CHETTINAD HOUSES

 The Chettinad houses were originally single-storeyed

buildings made of sundried brick of mud and bamboo
and thatch.
 They evolved to become tile-roofed with a small two-
storeyed tower at both ends of the front elevation.
 They later expanded vertically into two-storeyed
structures, and horizontally through the addition of
numerous halls and courtyards that could
accommodate guests at marriages and other
ceremonies.
 It was not unusual for three generations to live
together in one house. The Chettinad houses
accommodate up to four generations before separate
houses are built by individual sons .
 The houses
are built on a
rectangular,
traversal plot
that stretches
across two
streets, with
the front door
opening into
the first street
and the back
into the
second.
 Looking in from the main
threshold, your eye
travels in a straight line
across a series of inner
courtyards, each a
diminishing rectangle of
light, leading out to the
back door .
 The courtyards supply
ample light and air
(pickles and papads were
dried there) but leave the
rest of the house in deep
and cool shadow.
 "conjugal" room second courtyard
Veranda. First courtyard columns.

TinnaiPuja room and storagecorridor kitchen.Veranda.

of dowry items.
 Raised
platform

accountance room Kitchen

 The platforms lead off
First comes an outer on one side into store
thinai - Large raised rooms and massive
platforms on either side granaries and on the
of the central corridor, other, into the (
where the host would Kanakupillai ) or
entertain male guests. Accountant's room.This
area also usually leads
off to the men's well.
FROM HERE, THE HUGE ELABORATELY CARVED TEAK FRONT DOOR,
WITH IMAGE OF LAKSHMI CARVED OVER THE HEAD AND NAVARATNA
OR NINE PRECIOUS GEMS BURIED UNDER THE ( VASAPADI)
THRESHOLD.
THE DOOR LEADS INTO THE FIRST OPEN AIR
COURTYARD, WITH PILLARED CORRIDORS RUNNING
ON EACH SIDE THAT LEAD INTO INDIVIDUAL
ROOMS, EACH MEANT FOR A MARRIED SON, EACH
WITH A TRIANGULAR SLOT CUT INTO THE WALL
FOR THE EVENING LAMP.
C O U R T Y A R D
 Then comes the second counrtyard with large
dining spaces on either side.
 The third courtyard was for the women folk to
rest and gossip, while the fourth, or nalankattai
comprised the kitchens, leading out to the
backyard with its women's well and grinding
stones.
 No house comes with less than two vast kitchens,
not to mention several giant grinding stones and
rows of fireplaces in the last courtyard – all
meant to entertain gigantic gatherings.
 Each of the small rooms off the main courtyard is
the property of one married son in the
patriarchal lineage of the ancestral builder of the
home.
ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF
MANSION HOUSES
 1800-1840 A.D
 During this period there were small rural houses. They
directly lie on the street edge. Main enterance opens into a
small corridor, which gives access to a raised platform, which
then leads an open-air inner first courtyard. The houses have
two courtyards with a backyard. Spanning was similar to
thatched roof. Walls were of Baked bricks and mud. Roof was
of Timber rafters and country tiles.
 1840-1860 A.D
 They were double or single storied . The houses were now set
back slightly with an intermediate space and surrounding
wall. A raised gallery was built against the main façade. Front
façade wall had windows. The Water from roof was collected
on vessels and inner courtyards linked by underground
canalization to temple tanks. Walls were of Baked bricks and
lime. Roof was of Timber rafters and country tiles. The
flooring for upper loft area was of wood topped with layers of
leaves and sticks packed with cow dung and then a layer of
sand and cow dung.
 1860-1900 A.D
 The houses enlarged horizontally. They become
double storied with alteration in height. The house
was now set back with an intermediate Courtyard
and elaborate surrounding wall. There was a Raised
gallery/Thinai built against the main façade and
enhanced with a monumental porch and alcove above.
The Central Loggia hall/Kalyana Kottagai was
decorated heavily. Ceilings decorated with tiles and
painted medallions.
 1900-1940 A.D.
 The houses were now set back with an intermediate
Courtyard and elaborate surrounding wall. The
central loggia ceilings were decorated with tiles and
painted medallions. The Adithalam is raised to
include another floor, which accommodates horses
and cars. Heavily gods and British Dignitaries were
used as ornamentation figures. Teak from Burma and
Ceylon was majority used for roofing and columns,
which was heavily carved.
 Since 1940 A.D
 During this period the houses emerged as villas
or bungalows. The building is located in centre
with large open spaces surrounding it. Highly
decorated with classical order columns. Main
entrance was marked with a portico the houses
had the number of courtyards reduced to two
courtyards of smaller size for one family. The
ornamentation was of Anglo Indian influences.s
 The late 19th century
House of earlier pattern of raising an
vintage,with open space elaborate first floor just
in front. above the main
reception area.
MORE MANSION OF CHETTINAD OF LATE
19TH,EARLY 20TH CENTURY.
HOME BUILT FROM SECOND QUARTER OF 20TH
CENTURY BEGAIN TO DRAW MORE HEAVILY
FROM WESTERN STYLES.
ONE OF CHETTINAD HOUSE SHOWING THE
RICHNESS WHICH IT HAD WITH HIGHER PLINTH