ThadiyankudisaiGOI - UNDP Endogenous Tourism Program

a design reportJune 2007

Kiran Keswaniarchitect

Bangalore, India

kiranmkeswani@gmail.com

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1. To acquire traditional houses or buildings from owners who are willing to contribute to the

Rural Tourism program, for adaptive re-use as interpretation centre, spice shop, cafetaria,

toilets and homestays in both Kodalangadu and Mangalagombu villages.

2. To create a local implementation team that can restore a traditional structure or build a new

one using traditional building materials and skills.

3. To begin documentation of Kodalangadu village streets & houses through the assistance of

architecture students from the College of architecture in Madurai.

4. To finalise with Coffee Planters on the use of their guesthouses for homestays to visitors on

the Thadiyankudisai Spice Tour and to confirm other income-generating hardware activities

for the local people that they would like to encourage in their premises, such as cafetaria,

nature retreat, etc.

5. To begin upgrading of infrastructure

facilities of Kodalangadu village in terms

of water supply, electricity, garbage

disposal, drainage and sewerage

systems.

ACTION POINTS for the hardware component of the Thadiyankudisai project are :

The “do nothing” or “relaxation places” in Thadiyankudisai

SPICE TOURISM project site could be :

1. The village of Kodalangadu with its traditional

houses, streets and temple square

2. Coffee Plantations

3. Wooded areas in Thadiyankudisai

There may be three kinds of accommodation offered :

1. HOMESTAYS at Kodalangadu

2. TREEHOUSE in the wooded areas (old KVIC site)

3. Guest house rooms of Coffee Planters

or Forest guest house

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Finalising the “do nothing” or “relaxation places” in Thadiyankudisai

a house in Kodalangadu village

Local Implementation team to include :

Engineer

Senior mason

Carpenter with traditional skills

Local village youth

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Rest-areas along the route

The route to Thadiyankudisai is in itself very attractive

On the way, there could be rest areas planned at :

1. The 5th km from where the ghat road begins. This spot has a beautiful view of the Athoor dam,

the sea of coconut plantations and paddy plantations

2. At 6 ½ km from the ghat starting point. It has a large tree that provides a natural shelter. It is required

that parking bays for at least 2 cars be organised before finalising this spot for tourists to stop by.

Both of these can have a snack & tea stall, and places to absorb the beauty of the hills.

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Traditional building materials and construction

The traditional building materials are

coconut thatch for roof and bamboo or

local wood for walls.

How can we use traditional materials

in the RURAL TOURISM project?

The Snack & Tea counter must

necessarily be constructed using

these materials.

In addition to that, the tree houses

that will be built at the old KVIC centre

site would require the use of these

materials.

At the guest houses of the Coffee

Planters and the Forest Guest house,

there will be outdoor pavilions that will

be created with natural wood and

coconut thatch or bamboo matting.

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Facilities for a home-stayavailable along the route

This house has interesting

traditional elements of built-form

and would make a beautiful

homestay also due to its setting

in the surrounding landscape.

If the owners can be approached

with a request to offer a part of it

as a homestay. In case this

house is not available, another

set of houses similar in character

may be identified.

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Cobbled stone Pathwayson the way to Thadiyankudisai and the Coffee Plantations

Examples of existing stone pathways used by the private Coffee Plantation owners

may be replicated elsewhere along the route to Thadiyankudisai and Kodalangadu

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a 20-acre site for the ENDOGENOUS TOURISM project

The team that met on June 11th at the site confirmed immediately the government land available. There were

some areas which were encroached upon. It is suggested that :

1. The site plan showing exact dimensions of the currently useable area (excluding the encroachments) be

prepared.

2. On site, marking of the area earmarked for use be carried out.

3. a Discussion is essential on what facilities can be offered to tourists here.

4. a NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM may be planned here. There is such a museum in Kodaikanal.

Examples from parks & museums in Europe may be studied to develop an interesting place for nature

lovers and spice tour participants. The Kroller-Muller Park and Museum in the Netherlands is a good

example to study for development in the Thadiyankudisai area. The proposed herbal garden and children’s

park can be a part of this natural science museum.

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the SITE for tourism project

Site conditions :

The 20 - acre site has rocky terrain and is quite an extensively sloping ground.

It has a magnificent view of the hills and valleys beyond.

Access :

There is at present an access that moves along the compound wall of the Good Shepherd school & hostel building. This is wide

enough to be a vehicular access.

Infrastructure facilities :

Electricity is available. A source of continuous water supply will need to be identified.

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the Good Shepherd school & hostel campus

This campus is a good example of what can be achieved in architectural

terms using natural building materials. The structures housing the study

areas, the stay areas, the compound walls, the steps and the landscape

elements all effectively.

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the Good Shepherd school & hostel campus – more details

It may be useful to know the source of the stone that is used in the construction

of this building and if there are stone-masons in the region who can do similar work.

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Existing KVIC centre – a site available for use as

Interpretation Centre and Tree house stays

This site has been initially identified by the NGO ‘SPACE’ for an interpretation centre

for the Spice tour of Thadiyankudisai. It is suggested that it also include tree houses

which offer rooms for tourists to stay and a coffee shop. The site has a beautiful

setting and the tree houses may be built using bamboo.

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Traditional village of KODALANGADU

Action to be taken :

Village Mapping/ Documentation study to be carried out

( to be conducted by students of architecture, with support from the local

government agencies)

WHAT TO DOCUMENT in a TRADITIONAL VILLAGE

Village layout

Typical street

Cluster patterns

House typologies

Village square

Temple & its surroundings

Water bodies

Natural drainage channels

Maintenance cycle

Festivals & the spaces for them

Construction techniques of houses & community

shelters

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KODALANGADU

WHAT TO DOCUMENT in a TRADITIONAL HOUSE

Building materials & their source

Techniques of construction

Structural concepts

Detailing

Doors & Windows

Spatial hierarchy

Building elements – Foundation, Wall, Floor, & Roof

Lighting

Natural systems of ventilation

Storage spaces

Rituals related to house construction & sustainability

Finishes

House decoration

Conserving domestic architecture is

not about

Conserving old lifestyles…

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landscape in KODAIKANAL

The landscape at Kodaikanal is naturally beautiful. However, there is much that is man-

made and that has been skillfully contoured to suit the natural terrain. This feature of

Kodaikanal needs to be replicated also in Thadiyankudisai.

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Indigenous architecture in KODAIKANAL

The architecture of houses and resorts in Kodaikanal

uses tiled roofs and in some cases, the walls are in

stone masonry. Most of the special houses were

built over 50 years ago.

However, the newer architecture in Kodaikanal also

uses local building materials and traditional

techniques of construction.

Therefore, the artisans for the Thadiyankudisai

project may be sourced from the teams who have

worked on the Kodaikanal houses and resorts.

10 Ways

to ruin

a traditional house

a Traditional house in KODALANGADU

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Small “improvements” made by well-intentioned but misinformed owners or their contractors

Modern materials & techniques are often incompatible with traditional ones

Cement mortar is often smeared across the edges of stones, changing the appearance of the wall

as a whole, due to lack of good workmanship

1 Employ people who do not understand or have a concern for traditional buildings

Owners need to clear roofs & gutters of dry leaves

Roofing tiles need to be replaced to prevent water/damp from entering the building

Plumbing needs to be checked periodically

Termite treatment

2 Do not carry out any maintenance

3 Use cement in place of lime for mortars

Masonry which is traditionally constructed is bedded in lime mortar & is reliably flexible. Pointing with a

hard cement restricts its movement, causing stress in the surface of the wall

Cement mortars are also impermeable, that is they do not allow the structure behind to ‘breathe’. Moisture is

forced to evaporate through the stone or brick, or in some cases may cause these materials to deteriorate

Badly designed extensions can dominate an existing traditional house either due to its size, style or

change in material

4 Extend or alter the house in a manner which conflicts with its style

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Most modern paints are not porous and will lock moisture in the walls. Evaporation is concentrated at cracks,

where, if salts accumulate, they crystallize, causing decay.

Damp patches may appear on the inside wall as more moisture is forced to evaporate here

Hides the original colour & pattern of stone & brickwork

5 Paint or coat surfaces which were originally left natural

Modern external light fixtures, ornate & fancy door shutters, a grill for windows

or balconies that have geometrical & modern motifs

Constructing features in the interior or exterior of a house, where they never

existed before, or replacing simple, functional details with garish, unnecessary

elements

6 Introduce mix-and-match detail

Abrasive cleaning can damage the surface of stone, brick or timber

Taking off paint from doors with use of chemical solutions damages the wood &

removes glue from joints

7 Use cleaning methods which damage original surfaces

Traditional roof in KODALANGADU

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Replacing windows, for instance. New windows are likely to decay more quickly than the originals, if these are

repaired

Old structures that have distorted through an old settlement in the foundation may need repair and not

necessarily replacement

8 Replace original components unnecessarily

Dish antennas, air-conditioners, if required must be positioned discreetly

Electricity wires and telephone cables need to be installed tidily

Modern interior fixtures can be painted to blend with the prevailing colour of the wall to which they are fixed

9 Position modern services & equipment intrusively

Addition of toilets in one-storeyed structures can cause structural damage

Removing tie-beams of a roof to create more height can cause the roof to spread & collapse

Removing parts of load-bearing walls can also damage the structural integrity of a house

10 Interfere with structural members

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Summing up

ACTION POINTS for the hardware component

Finalising the “do nothing” places in Thadiyankudisai

Rest-areas along the route

Traditional building materials and construction

Facilities for a home-stayCobbled stone Pathways

the Good Shepherd campus & sourcing the stone and the workmanship

Identification of a 20-acre site for the ENDOGENOUS TOURISM project

Interpretation Centre and Tree house stays

Traditional village of KODALANGADU

Landscape in KODAIKANAL

Indigneous architecture in Kodaikanal

10 Ways

to ruin

a traditional house