David Hall @Fort Kochi

David Hall one of the beautiful buildings in Fortkochi, has always attracted me.Is it the wooden roofs,made of flat face rafters that had drawn me towards it or the architectural grandeur or the history.

It houses an art gallery and acts as a cultural centre to support young exponents of visual and performing art forms.

History

David Hall was built around 1695 by the Dutch East India Company. It was the residence of the renowned Dutch governor, Hendrick Adrian Van Rheede tot Drakestein. However, the building gets its name from a later occupant, a Jewish businessman called David Koder. Governor Drakestein initiated a pioneering study on the flora of Kerala that resulted in the 12-volume classic, the Hortus Malabaricus. 

The three-foot wide walls and the four-column windows are the other characteristics of the building and they add to its elegance. A well-manicured garden and the old trees in the courtyard too help the David Hall retain its grace intact.

the patina gives a warm welcome

the colocasia leaves...and the black small gate

there is a gallery cafe too

the warm interiors

striking gond colours

the dimlighting

there was an ongoing exhibition

love the white washed windows

theres ample of sunlight in the  courtyard


All images credit:Lakshmi Arvind