NON- CONVENTIONAL ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES

SUBMITTED BY:
GAYATHRI.M
VASUNDHARA THAPA
NIDHI DAUD
CHETTINAD HOUSES
• The word "Chettiar" refers to the social caste of mercantile bankers.
• Rayavaram is one the rich settlements of chettiand and represent over 150
years ofarchitecture.
• Their villages were constructed following precise and sophisticated rules
ofurban planning (orthogonal streets, specific water management schemes,
technicalinnovation, artistic creativity, etc.).
• These settlements are also built in harmony with Tamiltraditions:
rectangular plots, houses with an inner courtyard.
• Housing and community spacesin the village are located independent of
each other with no distinct interrelation betweenthe two.
• The village follows a grid iron pattern to prevent mingling with foreign
communities.The houses follow the grid pattern measuring 120X60m.
• Each grid consists of 4 housesmeasuring about 60X30m.
RAYAVARAM SETTLEMENT
• Tanks in the region are designed in concentric circles with
access through a flight of steps fromall 4 sides. Each tank is
dedicated to a particular temple.
• Rain water from each house is takenby underground drains
which collectively terminate in the tanks.
• When the tank overflows, theexcess water runs into the
adjoining tanks through provisions in the previous tank.
• Roads in the village areoriented 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 andthe small
width of the road, ashadow will always be present at any place
expect for a few hours during the day.
STREETSCAPE
• The compound wall is a specific feature which is particular to the
urban landscape of theChettinad villages. A peripheral wall runs
around each property containing the house andouthouses.
• On the street sides, the wall is aligned with the street axis, running
from the North toSouth with important arches/doors facing one
each other on an East to West axis. These archesserve as the main
gates of the properties and are a demonstrable symbol of wealth.
• Thecompound wall provides an overall coherence with the
different villages of the region. Insidethe compound the building
and its facade are set back on a common alignment with theother
buildings of the street..
HOUSE PLANNING CONCEPT
• The concept of theChettinaduhouse is believed to have originated
from the historic tradingcentre of Kaveripoompatnam.
• The practice of raising the plinth by 2 metres was prevalent
toprevent the water from entering the house due to frequent
flooding.The planning concept ofthe house was based on
• The occupation of the people
• Their desires
• Cultural influences
• Climate consideration
CULTRAL INFLUENCES
• In the earliest house a thinnai was provided in front of the house on
either side of the main entrance.

• This thinnai was mainly used by the male members of the houses for
informal meetings.
• In the later houses, when contact with the neighbours was reduced
owing to culturalchange, the front thinnai was enclosed for privacy.
• This reduced segregation between male and female members of the
house
CLIMATIC CONSIDERATION
• A flat roof enclosed by a balustrade was used so that the lightest
breeze could be caught.
• The structure screened the sun’s rays and allowed the wind to
penetrate keeping theinner apartments cool and fresh.
• The light coloured chunnam (lime plaster) covering the building
was very suitable asa sun radiator during the hot season.
• The building was turned away from the sun and rooms kept cool by
thick walls andthe whole mass of the building. Proper ventilation
was ensured by the different partsof the structure being arranged
around an open courtyard.
• The double-roof system kept the interiors cool while the chajjas
acted as sun breakers
ANALYSIS
• ORIENTATION: The entrance of the house is towards east. The
main ventilation by which thelight enters the house is through
central courtyard. On the Westside of the house there is agarden
which also acts as a main source of fresh air into the house which
promotes warmthin the house, and in the night the absorbed heat
is radiated out through the courtyard.
• NIGHT ANALYSIS: The negative pressure and effect created inside
the house during thedaytime escapes out during the night time due
to the floor materials of the courtyard projections.
• DAY ANALYSIS: As the temperature in the day time is high, little
amount of heat is absorbedby the ground due to the top opening of
the central courtyard and the light is reflected inthe awkward
direction resulting in the rise of temperature inside the house.
MATERIAL USED
• The foundation is laid for the house is rubble work done in stone
combined with mudand mortar. The foundation is the step
foundation.
• Tiles are basically used for flooring. They are the typical
Athangudi tiles which arelocally manufactured. The color of the
tiles is attained by the usage of paintsimported from Italy. The
process of manufacture of these tiles is done with a glass slaband
dry cement. The flooring of the mezzanine floor and the central
courtyard iscemented. Some part of the central courtyard is
covered with mud tiles.
• The walls are of baked bricks, plastered over by sand and lime
mortar with a mix offiber roots which acts as a bonding agent
and also coated with egg white to givesilken smooth walls which
are washable.
ORGANISATION AND USAGE OF SPACES
• RECEPTIONThis being the introductory space to the house, it is
designed to express thegrand image of the owner. Located in front
of the house, it has level variations and is usednot only to receive
visitors but also for relaxation.
• PATTAGASALAIThis elevated space is used both for relaxing at
normal times and forconfidential dealings. Its sanctity is protected
by the difference in level. It also serves as anelevated seating area
during ceremonial occasions. This space mixes with the
centralspace.
• MULTIPURPOSE CENTRAL OPEN SPACE Located amidst the
rooms and close to often usedsemi-public and commercial spaces,
this area exists as the first stage of private spaces. Itanswers the
need for desired introverted planning, though the flexibility of its
nature allows itto undergo extreme change, creating a festive space
for ceremonies when necessary.
FRONT VERANDA Front thinnai is used by the men to hold informal discussions
and also to receive visitors and guests. The verandah is also used for business such
as pawning. Suchusage restricts the circulation of visitors inside the house.
MUTTARAM AND PATTAGASALAI One of the salient features of the Chettinad
houses thatemphasise the introverted nature of planning is the muttaram (main
courtyard) which issurrounded on the sides by aisles with roofs sloping down into
the court. The main courtyardis used for drying paddy and the aisles are used for
chatting and sleeping. The pattagasalai(inner thinnai) is used by men for sleeping
and for discussing family matters. The aislesLead to the ullarai and veliarai (secret
cellars).
KALYANA KOTTAGAIThis is primarily used as the main living space but gets
converted intothe wedding hall during marriages. The central double- storeyed hall
is used as the thirumangalya media (marriage stage) and seating place for women
during muhurtams Thehigh ceiling and the polished granite columns provide the
required grandeur to the place
• SERVICE AREA These comprise a double courtyard with 4kitchens
in the front and 4 storerooms (2 metres on each side). The corridor
spaces around the courtyards are used aspreparation spaces during
festive occasions. The circulation of the cooks is restricted to
theservice areas.
• The courtyards which open to the sky resolve the problem of lighting
and ventilation andclear off the smoke and other pollutants from the
kitchen.There are steps to the first floor where the whole plan is
repeated. This area has direct accessto the street to be made use of by
the servants and often serves as theservants’ quarters.The
insignificance of the space is reflected in the lack of craftsmanship is
its columnswhich is in sharp contrast to the rest of the house.
• SERVICE YARD This comprises a central courtyard divided by a
passage around which is theservicethazhvaram. A well (keni) which
is located in the courtyard is used by the womanand the servants. On
both extremes are spaces meant for storage of unimportant materials
and vegetables
ELEMENTS OF 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 majoraxes East/West and North/South, the
organization of the houses in successive courtyards andthe hierarchy of
the pavilions with sloping and terrace roofs has created a
specificroofscape, unique to Chettinad.
ARCHES AND PORCHES
The rural landscape of the Chettinad region is marked by aseries of
elegant arches on the main roads that go around the villages. Further,
each househas 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 fromvarious architectural
styles are the essence of Chettinad heritage identity.
• COLUMNS:The wooden columns are mainly used for inside areas and stone
pillars for thecourtyards (main or kitchen). In a later period, granite pillars
were used in the outdoor thinnai.The elegance of the shaped wooden columns
is very typical of Chettinad.
• CONCRETE FIGURES:Every house is embellished with concrete figures.
Front façades weresubject to particular attention and one can see different
themes of inspiration:Deities, suchas 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 muchpart of the architectural identity of the region.The
stucco cornices create elegant linesaround the walls which follow the
different levels and pavilions of the house.
• CARVED WOODEN FEATURES: The Chettiars used to bring teak
from Burma back to their country (nadu) during their economic
expansion in eastern Asia. Before the use of modernmaterials 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.

• STUCCOS AND WALL PAINTINGS: Chettinadplaster is very famous

for its soft textureand appearance while being quite firm. It has
endured through yearsand centuries. Thisparticular material is made
of sea shell lime and eggs. It is the last stage in a longprocess of wall
finishing. The bricks are coated with different layers of white lime
mortars, andthen finished with lime plaster.
THANK YOU!