Tradition and Taste.

• From birth to burial, theNagarathars observed numerous

iceremonies.• All such functions were heldwithin their own premises as

f h i l i l b ildiTheThe pillaredpillared corridorscorridorsaroundaround thethe ''valuvuvaluvu''many of their palatial buildings

have MarriageMarriage HallsHalls (‘(‘KalyanaKalyanaKottagaiKottagai’)’) and BanquetBanquet HallHall

aroundaround thethe valuvuvaluvu(courtyard),(courtyard), leadlead intointoindividualindividual rooms,rooms, eacheachmeantmeant forfor aa marriedmarried sonson..

TheThe longlong corridorscorridors ofofsecondsecond kattukattu--usedused forfordiningdining

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture(‘(‘BhojanBhojan Hall’Hall’ oror panthipanthi kattukattu)).. diningdining

• Their villages were constructed uponpreciseprecise andand sophisticatedsophisticated rulesrules ofof urbanurbanplanning,planning, represented namely by orthogonal

• The marble was brought from Italy, chandeliersand teak from Burma, crockery from Indonesia,crystals from Europe and wall-to-wall mirrors

streets and specific water managementsystems, which are also directly linked tothe earlier Tamil traditions of rectangularrectangular

from Belgium.• The woodworkwoodwork andand stoneworkstonework was inspired thatof the houses in France and other Europeangg

plotsplots andand houseshouses withwith anan innerinner courtyardcourtyard.• The houses, which evolved over twocenturies, are veritable palaces.

pdestinations.

• The walls of Chettinad Nagarathars’ buildingsare embellished with ‘Chettinad plaster’ whose, p

• On the ground floor, the architecture istypically Tamil, while one can see Westerninfluences on the higher floors.

pother names are:

• White ––‘‘VellaiVellai poochchupoochchu’’;;•• EggEgg plasteringplastering;;g

• This reflects the Chettiar way of life, acombinationcombination ofof theirtheir vibrantvibrant traditionstraditions withwiththethe globalglobal economyeconomy.

gggg p gp g;;•• MuthuMuthu PoochchuPoochchu• Such walls were coated with several layerscomprising mixture of lime base, ground white


thethe globalglobal economyeconomy. comprising mixture of lime base, ground whiteseashells, liquid egg white, etc.

Thinnai

Kanakupullai’s room2nd Courtyard3rd Courtyard 1st Courtyardkitchen

TYPICALTYPICAL PLANPLAN OFOF AA CHETTINADCHETTINAD HOUSEHOUSE

TheThe openopen airedaired ''valavuvalavu'' (courtyard)(courtyard)withwith woodenwooden--pillaredpillared corridorscorridors onon eacheachsideside TheThe pillarspillars werewere mademade outout ofof

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture 24

sideside.. TheThe pillarspillars werewere mademade outout ofofBurmeseBurmese TeakTeak..

The most important characteristic features of Chettinad Buildings are –1) Cluster Houses with 16) Ed f h li d i h1) Cluster Houses, with 2) (Mostly)East West orientation3) High – rise compound wall (front side) 4) Entrance Arch with stone steps

16) Edges of the passages are lined with cutstone slabs known as ‘vellaikkallu’,17) The stone pillars meant for supporting the

4) Entrance Arch with stone steps5) Elevated plinth,6) Tiled Portico, 7) Facade with stucco sculptures

roof18) Sloping clay - tiled roofs

7) Facade with stucco sculptures, 8) Verandah ‘Thinnai’ (two Platforms),9) Wooden Pillars on it,10) Hi h d f ith t d k10) High door frame with ornate wood work,11)Double main door,12) ‘‘pattalaipattalai’’ oror pattasalaipattasalai (smaller version of thehi i l f )thinnai- platforms),13) Open Courtyard (‘Mutram – Valavu’),14) Second /third courtyard/s,

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecture15) Passage on all the four sides around theMutram, is called ‘Suththupathi’,

The colorThe color--glass arch flanked by pillars on glass arch flanked by pillars on either sideseither sides

19) Square – flat tiles floor of the ‘mutram’will have rectangle stone slabs on all the four

t b th b t f th f lli i 27) All h di d i ki l icorners to bear the brunt of the falling rainwater,20) Small single / double rooms on one side

i h id f h (‘ h h kk ’)

27) All the mediums used in making columns viz,wood, stone, brick, and iron,28) First floor facade is invariably adorned by

or either side of the passage (‘suththukkattu’)length – wise,21) Kitchen on the last ‘kattu’,

colonnade made of stone, wood, and bricks,29) Window niches and arches above are decoratedwith stucco work or paintings.

22) Staircase on one or two or all the fourcorners,23) Banquet Hall Bhojan Hall ‘Panthi kattu’ on

30) Designed for collecting / harvesting rain water(especially in courtyard (Mutram).

the side of the first kattu,24) Floors laid with -Italian marble Black andWhite, Granite & Athangudi tiles - ‘Pookkallu’,25) Japanese and Spanish tiles were both usedfor side walls26) Beams, pillars, brackets, capitals, frames all


) p pmade of Burma teak,

•• ChettinadChettinad is rich in culturalheritage, art andarchitecture, and is wellknown for its houses,embellished with marble and

TheThe ReceptionReceptionareaarea --ChettinadChettinad

Burma teak, wide courtyards,spacious rooms, and for its18th century mansions.

HouseHouse –– withwithimportedimportedItalianItalian MarbleMarbleflooringflooring

• Local legend tells that theirwalls used to be polishedwith a paste made out of

flooringflooring

peggegg--whiteswhites toto givegive aa smoothsmoothtexturetexture.

•• TheThe constructionconstruction material,material, ExtensivelyExtensively,,decorativedecorative itemsitems andandfurnishingsfurnishings were mostlyimported from East Asian

yycarvedcarved WoodenWoodenCeilingCeiling ofof aaChettinadChettinad


imported from East Asiancountries and Europe. mansionmansion

MoonamkattuMoonamkattu –– thethe kitchenkitchen courtyardcourtyardTheThe HallHall

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureTheThe PillaredPillared VerandahVerandah courtyardcourtyard

RAJA’S PALACER

KANADUKATHANKANADUKATHAN


• The Chettinad Raja’s Palace, home of theChettiar family, was built in 1912.

• The pillars around the courtyard are in• The pillars around the courtyard are inBurma teak, and there is picturesquecombination of scarlet tiles and slopingwoodwork The construction material decorwoodwork. The construction material, decoritems and furnishings were mostlyimported, from east Asian countries andl f E h th R jalso from Europe where the RajaChettiyar had spread his sprawlingbusiness .Th d k d k• The woodwork and stone work wereinspired by French and other Europeanarchitecture.


TheThe elegantelegant woodenwooden bracketingbracketing

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureMugappuMugappu -- belgiumbelgium glassworkglasswork

ImportedImported ItalianItalian chandelierschandeliers-- UniqueUniquedecorateddecorated woodenwooden columnscolumns

TheThe CentralCentral courtyardcourtyard isis usedused forfor weddingsweddings andand


yy ff ggreligiousreligious ceremoniesceremonies..

TheThe thirdthird courtyardcourtyard

EntranceEntranceEntranceEntranceHallHall

Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureTheThe elegantelegant DiningDining HallHall

PARAPETS,

CORNICES &

PILLARS /

COLUMNS


UseUse ofofanimalanimalmotifsmotifs forforbracketsbrackets

i t i t t di t i t t d i hli hl El b t d ili i iEl b t d ili i i35Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureWooden carvingsWooden carvings

intricate poetry on woodintricate poetry on wood-- richly richly carved doorway carved doorway

Elaborate wooden ceiling in a mansionElaborate wooden ceiling in a mansion

36Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitecturePillars/ColumnsPillars/Columns

TheThe richrich andandintricateintricate detailingdetailing

ff hh ddofof thethe parapetsparapets andandcornicescornices acrossacross thethehouseshouses ofof chettinadchettinad

37Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureParapets/CornicesParapets/Cornices

The colorful Belgian GlassworkThe colorful Belgian Glasswork

38Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureWindowsWindows

• Stucco work was used on the interior & exterior walls; stucco

STUCCOWORK

sculptural work was employed on the entrance tower, façade,railing wall & compound wall.

• The icons of Gods/Goddesses- Gaja Lakshmi, ‘Meenakshi Sundareswarar’,ShivajParvathi on Rishaba bull was often a repeated theme in Chettinad.

•• ImagesImages ofof God,God, goddess,goddess, angels,angels, floraflora andand faunafaunall d b i h di f

•• GajalakshmiGajalakshmi symbolizessymbolizes protectionprotection andand prosperityprosperity;;

are generally portrayed by using the medium ofstucco.

Shiva Parvathi pair represents happy family life.

StuccoStucco WorkWork--ArchitectureArchitecturecumcum

39Culture & ArchitectureCulture & ArchitectureStuccoStucco--workwork

cumcumSculptureSculpture

CLIMATE RESPONSIVENESS

•• MAINMAIN COURTYARDCOURTYARD –– PrimePrime placeplace forforinteractioninteraction ;; Since, Chettinad is a hotand semi-arid region, The climate wasg ,taken into consideration in the designof their homes and the materials used.

• The houses were built around anEast/WestEast/West centralcentral courtyardcourtyard whichbrings shade, light, coolness and air tothe entire home.the entire home.

•• BUILDINGBUILDING MATERIALSMATERIALS USEDUSED -- Thematerials used for construction and theessential components of this luxury •• ROOFINGROOFING -- The roof is terracotta tiled – which helpsessential components of this luxuryhome are brickbrick andand limelime plasterplaster walls,walls,terracottaterracotta tiledtiled roofs,roofs, stonestone pillars,pillars, teakteakcolumnscolumns andand marblemarble andand stonestone floorsfloors

ROOFINGROOFING -- The roof is terracotta tiled – which helpsin shutting out the immense heat; as chettinad is a hotand arid region.

40Culture & ArchitectureCulture & Architecturecolumns,columns, andand marblemarble andand stonestone floorsfloors.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://www.wikipedia.org/

• http://www.google.co.in/

• http:// chettinad-chettinadarchitecture.blogspot.com

• The Chettiar Heritage, S. Muthiah, Meenakshi Meyappan, Visalakshi

RRamaswamy


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CULTURE &ARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD