Domestic architecture

Pondicherry public buildings (government and institutional) are not outstanding edifices because
they are recent, the best monumental structures of the Dupleixs period having been destroyed by
the British in 1761, but the town is noteworthy for its domestic architecture which shows the
coexistence of two distinct styles that of the French and that of the native Tamil.

French Buildings
In the ville blanche are still found an impressive number of colonial houses, mansion-type houses
with courtyards behind ornate gateways, dating from the 19th century or from the beginning of the
20th century, which constitute a tropical adaptation of the private mansions of the 18th century with
large terraces.
Most of them were built on a rather similar ground plan with variations in size, orientation and
details, i.e. a symmetrical plan with the principal faade usually opening on to the garden/court,
perpendicular to the street and the high and solid enclosing wall and the elaborate gateway forming a
clear limit between domestic and public space.
The ceilings are marked by heavy wooden beams and wooden joists supporting terrace
roofing made of brick-on-edge masonry in lime mortar, called argamasse in French and Madras
roofing in English; the main building material for all masonry works was burnt bricks in lime mortar
(the lime was made by burning sea shells from the local shore or lime stone quarried from Tutipet)

a. Single storied residential buildings

16 Dumas Street (EFEO):

b. Two-storied residential buildings

19 Dumas street (EFEO):
11 Saint- Louis street (IFP)

Lal Bahadur street (Old State Bank Building)

No. 66, Manakula Vinayakar Kovil Street

 Examples of gates

Less elaborated Buildings

Most of the houses are not so elaborated, but still they are built with arcades and
colonnades, balconies with wooden or iron railings, lean-to roofs with wooden posts and
eave boards and, on the terrace, defining the sky line, parapets with terracota balusters or
brick loopholes.
4 examples:

Renovated Building
Htel de la Trmoille(?), No. 5 Caserne Street, today Hotel Le Dupleix.
This edifice, famous for its monumental gate, was almost in ruin. It has been recently
renovated. It is today called Htel Le Dupleix.
 Fanciful houses
We also have to mention two pavilions popularly called folly in the 18th century,
gracefully designed with arcades and colonnades; they are known
as Poulailler and Rizire.

Modern buildings
8 examples:
Pondicherry from 1824 to the present day (3/4)