Palaces Of Trivandrum

Being a tourist in ones own place. Last summer vacations, all of us wandered many times into the palace complex beside the famous Padmanabhaswamy temple. It was a way of teaching our children and learning too..not to forget the beautiful past and the remains which we still hold tight in our memories.

The city of Trivandrum is a mix of modern and traditional architecture, which is visible in its Temples and Palaces. The narrow winding lanes of the city allow visitors to take in the ambience of old Kerala through the pagoda-style buildings and red-tiled roofs.Most of the monuments here are very typically native in their construction. 

Trivandrum boasts of a rich historical and traditional background and colorful culture, and thus it houses a number of important historical monuments and places.Trivandrum is said to have modernized under His highness the late  Uthradom Thirunal's rule. The city today is a large, rambling city dispersed across a series of lush forested hills on the edge of the Arabian Sea. It retains a strong vernacular character, with red-tiled roofs and a common local architectural style. 

Standing adjoining the well-known Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple at the East Fort in Trivandrum, Kuthiramalika or Puthenmalika palace was  built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of Travancore. He is quite famous as a fine statesman, poet, musician and social reformer. This palace is a great example of very few left specimens of the traditional Travancore style of architecture where exquisite wood is also used. Now transformed into a museum, it consists  of paintings and various other priceless collections of the royal family.Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma built the Kuthiramalika Palace over 200 years ago. The name Kuthiramalika means 'palace of horses' and is derived from the frieze of 122 wooden horses on the exterior walls.

Kuthiramalika Palace was constructed with teak, rosewood, granite and marble. Elaborate carvings within the palace include two thrones - one is made entirely from elephant tusks and the other from Bohemian crystal. Kuthiramalika Palace houses the Maharaja's music room where visitors have a good view of the temple, which was a source of inspiration for the ruler. Other rooms offered on the tour include other music halls, reading rooms, and a library.Noted for the Keralan architecture, the palace took 5,000 workers over 4 years to complete. The interior of Kuthiramalika features European mirrors and chandeliers, weapons, crystal, Kathakali idols, elephant howdahs and other memorabilia.

Sree Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma Chithralayam  has been set up at Ranga Vilasam Palace to provide the public with an authentic perspective on the glorious past of  Travancore.

Conceived by His Highness Sree Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja, the museum’s collection includes (besides valuable articles possessed by the Royalty) rare photographs taken by His Highness, himself  a connoisseur of photography, and other ace photographers like William D’Cruz etc are  set in traditional royal ambience. 

Kuthiramalika Palace

a moment to be frozen..the feet and snails

Levi hall in the palace complex

flower type works on the roof with wood

a couple of old residences in the palace complex

A view of the back of the gallery

art gallery

Levi hall

H.H.Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma chitralayam

roof and walls in wood in the residence complex

All images  and Ideas:Lakshmi Arvind Text courtesy:Tourism.org

Please ask permission before you steal. All copyrighted images

Padmanabhapuram palace,Tamilnadu

Padmanabhapuram Palace complex continue to be the best example of traditional Kerala architecture, and some portions of the sprawling complex are also the hall mark of traditional Kerala style building art. As a follow up to my earlier blog article, let me take you all, into a journey through the palace complex way different from the usual route which discusses the decor and the interiors.

This journey is enriched by the spatial variations in the built and open spaces of the palace complex emerging through the sense of enclosure and intensity of light.

The Padmanabhapuram Palace which I have seen is a Design ensemble in itself,each item being a Decor element,carefully picked and placed.

Here what caught my attantion the most was the syntax of Spaces. One space leading into the other and into another beautifully.....the merging almost seamless....

The modern term used for designing of ‘Spaces’ is spatial design. This term encompasses both interior and exterior design as integral parts of this 3-dimensional design activity.

“Space” is a notional phenomena which shapes and exists by the context. Space making is a sum total of the time and space combination. Space over time is not the same. Similarly time over different space is also not the same.

This constant juxtaposition of time over space is the essential premise of Indian Architecture.

The developed elements l found in this built work: a configuration of space as discrete volumes, complex ambient light and shadow, a celebration of mass and structure, the use of materials which have both modernist and archaic qualities, monumental openings uncompromised by frames, courtyards wrapped around buildings.” 

1.Built-Unbuilt space configuration:

Transcending time and space, good architecture remains communicative and interactive all

the while through its spatial qualities. These spaces possess the qualities to establish rapport

with the on looker and condition his perception, independent of their cultural background.

Timeless, ever pervading architecture rely on more fundamental attributes of space making

ranging from

• approach and movement,
• scale and proportion,
• quality of light and shade or
• the relationship of the built with the unbuilt.

The visual proportioning of spaces and skilful arrangement of elements provide everchanging

frames of visual compositions through perspectival effects and their strategic visual alignments while one moes through them.

The courtyards of the palace complex are masterpieces in their own right with the buildings enveloping it. The movement through the complex involves one to step out into the open,and then enter the built volume and then again step out and move through the courtyard.

This is a pattern of configuration of spaces one finds in almost all traditional built complexes of Kerala.

2.The Play of Light and Shadows: Light and shadows play a game of Yin and Yang in this serene place almost giving its inner rooms a magical aura. The contrast between the harsh tropical sunlight outside and the soothing light that penetrates into the inner

 spaces through the ubiquitous palisade windows is used to create this almost theatrical effect.

This play of light through integration of unbuilt spaces with the built volumes become mutual counterpoints which help in defining the spatial hierarchies and territories in terms of personal and public realms. The perception of enclosure is further reinforced by the decreasing intensity of light.

The brightness of light subdues asone progresses further deeper into space making the space progressively vertical, cosier and confined. The timelessness is attributed to its freshness offered by the variations of visual frames as well as the integration of light/nature where the sun is the constant variable as it changes position and intensity from morning to evening and from summer to winter.

The conditions of outdoors inherently not remaining same changes consistently making the same space appear different and fresh all times. This makes the static object change with changing outdoor conditions through sun. This inherent dynamism in the character of the spaces is something to learn from. Don't know how many of our modern edifices really deal with such a simple yet powerful tool- manipulating natural light to create a dynamic space.

                 Light through the dormer and palisade windows into the durbar hall
                       The natural light filtering throught he windows in the dining hall
                                   Natural light in the Kitchen
                                   Natural light in the inner rooms,notice,they make a pattern
    The Shadows of the jaalis,its interesting to see them,they add ambience to the decor and style

3.The Transitional spaces:

Transitional spaces that are neither inside nor out but flows in between the two,such as a verandah, a covered terrace or a corridor are important connectors between the open spaces and the built spaces. The bands of windows,verandhas,corridors,pillared connectors between buildings, spaces close to the house are all a part of the experience before it merges into the open space of the courtyard. These enable the air to freely circulate in the building,offer views through and the past the building.

                    The Long balcony in the summer palace and guest house
                                      Closed walkway to the other side of the palace                                                 Open verandah with pillars
                                                   Open courtyard in the house
           Long walkway,balcony in front of the rooms or to the side of it

4.The simplicity vs complexity in the layout: The covered walkway within which the end is not at first seen where “you are always surprised, keep observing new things”. It is this simplicity in the layout which translates into the beauty of the complex. But however simple it may look in plan, moving through the spaces and retracing one's way is not so easy as it thinks

                                                    Open walkways and pillars
                                   Courtyard surrounding the houses
                                   One open courtyard opens to the other
                                    Open window  from the side of the kitchen overlooking the pond
                               Back view of the palace,walkway,lawn,pond ,way to the summer palace

5. The 'Vernacular character

The vernacular character is reflected in the architecture of the complex.The sloping tiled roofs arranged and carefully placed at angles reflect the mountain scapes which surround the palace.

                                                      Front view of the palace

                                                Side view of the Palace

6.Materials: Locally available raw materials are the ingredients and when clubbed with exotic 'recipies' for the detailing.

                                                          Main Durbar Hall

Seasoned wood for the ceiling and pillars,Mangalore tiles for the roofs,Wood for the furniture,Black shiny floors made from a combination of egg white,jaggery lime,charcoal and river sand,carved mahogany ceilings,colored mica windows.

Four poster Medicinal Bed for the Maharaja,Side table to keep the sword and a chair in wood.

Big Serving Vessels in the dining hall.Found in the Dining hall,where the curries are made from the kitchen and poured before serving,made of raw cut granite stone and polished accordingly.
                                        A distant view of the Giant serving Vessels.

6.Climatological response:

The architecture language is a response to the climate of the region.

                                           Dormer windows around courtyard
Rainfall-Sloping Roofs,The windows overlooks a courtyard ,courtyard allows natural ventilation and the womenfolk to feel the fresh air.
                                                Jaalis on Windows to allow circulation of air
                         Big Doors to allow ventilation,since the region is quite humid.

I think I have truly taken all into the decor of an era,the Ancient Kerala Decor style,which is at present in trend.

 I do hope at one time of my life I will be able to reciprocate the finest in decor and construction which I have noticed 

Hope you all did enjoy the time in that era...

Will bring lots more later....

All pictures are protected and copyrighted ones.PL dont steal images.If found is punishable.If you need images pl.contact .All copyrighted images of Lakshmi Arvind and self clicked.

Relish the summer in courtyards

The long cherished dream of starting a decor blog starts here today.Thoughts of summer and courtyards in my ancestral home, where we used to spend most of the time in summers,push me towards writing the first post on courtyards.Memories still afresh.And when I recall these memories,as I go along life's way,I find they grow more precious still,with every passing day.

Summer is here to explore many wonders of the world.Drift yourself to a dreamland sitting in the courtyards,as summer days come closer.With this you also do get an idea how to make your courtyard a focal point.

Let me brief you on the history of courtyards
Climatic changes on an organization are apparent since 2000 BC during which the basic principles of a central court with rooms all around it emerged.Major permanent concentrated populations arose, in the Tigris/Euphrates region of ancient Mesopotamia, the desert coast of Peru at Chan-Chan, the Thar Desert crossed by the Indus River in what is now India, and Egypt of the Nile. In all these arid-region urbanized agricultural centers, the courtyard house emerged as the basic house form.Excavations and studies by scholars reveal that the built form in those times had central open- to- the- sky spaces in the Mohenjodaro and Harappa.The houses had no windows facing the street,but concentrated on the courtyard.These houses may have depended on courtyards for light and ventilation.Evidence of the high degree of crystallised forms of the period indicate that the genesis of the idea of the courtyard could easily be traced back to thousand years before Harappa.The essence of the space has remained unchanged over thousands of years and the years to come.Today, throughout the arid regions of the world, the courtyard house remains a sensible, satisfactory, and preferred solution.The courtyard is therfore a timeless spatial element of Indian Architecture;it continues to be still valid today as before.

This design element (courtyard) is now a reference for new type of construction and planning. Courtyard style is a splendid design called by names – haveli, wada, deori or nalukettu.

Most of the domestic architecture in India is organised around courtyards.

Even in the desert communities where nighttime winter temperatures reach freezing, the daytime temperatures are sufficiently moderate that this courtyard can become an active and usable living space.

It provides a safe outdoor play area for young children and a safe outdoor sitting area for adults and the elderly.

Courtyards of Rajasthan

Simply rooms without roofs

In India, in their construction there occurred a sharing between Hindu and Muslim designs. Muslim havelis included in their designs the chajjas and brackets and the Hindus freely used the cusped arch.
Often yet unprotected becomes the heart of living.The walls provide a portion of shade on atleast some part of the courtyard throughout the day.
Maximising number of habitable rooms that face the the courtyards,the major portion of the house is afforded a sunny outdoor space. Visitors stopped at the outer courtyard where the baithak, siiting place, usually was. Beyond this was the sequestered zenana, women’s area around the inner courtyard.
Traditonal South Indian courtyards:See the air of elegance in themThey become a place for growing plants and placing decor items

Over head shading can be provided by planting trees and vines
Courtyards become the living room of the house both literally and figuratively



Japanese courtyardsChinese courtyardsCourtyards of Modern houses become the epicentre of showcasing new designs,becomes new design symbol




Image courtesy:gharexpert.com,archistud,www.homedesigning.com/interior-courtyards,Meghal Arya and Home review.