VERNCULAR ARCHITECTURE OF KERELA
KERALA ARCHITECTURE IS A KIND OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLE THAT IS MOSTLY
FOUND IN INDIA STATE OF KERELA . KERALA'S STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE IS UNIQUE
IN INDIA, IN ITS STRIKING CONTRAST TO DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE WHICH IS
NORMALLY PRACTICED IN OTHER PARTS OF SOUTH INDIA
THE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR CONSTRUCTION IN
KERALA ARE STONES, TIMBER, CLAY AND PALM LEAVES.
DESIGN OF NALUKETTU
THESE TYPES OF BUILDINGS ARE TYPICALLY FOUND IN THE INDIAN STATE OF KERALA.
THE TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IS TYPICALLY A RECTANGULAR STRUCTURE WHERE
FOUR OR SIX BLOCKS ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH A CENTRAL COURTYARD OPEN TO
THE SKY.
THE FOUR HALLS ON THE SIDES ARE NAMED VADAKKINI (NORTHERN BLOCK),
PADINJATTINI (WESTERN BLOCK), KIZHAKKINI (EASTERN BLOCK) AND THEKKINI (SOUTHERN
BLOCK).
THE ARCHITECTURE WAS ESPECIALLY CATERED TO LARGE FAMILIES OF THE TRADITIONAL
THARAVADU,
TO LIVE UNDER ONE ROOF AND ENJOY THE COMMONLY OWNED FACILITIES OF THE
MARUMAKKATHAYAM HOMESTEAD.
SUBMITTED TO –
T.O.A REGIONALISM
SAURABH SAXENA
MATERIALS
LATERITE BLOCKS MAY BE BONDED IN MORTARS OF SHELL
LIME, WHICH HAVE BEEN 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 USED FOR PLASTERING OR
FOR SERVING AS THE BASE FOR MURAL PAINTING AND LOW
RELIEF WORK.
TIMBER IS THE PRIME STRUCTURAL MATERIAL ABUNDANTLY
AVAILABLE IN MANY VARIETIES IN KERALA – FROM BAMBOO TO
TEAK. PERHAPS THE SKILFUL CHOICE OF TIMBER, ACCURATE
JOINERY,
ARTFUL ASSEMBLY AND DELICATE CARVING OF WOOD WORK
FOR COLUMNS, WALLS AND ROOFS FRAMES ARE THE UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS OF KERALA ARCHITECTURE. CLAY WAS USED
IN MANY FORMS –
FOR WALLING, IN FILLING THE TIMBER FLOORS AND MAKING
BRICKS AND TILES AFTER PUGGING AND TEMPERING WITH
ADMIXTURES. PALM LEAVES WERE USED EFFECTIVELY FOR
THATCHING THE ROOFS AND FOR MAKING PARTITION WALLS.
MANSI THAPLIYAL
REMARKS BARCH -3RD YR
SECTION – A
DELHI TECHNICAL CAMPUS
 TECHNIQUES

BUILDING MATERIALS TIMBER REMAINS THE PRIME STRUCTURAL

MATERIAL ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE IN KERALA, IN MANY VARIETIES –

FROM BAMBOO TO TEAK AND ROSEWOOD. THE SKILLFUL 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

ROOFING SYSTEM The ridged roof pitched at angles between 30degree to

40degree The roof with intricately carved gables protruding from the roof with
overhangs supported by wooden brackets.

THE SURVIVING NAIR HOUSES HAVE MANY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS LIKE

RAISED FOUNDATIONS, WALL AND CEILING CARVINGS, STEEPLY SLOPING ROOFS,
ETC., THAT ARE REMINISCENT OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE. THE BUILDING
MATERIALS USED IN THE SACRED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE, VIZ., TIMBER,
LATERITE, BRICK AND STUCCO ARE ALSO THE SAME, AND THUS CREATE
IDENTICAL TEXTURAL SURFACES.

FLOORING 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.

MANSI THAPLIYAL
SUBMITTED TO – REMARKS BARCH -3RD YR
T.O.A REGIONALISM SECTION – A
SAURABH SAXENA DELHI TECHNICAL CAMPUS