Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Conservation Architecture
Conservation Architecture
Rafter
A Rafter
Ut harappadi
A A
Chit t ut hara
Tie or Nadumpadi
Ut hara (wall plate)
B
B B A
Arappadi Wall
or Keezhpadi
Wed ge A
B B B
A A
A
Nirapalaka Bhit hi (Wooden wall) Det ails at Uthara
Horizont al Timber Joinery Details
39
traditional science of architecture is grounded
in principles of measurements and proportions.
From the ancient times, acharyas or master
craftsmen found and organized simple and
convenient dimensional systems to accurately
measure all sizes.
The system of dimensioning can be broadly
classified into two -- anupadhikam or
proportional and kevalam or absoJute
dimensional system
Practices in carpentry
1. All the rafters are placed with head up
and bottom down (according to the
grain).
2. Timber pieces of same length are not
joined together.
3. The top end of a timber piece was
always joined to the bottom end of
the other piece in joinery.
4. For pillars the bottom of timber piece
was kept down and the head up in
vertical position.
41
5. Same type of joinery detail was
used everywhere in one
building.
6. New timber was joined to new
and old to old without fail. Only
in very rare cases old timber is
fixed to new ones.
7. Wooden pins once used for
construction were never reused
as per traditional practice.
8. Male Timber piece was fixed to
another male piece, & female to
female. Only in unavoidable
situation male & female timber
were joined together. But a male
or a female piece was never
fixed to a neutral piece.
42
High level of craftsmanship
and building skill based on
Tachusastram
Tachusastram – science of
carpentry
Erected with strict adherence to the science of
traditional architecture
Legend of Perumthachan –
myth? – knowledge system
43
According to Indian mythology, Brahma the supreme
creator is the primary source of all knowledge.
45
Identity of Kerala Architecture
in form
Vastusastra + Tachusastra