KERALA ARCHITECTURE

Kerala Architecture is one of the most exciting examples of preservation of

vernacular styles; multiple foreign influences, and Aryan invasion, and Dravidian
culture of different rulers and neighbours failed to swamp its independence.

The earliest traces of constructions in Kerala belong to a period roughly between

3000 B.C. and 300 B.C. The evolution of domestic architecture of Kerala followed
closely the trend of development in temple architecture. The primitive models of
circular, square or rectangular plain shapes with a ribbed roof evolved from
functional consideration. Structurally the roof frame was supported on the pillars
on walls erected on a plinth raised from the ground for protection against dampness
and insects in the tropical climate. Often the walls were also of timbers abundantly
available in Kerala. Gable windows were evolved at the two ends to provide attic
ventilation when ceiling was incorporated for the room spaces.

This ensured air circulation and thermal control for the roof. The lower ends of the
rafters projected beyond the walls to shade the walls from the sun and driving rain.
The main door faced only one cardinal direction and the windows are small and
made of wood. The square or rectangular plan is usually divided into two or three
activity rooms with access from a front passage.  By 10th century, the theory and
practice of domestic architecture were codified in books and attempted to
standardize house construction suited to strengthen the construction tradition
among craftsmen. The traditional ones, especially carpenters, preserved the
knowledge by rigidly following the canonical rules of proportions of different
elements as well as the construction details. To this day the domestic architecture
of Kerala follows the style of detached building; row houses seen in other parts of
India are neither mentioned in Kerala texts nor put up in practice except in
settlements occupied by Tamil or Konkani Brahmins.

Material driven
The natural building materials available for construction in Kerala i.e. stones,
timber, clay and palm leaves have anchored and guided the acceptance or rejection
of outside influences. The availability of granite -a strong and durable building
stone is restricted mainly to the highlands and marginally to some hilly zones.
Accordingly, the skill in quarrying, dressing and sculpturing of stone is scarce in
Kerala. Laterite stone however, is abundantly found as outcrops in most zones.
Soft laterite available at shallow depth can be easily cut, dressed and used as
building blocks. It is a rare local stone that gets stronger and durable with exposure
to the atmosphere. Block of this stone may be bonded in mortars of shell lime, - the
classic binding material used in traditional buildings. Lime mortar can be improved
in strength and performance by admixtures of vegetable juices. Such enriched
mortars were utilised for plastering and low relief work. Timber remains the prime
structural material abundantly available in Kerala, in many varieties - from
bamboo to teak and rosewood. The skilful choice of timber, artful assembly and
delicate carving of wood work for columns, walls and roofs frames are the unique
characteristics of Kerala architecture, using accurate fit of joints. Clay was used in
many forms - for walling, in filling the timber floors and making bricks and tiles
after firing in kilns, tempered with admixtures. Palm leaves are still used
effectively for thatching the roofs and for making partition walls and along with
mud walls (clay) is still the poor man’s construction material.

Due to the limitations of building materials, a multi modal approach of

construction was evolved in Kerala. Stone work was restricted to the plinth even in
prestigious buildings including temples and palaces. The indigenous adoption of
the available raw materials for architectural expression thus became the dominant
feature of the Kerala style.

During the 8th to 11th century most of Kerala except the extreme north and south
got unified. This facilitated architectural development and renovation of a large
number of temples. Later several small principalities ruled over Kerala.