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AUGUST-17

FRIDAY

KERALA
VERNACULAR

KERALA

Vernacular Architecture
Vernacular
architectureis
anarchitecturalstyle
that is designed
based on local
needs, availability of
construction
materials and
reflecting local
traditions.

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 evolution of domestic architecture of Kerala followed


closely the trend of development in temple architecture.

Kerala has a warm humid climate. The rainfall is


very heavy. To keep the rain and sun away form
the walls the roofs of the building come down very
low.

Climate of Kerala

They have
verandah all
round the building
protecting the
external walls from
sun and rain.

They have an
internal courtyard
for better flow of
air.

BUILDING
TECHNIQUE
S

ROOFING
SYSTEM

The most common type of flooring was that of beaten


earth polished with cow dung at regular intervals
Black colored traditional flooring used in the more
expensive buildings was done with the mixture of lime,
sand, coconut shell, white of egg, jaggery, coconut
water and other vegetable extracts. The smoothness
was achieved by polishing the floor with a particular
variety of banana.

Building
Typology

VEED

There are various terms of house for different


tribes according to social status and profession.
The house of:
Pariah - CHERI
the agrestic slave Cheraman - CHALA.
blacksmith, the goldsmith, the carpenter,
the weaver KUDI
temple servants reside VARIYAM / PISHARAM
The ordinary Nayars - VEEDU / BHAVANAM
Nayars authority - IDAM.
Raja lives in a KOVILAKKAM / KOTTARAM

Three Types of Chala


All Chalas show typical spatial configurations of living and inner
space. (left) Chala in Chengganur, South Kerala; (middle) Chala
in Waynad and (left) Chala in Trivandrum.

Temple in Kerala

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