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Thursday, September 2, 2010
NAALU VEEDU - நாலு வீடு
Its the Proud launch of the Reach Chettinaadu's first project "Naalu Veedu - நாலு வீடு" @ Nandhavanam Road, Valayapatty..!!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Amazing Athangudi..!!!
Athangudi is a word, that brings radiant flashy colours to mind...!!!! Recently, the word athangudi is also gaining importance with respect to Chettinad Food..!!!
And this Post is specifically a Write up on Athangudi Tiles..,
Every time you enter a chettinadu house, one of the prominent feature that captures the viewer's attention is the floor. This floor, with unique traditional patterns have been adding colours to the interiors for years. These tiles are popularly called as "The athangudi tiles" with their name depicting the place of origin. The athangudi tiles are 19th century innovation. They are the successors to the age old terracotta floor tiles. They are made in the cottage industries in and around the village of athangudi in chettinaadu.
The athangudi tiles come in bright colours of Red, Yellow, blue, green etc.. They have rich patterns both floral and geometric. The patterns are designed in such a way, that the tile looks unique as a single piece and also creates exquisite patterns when laid. There is an extensive use of contrast. The colour white is used as a background to highlight motifs. In later years along with white, colours like grey and black were also explored specially to create optical illusions.
Unlike the other flooring materials of today, the athangudi tiles are still hand made by the craftsmen. This fact makes them more special when compared to the monotonous looking machine made tiles of today. The tiles are made out of local clay with additives like cement and Coloured oxides. They are made in a mould with a specific pattern. The oxides are used to finish the mould in the respective colours. A piece of clear glass in size of the mould is kept on the pattern to create glossy finish.
The athangudi tiles are not only found in the chettinaadu region, but they are used all over the world. In contemporary applications the bright terracotta red tiles are most favoured by architects. A plain red floor with a contrasting border can be found in the modern domestic buildings of today.
Athangudi tiles are used to create heritage interiors and they have become an icon of their own. When compared to most of the modern materials today, athangudi tiles are equally durable and they are much more attractive. They are finished with a wax polish and they keep gaining a shine with years of use. They are very easy to maintain and replace, and come in an extremely affordable cost. The use of athangudi tiles today will greatly support the number of cottage industries in the chettinaadu region.
Athangudi tiles also come in 'modern' designs to appeal the consumers of today. These tiles are specially meant for indoor use. In our earlier research, we have tried the outdoor application of these tiles in medium traffic areas. The innovation aimed at creating a textured pattern on the athangudi tiles which will make it more durable and non slippery. The plain terracotta red athangudi tiles are made in the mould and are covered with a textured glass instead of a plain glass. Unlike plain glass, the textured one transfers its pattern to the tile instead of the gloss. These tiles were custom made by the craftsmen of athangudi and were laid in the corridors of Konnaiyur MuthuMariamman Temple at Koppanapatti. We achieved a reduction in cost and revival of the craft to suit the modern day needs in this project. Reach Chettinaadu greatly looks forward to create more contemporary work with athangudi tiles, in the future projects
And this Post is specifically a Write up on Athangudi Tiles..,
Every time you enter a chettinadu house, one of the prominent feature that captures the viewer's attention is the floor. This floor, with unique traditional patterns have been adding colours to the interiors for years. These tiles are popularly called as "The athangudi tiles" with their name depicting the place of origin. The athangudi tiles are 19th century innovation. They are the successors to the age old terracotta floor tiles. They are made in the cottage industries in and around the village of athangudi in chettinaadu.
The athangudi tiles come in bright colours of Red, Yellow, blue, green etc.. They have rich patterns both floral and geometric. The patterns are designed in such a way, that the tile looks unique as a single piece and also creates exquisite patterns when laid. There is an extensive use of contrast. The colour white is used as a background to highlight motifs. In later years along with white, colours like grey and black were also explored specially to create optical illusions.
Unlike the other flooring materials of today, the athangudi tiles are still hand made by the craftsmen. This fact makes them more special when compared to the monotonous looking machine made tiles of today. The tiles are made out of local clay with additives like cement and Coloured oxides. They are made in a mould with a specific pattern. The oxides are used to finish the mould in the respective colours. A piece of clear glass in size of the mould is kept on the pattern to create glossy finish.
The athangudi tiles are not only found in the chettinaadu region, but they are used all over the world. In contemporary applications the bright terracotta red tiles are most favoured by architects. A plain red floor with a contrasting border can be found in the modern domestic buildings of today.
Athangudi tiles are used to create heritage interiors and they have become an icon of their own. When compared to most of the modern materials today, athangudi tiles are equally durable and they are much more attractive. They are finished with a wax polish and they keep gaining a shine with years of use. They are very easy to maintain and replace, and come in an extremely affordable cost. The use of athangudi tiles today will greatly support the number of cottage industries in the chettinaadu region.
Athangudi tiles also come in 'modern' designs to appeal the consumers of today. These tiles are specially meant for indoor use. In our earlier research, we have tried the outdoor application of these tiles in medium traffic areas. The innovation aimed at creating a textured pattern on the athangudi tiles which will make it more durable and non slippery. The plain terracotta red athangudi tiles are made in the mould and are covered with a textured glass instead of a plain glass. Unlike plain glass, the textured one transfers its pattern to the tile instead of the gloss. These tiles were custom made by the craftsmen of athangudi and were laid in the corridors of Konnaiyur MuthuMariamman Temple at Koppanapatti. We achieved a reduction in cost and revival of the craft to suit the modern day needs in this project. Reach Chettinaadu greatly looks forward to create more contemporary work with athangudi tiles, in the future projects
Thursday, August 12, 2010
World Monuments Watch List of 2008
World Monuments Fund is the leading private organization dedicated to saving the world’s
most treasured places.Since 1965, in more than 90 countries, their experts have been racing
against time, applying proven techniques to preserve important architectural and cultural
heritage sites around the globe.Through partnerships with local communities, funders, and
governments, they inspire an enduring commitment to safeguard this vital legacy for future
generations. The World Monuemts Find has listed Chettinad as one among the most
endagered Sites of the World, for World Monuments Watch List of 2008.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Curious Case of "Extended Boundary Wall"
We were going on a field trip to Kanadukathaan and found quite few interesting structures., and here U go with the Curious case of Xtended Boundary Wall..!!!
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| Kopuram/Tower extending out of the Usual Boundary Wall |
This is the first time, we encountered such a building structure..!! There was a tower just extending behind the usual boundary wall and there were quite some works on the Kopuram, few deities like stuff and they were almost ruined.., It was quite Interesting though..!!
It could be Prayer / Pooja room thats extended beyond the wall to provide a Kopuram and resemble a Temple space.., and with this thought we were kindda satisfied that it was sorted out but then, another thought was put forth saying this could be something similar to MuttuSanthu vinayagar- the ganapathy Statue that use to be there @ "T" junctions..., ya ur guess is right there was a T junction rite opposite to this structure..!!
We seriously wanted to find it out and we decided to enquire to the inmates...,!!
Follow Us more, to find what was it.? was it found.,? was the Curious case got solved.., Keep tracking..!!!!
Continuation of the Curious Case..,
As expected, the House was Locked..., but to our surprise, the building looked almost abandon..!!!
The Building was such a beauty and it stood majestically on one of the banks of the Urani in middle of the Kanadukaathan Township..,
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| The Abandon Building |
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| Thinnai..!!! |
A closer look of the Locked Main door, will portray the Truth and reality..,
The Door locked jus reminded the current scenario..., the current trend in which chettinad culture and Heritage being treated..!! There were quite some shrubs inside the home and guess it should hav been left abandon for quite some time.., and this is where importance of forming an organisation like The Reach Chettinaadu come into play...!!!
Lets Bring back things to the RooTs...!!!!
Few more pics of the same building..,
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| Front View of the Building |
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| This Pic wud tel u stories. :( |
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| Another entrance |
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| Back Yard..! |
Chettinaadu PhotoWalk....!!!!!
We went on for a photowalk few days back as part of Reach Chettinaadu, for its Research and Documentation of Architecture...!!!!!
The Mansions and Palatial Houses were huge .., they are simply Mind Blowing.., Few of selected pics from the PhotoWalk..!!
The Mansions and Palatial Houses were huge .., they are simply Mind Blowing.., Few of selected pics from the PhotoWalk..!!
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| Streets Of Chettiand |
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| Chettinad Palace |
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| Building with bit of contemporary architecture |
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| Township View of Kaanadukaathan..!! |
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| Perfect Detailing..!! |
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| Typical Chettinaadu..!!! |
Launch of "The Reach Chettinaadu"
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| Oor Iniya Aarambam...!! |
Here we go...!!!!!
Launch of The REACH Chettinaadu,
"The Revival of Architecture and Cultural Heritage of Chettinaadu” .., Checkout the blog/Site shortly for more info...!!!
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