UNDERSTANDING HOW TO TACKLE LIMINAL SPACES
PONNANI, MALAPPURAM, KERALA
Country: INDIA, State: Kerala District : MALAPPURAM
1.Ponnani Costal Area - (keralatourism.org)
2.View from Kottakunnu - (keralatourism.org)
3. Ponnani Costal Area - (keralatourism.org)
AMITH KRISHNAN
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Author: AMITH KRISHNAN
Roll no: SPA/NS/LA/700
INTRODUCTION OF MALAPPURAM
History and Context
Malappuram district came into existence on 16th June,
1969. Malappuram district is composed of portion of
the erstwhile Palakkad and Kozhikode districts.It was
carved out of Ernad taluk and portions of Tirur taluk of
Kozhikode district and portions of Perinthalmanna and
Ponnani taluks of Palakkad district.
Malappuram consists of three natural divisions;
lowland, midland and highland. The low land stretches
along the sea coast, the midland in the centre and the
high landregion towards the east and north eastern
parts, rich with evergreen forests, ravines, hills and
dales, rivers and brooks.
Climate
The district has more or less the same climatic
conditions in the state, viz, dry season from December
to February, hot season from March to May, and the
south west and north east monsoon from June to
November.The average annual rainfall is 2900mm.The
climate is generally hot and humid, the range of
temperature varies between 20 ºC and 30ºC.
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Topography
The topography of the district is highly undulating;
starting from the hill tops covered with thick forests on
the east along the Nilgiris, it gradually slopes down to
the valleys and the small hills, before finally ending on
the sandy flat of luxuriant coconut groves and palm
fringed coasts in the west.
Wetlands and water body
The district is gifted with four important rivers ofthe state. They are Chaliyar,
Kadalundipuzha,Bharatapuzha and Tirurpuzha.The Biyyam kayal near Ponnani are the important
backwaters of the district.
Geology details
Malappuram district covers laterite, alluvial and forest
loam soils. The soils in the lowland are moderately
well drained coastal alluvial soils with sand to loamy
Topography Map: Source - (Malappuaram municipality)
sand texture. The midland soils includes well drained
laterite soils,
Connectivity

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Roads
Malappuram is well connected by roads. 2 National
highways pass through district- NH 66 and NH 966.
Railways
Total length of railway line that passes through the
district is 142 km.
Airport
Malappuram is served by Calicut International Airport
located at Karipur, about 25 kilometre away from
Malappuram City.
Land use breakup – Malappuram District
Total area of the district is 3551.87 Sq.km.The highest
percentage of land use falls under thecategory
Residential / Agricultural mix, which include mainly dry
cultivation lands wherein residential developments are
co-existent.
INTRODUCTION TO PONNANI
CULTURE
Ponnani also knows as the Mecca of Malabar is a
Muslim majority town but people with various religious
and cultural background lives peacefully and
harmoniously. The current importance is due the Valiya
Jima Mazjid where the Muslim religious education was
slatted.
Land use break up of malappuram district: Source -
(Town planning department Malappuram)

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LIFESTYLE
Life in Punnani 'evolves around the Arabian Sea and &
Bharatha puzha. The main occupation is fishing and
selling fish in the market The old practice of pottery
making and coir making are now at the verge of
extinction. The 'Marumakkathai* system of marriage is
still followed by many families.

History of Ponnani
Ponnani had a glorious past of export and trade. It was the satellite town of Muziris. It had trade
links with many strong empires such as the
Romans, the British and the Dutch, with the
export of coir, pepper, tobacco, ginger,
matchboxes and various coconut products

Location and connectivity: Source - (Town planning

department Malappuram)

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SETTLEMENT AND ECOLOGICAL. EVOLUTION

700 BC
The land was part of the forest cover of Western Ghats.
Settlement started along the fertile Bharathapuzha
basin and along the coast of Arabian sea.

300 BC
The settlement started on the western side, due to the
availability of potable water. Since the water is muddy
in eastern side it was used for agriculture. Aryans came
to Ponnani, agriculture flourished.

600 AD
Ponnani became a major trade hub under Chera rule.
Arabs made constant trade with Cheras and settled
near the then port.

1850 AD
Tipu Sultan road was build and streets developed.
Canolly canal was build by British, coir and pottery
industry flourished around it. Later roadways became
major mode of transportation, streets developed along
the roads.

PRESENT
By the construction of new NH 66 which Intersects with
the Palakkad Ponnanl road, many commercial
establishments are coming up along these roads. The
construction of hospitals and college also led to
commercial development in Ponnani. The construction
of new harbor also led to industrial development in
Ponnani. The construction of karma road also led to
development in Ponnani.

Location and connectivity: Source - (Town planning

department Malappuram)

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 UNDERSTANDING HOW TO TACKLE LIMINAL SPACES 6

GREEN OPEN AND LININAL SPACES

PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN -2035

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LOCATION AND CONNECTIVITY

Site area Study Area : 65 acre
Proposed site Land use: Proposed Park and
Open Space
Present site condition: Vacant land with
unauthorized temporary shelters and
waste disposal
CHARACTER OF THE STUDY AREA
ZONE 01: RESIDENTIAL
Fisherman settlement houses along
the road
This area lies along the sea shore and comprises mostly of fishermen community. This area is a fully
residential area and has a dense Muslim population. It has a fine grain even texture and is the densest part
of the town.

Fisherman settlement houses along the road

ZONE 02: OLD MARKET AREA
Commercial settlements along Valiyangadi
This area comprises mostly of Commercial buildings and is the oldest 'Angadi. of Ponnani. All the buildings
here have a traditional architectural style and consist of two floors.

ZONE 03: VALIYA JUMA MAZJID

Built about 600 years ago by Zainuddin Ibn Bin Ahmed (Zainuddin Makhdoom I), the masjid or mosque is
constructed in a traditional Kerala architectural style with an extensive use of wood.The Juma Masjid
played an important role in the intellectual field of Ponnani, once referred to as the 'Little Mecca' of
Malabar.
ZONE 04 : PONNANI HARBOR
The new harbor of Ponnani constructed within the Last 10 years. It was constructed after the old harbor
fell into disuse. A number of storehouses has been built around the harbor to store the fishing goods and
with the modern construction of petrol station within the area also Jhangar facilities are available from
here.
ZONE 05 : PONNANI COURT AND POLICE STATION
These are one of the first public buildings that came up in Ponnani during the British era around the 18th
century and colonial architecture can be seen. The court, fisheries office and Police station are included in
this complex. Large arched glass windows, gables, louvred wooden doors can be seen in these buildings
indicating the influence of British architecture.

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MASTER PLAN VISION AND PROPOSALS

01.Heritage tourism

02.Revive Conolly canal (Waterfront development)

03.Promotion of Religious tourism
04.Beach development
05.Redeveloping market
06.Conservation of Wetland and Development of Recreational Area
07.Improving the Fisherman Settlement
Multi-story flats that could accommodate the cultures of the locals could be developed in the area
to resettle the people. Providing sufficient open space areas around these structures for outdoor
activities around them would help to accommodate the local cultures of community living, Also
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incorporating terraces and open spaces into the plan would provide community spaces like net-
making areas

KEY FEATURES IN AND AROUND SITE

01. Heritage connection
02. Protecting the mangrove forest cover
03. Seasonal water body and its protection
04. Bird watching and recreation
CONCEPT NOTE
SPIRIT OF THE PLACE
RECONNECTING THE PAST GLORY OF PONNANI
“To reimagine The Old Precinct as a Cultural and Recreational District, Connecting On Its Local
Assets, Effectively Being an Integral Part and Giving a Unique Identity to the Growing Ponnani
Town. ”
The idea was to reconnect the past glory of Ponnani the ancient port town of Malabar. Ponnani is a
coastal town in the northern Kerala having rich heritage, cultural context and having a great palate
of traditional architecture of Kerala. The context of the Ponnani include economically backward
Muslim fisherman community whose day today life mainly depended on fishing. The Ponnani has
great cultural landscape from the past and it’s the meeting point of two major rivers Bharathapuzha
and Thirur river to the Arabian sea.
Ponnani has an age old charm to it with a large number of heritage built stock, important religious
buildings, the presence of a large no of old people who area actively exchanging stories of the past.
It is the spirit of this precinct that is often attributed to be the spirit and identity of Ponnani.
The main intention was to create a
common space for these common
people of ponnani for exchanging
their stories to the younger
generation of ponnani, these old
people are the living examples of past
glory of Ponanni and these people can
strengthen the cultural diversity of
Ponnani.
Author’s Note
The project aim to look at how one can consider the local layers of history, ecology, culture and
community as a resource on which the growth of a transforming town can be based on effectively
rooting its identity to evolve in the future.
This project taught how to analyses both whole to part and part to whole aspects of a place, to
envision a better future for the place and its people, incorporating its cultural identity.
The spaces will be developed in such a way that, where the local community can share their
experience for the future and people and can experience the different cultural diversity along with
the ecological and cultural landscape of Ponnani.

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AMITH KRISHNAN SPA/NS/LA/700 PONNANI