CHIDAMBRA VILAS

Adaptive Reuse

Rishima Bansal | 170BARCHI016

LOCATION
Values and Significance of the site

Location- Chidambara Vilas, Chettinadu region,

Pudukottai, Tamilnadu

Year of construction- 1906; Extension made in 1920 CHETTINAD MANSIONS

Cost of construction- 7 Lakhs

Site Relevance
Chettinadu inhabited and dominated mainly by the
Nagarathars or the Nattukottai Chettiar community CHIDAMBRA VILAS
was established under the Chola kingdom during the
13th century. Chettiars have played a leading role in
the business world of the Chola kingdom, however, at
the peak of their success, World War II broke out.
Some of the Chettiars migrated to and started settling SEMI-COMMERCIAL STREET
as families in other parts of Tamilnadu as nucleated
families leaving behind their palatial ancestral houses at
Chettinadu. However many of these mansions are
falling to decay because owners are incapable of
upkeep are not being putting them up for sale due to
family disputes.
USERS and stakeholders
Old and Proposed users and stakeholders
Previous Stakeholders
Nattukottai Chettiars
Proposed Stakeholders
Palmyra basket weavers
Athangudi tile makers
Kandanghi handloom saree makers
Karaigudi Antique Sellers
Artisans from Canara Bank
Institute for Artisans in Managiri
Previous Users
Original Use - Residential
Servants Adaptive Use - Crafts Centre + Cultural Hub
Family Members
Importance of preservation for these stakeholders
Local artists and craftspeople, who are keeping
the beautiful traditional handiwork alive have
little recognition. There are many antique shops
Proposed Users
throughout Karaigudi, that sell a treasure trove
of interesting artefacts like enamelled cooking
Tourists pots, planters/vases, traditional painted
Locals Marapachi wooden dolls,etc.
While restoring the Chettinad mansion to its
Artists and craftspeople original glory, the revival of the traditional
handicrafts has the potential to create a
blooming cultural arts and crafts centre that
appreciates art and architecture.
MATERIALS
Local materials (to be preserved and reused)
Use of Local Materials in the Original Mansion

- 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

Athangudi Tiles
like Italian marble, Burma teak, rose wood, Belgium glass
and stain glass.
Terracotta Tiles
- 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.

- The wood was imported from Burma, lights and mirrors

from Belgium, chandeliers from Daman and Diu and
tiles from Italy.

Burma Teak Wood Stained Glass Italian Marble Tiles

CHARACTER
Chattris
DEFINING FEATURES
 CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES
MADRAS ROOF

COLUMNS

BURMESE WOOD

ITALIAN MARBLE

COURTYARD
EXISTING PLAN
Local materials (to be preserved and reused)
1
2

2
INTERVENTION
Arts and Crafts Centre + Cultural Hub
Without demolishing any existing structure, the Chettinad
mansion can be restored to its original glory. The idea is to
give the local artists and craftspeople a common area to Courtyard
come together to exhibit and sell their handiwork. There are
many antique shops throughout Karaigudi, that sell a treasure
trove of interesting artefacts like enamelled cooking pots,
planters/vases, traditional painted Marapachi wooden
dolls,etc.
While restoring the Chettinad mansion to its original glory,
the revival of the traditional handicrafts has the potential to
create a blooming cultural arts and crafts centre that
appreciates art and architecture.
Outdoor Courtyard
seating/cafe Exhibition Space
2
(Has not been detailed) Courtyard

Entrance

Exhibition Space Courtyard/Vending space

stained glass
For shading and aesthetic
roof

Stained
glass roof

panels

handicraft
display
exhibition space