NDTV DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE AWARDS, 2014 PROJECT NAME : CHIDAMBARA VILAS
LOCATION : KADIAMPETTY Plot area : 3486 SQ.M
COMPLETED : 2012
CATEGORY : Heritage architectural
design of the year
RICHNESS OF CHETTINAD REGION
& ITS IMPORTANCE.
Chettinad, located in central Tamilnadu
stands out for its uniqueness in
Cultural Heritage, Arts, Architecture,
Crafts, Cuisine etc. Chettiars were
prosperous banking & business
community migrated to this region
around 19th centaury. There were 96
villages in a 600 square mile area
between the principality of Puthukottai
in North & that of Sivaganga in the
South. The influence of different
architectural styles are well noticeable
in the grand palatial buildings they
have constructed showcasing the
power & social status of the person.
They followed a rigid Grid-iron urban
planning pattern, such that lanes lined
on four sides of the house. The space
planning was such as to contain all the
festival celebrations & ceremonies
accommodating large number of
people inside the house itself.
THE PRESENT SCENARIO.
The marvelous heritage left by the past
generation is progressively being
eroded. The split of joint families, high
maintenance cost to restore these
palatial homes etc contribute to the
cause. The lucrative business of
antique market with high demands for
highly decorative building parts also
contribute the vanishing of these
houses at a rapid rate.
With heritage tourism coming up, many
houses are undertaken by hotel chains
for adaptive reuse. Though a noble
1 venture, the unscientific & insensitive
methods of planning adopted to
accommodate the new requirements
into the existing fabric, is affecting the
heritage & cultural value of the houses.
In short, the type of changes
happening in the region not up to the
mark
CHIDAMBARA VILAS
2 3 4 5 6 This is a 110 years old typical chettinad
palatial home showcasing the richness
& status of its owner.
This project focuses on the restoration
of main structure and an authentic
conservation strategy for adaptive
reuse as a heritage hotel.In the
process, we adapted the hotel concept
to suit the structure rather than
changing the building to suite the
activity.
7 8 9 10
The main challenge was to study,
document & implement the original
design & the construction process of
the structure.The changes that has
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COURTYARD
OPEN TO SKY
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SIDE ELEVATION
FRONT ELEVATION SCALE 1 : 400
SCALE 1 : 400
Project details
Total built-up area : 5046 SQ.M
been done on the structure for last 100
years were undone to bring back the
original idea & intension of the design.
The project was instrumental in
identifying the original skills, materials
& processes which made this form of
architecture possible. Plastering,
Carpentary, Frescos & Paintings,
terracotta tile making are examples of
this.
The design process addressed the
newly necessitated changes of bringing
in engineering services into the building
like watersupply, sanitation, electricity,
air condition, data & other services.
These were incorporated with no
change in the fabric of the building.
A few innovations were neccessitated
in solving service problems.
LEGEND
1. The aerial view of the palatial Chettinad house
after restoration
2. The rear facade of the mansion elaborated
with arches.
3. The manorial variety of Chettinad mansions
reflected through the bas-relief works, ornately
decorated towers & detailed arches
4. The view of street lined by palatial houses on
either side
5. A glimpse of Chidambara vilas in the backdrop
of unrestored Chettinad neighborhood
6. A bird's eye view showing the enormous scale
of the house with its open terraces at different
levels lined by ornate balustrades & tiled roofs
7.The skyline of attractive towers after restoration
8. Restoration work of ornamental wall facade &
balustrades
9. The carved wooden capitals
10. Internal hall with stained glass work.
11. Distinctive facade of Chettinad house with
impressive towers, highly ornamental
balustrade & arches under restoration process
12. Colourful wooden capital suppoting the ceiling
above
13. Elaborately carved main door bearing vibrant
testimony to the wood carving skills of the
Chettinad craftsmen
14. Highly decorative multicoloured ceiling of long
rectangular hall.
15. A typical corridor facing courtyard with carved
rafters supported by colorful wooden pillars
16. The layout of the Chidambara vilas lined by
streets on four sides
17. Front elevation of the palatial mansion
18. Side elevation
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INNER COURTYARD PLOTS
OPEN TO SKY
CODE - 581321