ADAPTIVE REUSE AND RESTORATION OF A CHETTINADU MANSION,

PUDUKOTTAI, TAMILNADU, INDIA

Ranee Vedamuthu, Jayanthi Dhakshinamoorthi, and Kumudhavalli Sasidhar

The reuse of a historic building becomes necessary for its economic, social and
cultural sustainability. One such historic building, ‘Chidambara Vilas’ at Chettinadu region,
Pudukottai, Tamilnadu, India is a 110 year old palatial mansion once a residence of a
Nattukottai Chettiars, today turned in to a heritage hotel. The paper aims to study the
conservation practices and principles applied to ‘Chidambaram Vilas’ during its conversion
from a mansion to a luxury hotel. This paper through the case study will highlight three
stages in the conservation practice of adaptive re use and restoration. First, the spatial
planning of the mansion will be studied to illustrate how the new functions have been
accommodated with minimal intervention and with due respect to the ideologies of the
traditional dwelling. Secondly, the paper studies material restoration, as some of the
materials and techniques used in Chettinadu mansions are very unique and available only in
that region. Lastly, it looks at solutions to incorporate modern services such as toilets, air
conditioning, etc into a traditional building without changing its content. The significance of
this research study lies in the fact that these conservation practices and restoration
techniques can be taken as a model for other similar projects in the district where these
mansions are in abundance and will therefore enable a sustainable conservation practice.
The pattern of settlement and design of mansions are sensitive to context
connected with a complex network of rain water harvesting serving the entire village
community. The houses all lie on an east-west axis, allowing shadows, coolness and breezes
in. The walls are of brick and lime plaster and the roofs use terracotta, creating a cool
internal micro climate.
The spatial planning follows the cosmic plan and the dwelling are introverted,
with a minimal number of external accesses. The various spaces in the typical Chettinadu
house are the following:
- The compound wall abutting the front street (madhil suveru)
- The central highlighted access (nadaipaathai)
- The lower paved area and a raised platform (The keezh paththi )
- Accountant room (Kannakku pillai aria)
- Men’s relaxing room (Pattagasalai)
- Two or three courtyards (‘valavu’ , erandam kattu, mundram kattu )
– first of bigger scale to conduct functions and to celebrate festivals, second of slightly
larger scale used for household activities and the third for the services like cooking, washing
etc.
- Corridors surrounding courtyards (suttru paththi)
- Series of rooms at two levels around the courtyards- first set of rooms for sleeping and
second set of rooms for storing valuables (arias or valavu veedu)
- Staircases at all the four corners accessed from the corridor of the kitchen - Large kitchen
(Aduppadi or samayal arai) with traditional choolas - open hearth using firewood
– A dining hall in front (Bhojana hall)
- The rear yard for cattle and rough uses with a well for water supply (pinpuram /
kollaipuram)
- The rear doorway exiting into the rear street (pinkadhavu)
The spatial organization consists of a valavu (single central courtyard) with a
kottagai (hall) along the central main axis and a bhojana hall (dining hall) along the
secondary axis, parallel to the main axis. The architectural vocabulary is typical to
Chettinadu architecture with high raised compound wall, munpuram, keezhpaththi, thinnai
(columned raised platform), kannakkupillai arai (accountant’s room), pattagasalai (men’s
greeting room), arais (rooms around the courtyard), and pendir arai (women ’s room)
kottagai (double storeyed hall with clerestory) along the main axis. Along the secondary axis
behind the second kottagai is the small courtyard accommodating the samayal arai
(kitchen) and a well. The first floor with arais and halls is accessed by the staircases at the
four corners of the main courtyard.
The mansion is constructed with local materials like baked bricks, lime
plaster, Aathangudi tiles, terracotta tiles and raw granite. The interior is embellished with
the imported materials like Italian marble, Burma teak, rose wood, Belgium glass and stain
glass. Madras terrace is used for flat roofs and the high ceilings covered with wooden
sloped roofs false ceilings are constructed with a framework of Burma teaks and panels of
decorative teak wood or Aathangudi tiles.
This palatial mansion was turned in to a heritage hotel by incorporating
the following conservation theories and practices without change in its content: 1. Adaptive
reuse 2. Restoration 3. Addition of spaces and modern services following the ethics of
conservation.
Study reveals that adaptive reuse has been carried out with due respect to the ideologies of
this traditional dwelling with minimal intervention. Two types of spatial usage pattern have
been identified. The first type is assigning similar usage to the original use of the space and
second type, is assigning different usage for the space but with minimum intervention like
closing the doorways, adding a partition wall, providing lighting fixtures etc.
It is observed that restoration measures are done to the mansion in two ways. (i) Regular
restoration measures (ii) Material restoration, as some of the materials and techniques
used in Chettinadu mansions are very unique and available only in that region. Cleaning of
entire premise Cleaning of all architectural elements like floor tiles, ceiling tiles, arches,
facade elements Replacement of raw granite tiles at first courtyard from a local quarry
Cleaning and preservation all wooden elements like columns brackets, ceiling frames, doors
and windows Application of traditional lime wash for the entire building Painting in
accordance to traditional Chettinadu color scheme Covering the open wells with iron rods
and retaining them as cultural artifact. Replacement of broken Aathangudi tiles on the roof
and floor using Aathangudi tile masons to restore the existing pattern and colour. ii. Typical
Chettinadu plaster was prepared at site using local Chettinadu craftsman and applied on the
wall surface wherever plaster had given way.
1. Providing a variation of thinnai within the guest rooms as an extension of sill
2. Using of furniture like wooden tables, chairs, drawers with typical Chettinadu detailing.
3. Usage of materials for the new extension in line with the old mansion like, baked brick
for wall, lime wash, Chettinadu plaster, wooden false ceiling. In addition, old doors and
door frames bought from dilapidated Chettinadu houses are also used.
4. Provision of attached toilets in guest bedrooms have been done carefully by providing a
channel in the walls to accommodate the plumbing lines so as not to interfere in the overall
appearance.
5. Minute detailing like electrical accessories in the form of switches and switch board have
been replicated following the original details but with new material.
6. Services like sewage treatment plant, water recycling and treatment plant and electrical
room are carefully planned in a discreet manner.
7. Ancillary spaces of the swimming pool are done with sloped roof with terracotta tiles to
match with the original fabric.
8. Façade treatment of the extension is exactly matched with the historic fabric by
incorporating the traditional elements like parapets, stucco, columns, arches, and color
scheme.
9. The interior of the guest elevator also carries the detail of Chettinadu railing done in teak
wood.
The new functions for the old spaces gives due respect to the traditional
usage of space. The newly created spaces and the modern amenities are incorporated with
great sensitivity to the old structure as well as to the historic fabric. The conservation
practices and restoration techniques applied in this heritage hotel can be taken as a model
for other similar projects in the district where these mansions are in abundance and will
therefore enable a sustainable conservation practice.
 EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON HISTORICAL HERITAGE BUILDINGS IN
KUMBAKONAM, TAMILNADU , INDIA
K. Kiruthigan , K. Thirumaran

Urbanization is a common and inevitable occurrence everywhere.

While growth and expansion are beneficial for many people and businesses, there is a
potential for loss of historical areas that are the heritage value to people. This paper
investigates the effects of urbanization on the heritage buildings in the historical-heritage
temple town of Kumbakonam in Tamilnadu, India. Heritage temple towns are frequent
targets for the rapid transition to urbanization that is often accompanied by alteration of
historical areas. The primary objective of this study was to identify how urbanization could
change the heritage characteristics in a temple town. An ordinal regression model was used
to analyze urbanization data from the heritage town of Kumbakonam. Our findings
revealed specific physical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural factors of urbanization that
caused identifiable and significant changes in the heritage characteristics of Kumbakonam.
Kumbakonam, the temple town famed for its historic architecture
and cultural heritage, was for centuries under the rule of its great legendary kings. They left
their stamp on the town in the form of grand palaces and residences, temples and religious
buildings. Up until the British colonial period, Kumbakonam had maintained the unique
style and individual flavor of its urban fabric. Many temples in the town exhibit the
architectural styles of the period during which the kings ruled the town; the residential
buildings indicate the vernacular architecture of the region; the commercial buildings
express the colonial style. Even after independence in 1947, the town was able to maintain
a good balance between development and preserving its heritage character.
Most urbanization impact analyses focus on changes in the total
amount of covered land area; but, since this study was about the effect of urbanization on
the built heritage, the data on covered land areas was deemed unsuitable because the
historic center was the origin of the town settlement. Hence, we decided to examine the
modifications and changes to buildings as a result of urbanization using questionnaire
surveys of selected respondents over a period of 25 years. Based on the survey data, the
buildings were categorized according to the level of change. The study relies on field
observations, photo documentation, and interviews with local residents who have lived in
the town for more than 25 years. The categories of the dependent variables according to
the level of change in building classification were as follows:
Category 1: Building with low level of change
Category 2: Building with medium level of change
 Category 3: Building with medium level of change

In this study, we identified and investigated the factors correlated with urbanization-related
changes in building in the selected study area of Kumbakonam town. Urbanization led to
changes in the built heritage which are gradually decaying the heritage character of the
city. We used an ordinal regression model to assess the identified factors and
demonstrated that this model allowed us to manage the categorical data when it was not
possible to do so with continuous variables.
The results are clearly explaining that the buildings with the high level of changes occurred
in the study area of Kumbakonam which were induced by various independent variables.
Notably, changes in the building materials, architectural elements, building height, building
use are considered the primary factors which influenced the buildings heritage character.
By controlling these factors, we can able to revive the town's heritage characters which
need proper local development plan. Without regulations and directives, the urban
planners follow their ideas which seldom involved heritage preservation.
Even when the ancient buildings are spared, they are so modified by replacement of
traditional materials and styles with the current crop of contemporary architectural styles
that they become painful to view. In preparing a Local Development Plan (LDP) for a town
like Kumbakonam, it is vital to focus on the built heritage and its characteristic influences
on the sociocultural life of the town in order to preserve as much as possible of its heritage.
In general, our study demonstrated that the identified factors were highly associated with
changes in the physical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural aspects of the town's buildings
within which the built heritage and its unique characteristics exist. In the case of physical
factors, such as the architectural elements, building materials, and building height, the
municipal administration and local development plan guidelines need to accord more
consideration for the built heritage and its urban fabric.
Commercial pressures as highlighted in the building use factor, emphasize how important
this aspect of urban planning is to halt the decline in a town's traditional heritage
characters. Socioeconomic factors like the number of occupants, changes in land value and
ownership type are also of critical importance in developing strategies for allowing new
developments and interventions without compromising historical integrity.
Direct inputs from the stakeholders are also strictly necessary because our study showed
clearly that they pay close attention to real-world factors when making decisions, affecting
the level of change in their buildings. Built heritage settings of temple towns could have
been passed down for generations as the most valuable memories of a city has been
relentlessly torn down. All of these historical heritage characters attempting to cultivate a
richer understanding of the town come into conflict with the pressure of urbanization.
 In the context of historic towns like Kumbakonam, clear and positive guidelines need to be
established for the conservation of the built heritage to retain and revive the character of
the town. While urbanization and development of a town are inevitable, it is not
incompatible with growth in the conservation of the uniquely valuable characteristics of the
architectural heritage and creates a town people can call home.
The planning authorities, local architects, stakeholders and the population of the town, all
together, should develop appropriate measures to maintain and celebrate the beautiful
fabric and flavor of their historical heritage.