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CHAPTER 3

STUDY AREA AND STUDY HOUSES

3.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

‘The principles that produced the traditional architectural solutions

must be respected. This is the only way modern architecture can surpass

human and ecological quality; the achievement of vernacular architecture in

the hot arid regions of the world’ (Fathy and Shearer 1986).

This chapter discusses about the delineated study area and the

houses selected for study. Further it describes about the climatic zone in

which these houses are located. The macro climate analysis has been

explained, so as to co-relate the same with the micro climatic study of the

houses selected for experimentation. A brief about the chettiyar dwellings and

their lifestyle, culture, traditions and occupation are also explained. An insight

into the houses under study has been introduced.

3.2 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF DELINEATED STUDY

AREA, KULIPIRAI VILLAGE – PUDUKOTTAI DISTRICT.

• Karaikudi is known as the capital town of Chettinadu

villages. The district lies in between 9°50’ and 10°40’north

latitude and 78°25’ and 79°15’east longitude.

• The study area lies at 10°18’north latitude and 78°39’ east

longitude (Figure 3.2).

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• The boundaries of this district of the study area are Thanjavur

and Tiruchirappalli districts in north, Sivagangai in south,

Tiruchirappalli in the west and Thanjavur district and Bay of

Bengal in the east.

• Pudukottai district has an area of 4657 sq km.

3.3 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA

The Kulipirai village has a population of 2843 with 1315 males and

1525 females according to 2001 census of Government of India. It has a

household of around 925 in number. Among that, the traditional houses

constitute 550 in number covering 60%. The rest are modern houses.

This semi arid zone lacks in good vegetation which results in

scorching radiation in the tropical conditions. This village topography is in

majority plains and is gently sloping towards the north-west, where the village

pond is located.

The Figures 3.1 to 3.3 are self explanatory describing the location

of the study area in India. The Google aerial map as shown in

Figure 3.3 shows the houses selected for study. The orientation of the streets

and houses are self explanatory.

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Figure 3.1 Map indicating the Geographical location of the study area

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Figure 3.2 Way to Kulipirai village – the study area

Figure 3.3 Aerial View of Kulipirai village (The Delineated study area)

indicating the Traditional and Modern houses.

Map Source: Google Earth

Traditional house no 1

(PLCT HOUSE)

Traditional house no 2

(TNRM HOUSE)

Modern House

1 and 2

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Figure 3.4 Flow diagram indicating the study area, study period and

study houses

3.4 CLIMATIC ZONE OF THE AREA OF THE HOUSES

SELECTED FOR STUDY

It is this intuitive adaptive capability to respond to the forces of

climate like sun, wind and humidity that sets apart bioclimatic architecture

from senseless, arrogant, and merely style-based creation (Rappoport 1969)

and bioclimatism integrates the micro-climate and architecture to human

thermal comfort conditions (Singh et al 2009).

All the houses selected for study are located in the warm humid

climatic zone where the maximum temperature in summer reaches up to 40º

celsius with the humidity normally ranging from 65% to 85%. This type of

climate is mainly found in the coastal belts, in some cases this warm humid

climate extends for about 50 to 60 kilometers from the coast towards the land.

However, the study area - Kulipirai village lies at around 35 kilometers west

Warm humid climate

Year of study-2009 and 2010

Year -2009

1. Traditional house 1

(PLCT house)

2. Modern house 1

Year -2010

1. Traditional house 2

(TNRM house )

2. Modern house 2

DELINEATED STUDY AREA

Kulipirai - Chettinadu, Pudukkottai district,

Tamilnadu

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of Bay of Bengal, and hence the warm humid zone prevails over the study

area. The summer would be sweating because of more humidity and high air

temperature causing a high discomfort for the habitants. And hence, as Olesen

says the “People in warmer environment reduce their activity level and

change their posture as an unconscious action to adapt themselves to the

environment” (Olesen and Parsons 2002).

India is a tropical country with “diverse climatic conditions

resulting in diverse shelter forms” (Edward and Kurian 2008). The

atmospheric parameters–air temperature, relative humidity and air movement

have an important role in providing thermally comfortable indoor

environment. Researches on the aspect of thermal comfort and energy

efficiency of buildings are underway throughout the world (Arens Humphreys

et al 2010).

India is a country of varied climate; various regions having similar

characteristic features of climate are grouped under one climatic zone. The

influence of climate in the evolution of forms is evident from various styles of

architecture that we see today. The layout, orientation, scale of buildings and

settlements should therefore be controlled in relation to the climatic zones.

According to a recent code of Bureau of Indian Standards, 2005

Part 8/ Building service, vide section 1: Lighting and ventilation Cl-3.2.1, Fig

2, page no. 9 of part 8) the country may be divided into five major climatic

zones: Hot and Dry (mean monthly temperature >30 and relative humidity

<55%); Warm and Humid (mean monthly temperature >25-30 and relative

humidity >55-75%); Temperate (mean monthly temperature 25-30 and

relative humidity <75%); Cold (mean monthly temperature <25 and relative

humidity – all values); Composite (This applies when six months or more do

not fall within any of the other categories).

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Figure 3.5 India map showing the various climatic zones

(Source: National Building Code 2005 Part 8/ Building service, vide

section 1: Lighting and ventilation Cl-3.2.1, Fig 2, page no. 9 of part 8)

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3.5 MACRO CLIMATIC DETAILS FROM

METEOROLOGICAL STATION-2011

3.5.1 Season wise Macro Climatic details from Meteorological

station-2009 and 2010

From the data of the nearest meteorological station shown in

Tables 3.1 and 3.2, it is clearly understood that the summer season of this

region used to be very hot and sweaty. The monthly mean maximum

Table 3.1 Climatic Details from Government Meteorological Station-2011

UnitAverage

/YearJan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average temperature

over 18 years°C 28 25 27 29 32 32 31 31 30 29 28 26 25

Average high

temperature

over 18 years

°C 33 28 31 34 36 37 35 35 34 33 31 29 28

Average lowtemperature

over 18 years

°C 25 21 22 24 27 27 27 26 26 25 25 23 22

Highest recordedtemperature

over 18 years

°C 41 32 38 40 41 41 41 39 38 37 36 35 32

Lowest recorded

temperatureover 18 years

°C 16 16 17 18 20 20 18 22 21 20 20 18 17

Average dew point

over 13 years°C 20 18 19 20 21 21 20 20 20 21 22 21 20

Average number of

days with fog

over 18 years

days 6 1 1 1 - - - - - - 1 1 1

Average morningrelative humidity

over 15 years

% 82 91 90 88 82 75 68 71 72 81 87 91 90

Average evening

relative humidityover 15 years

% 49 53 43 37 39 39 41 44 45 54 62 68 66

Average wind speed

over 14 yearskm/h 17.7 14.5 12.9 14.5 14.5 19.3 27.4 27.4 27.4 19.3 14.5 14.5 16.1

Average number of

days above 29.5°C

over 18 years

days 140 - 2 16 26 27 22 19 18 9 2 - -

Average number ofdays above 24.5°C

over 18 years

days 304 15 25 31 30 31 29 30 30 29 26 17 11

Average number of

days below 19.5°Cover 18 years

days 148 31 25 16 2 1 1 2 3 6 10 21 30

Average number of

days below 14.5°Cover 18 years

days 3 1 1 - - - - - - - - - -

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temperature during the hottest month (May) is 39.4°C and the monthly mean

minimum temperature during the coldest month (Jan) of the year is 18.9°C.

The Relative Humidity during summer was found to be around 75% to 85%

and during the most humid months, the relative humidity is in the range of

78% to 92%, whereas the air temperature is in the range of 34.5°C to 39°C

(Source-Meteorological Station –Kudimianmalai, Tamilnadu).

Table 3.2 Season wise Macro Climatic details from Meteorological

station-2009 - 10

Factors S.W. MonsoonN.E

MonsoonWinter Summer

Max

(ºC)

Min

(ºC)

Max

(ºC)

Min

(ºC)

Max

(ºC)

Min

(ºC)

Max

(ºC)

Min

(ºC)Mean Monthly

Temperature

(Out side)31.8 29.9 28.3 25.4 27.4 25.7 39.4 29.3

Relative

Humidity72.5 80.3 78.2 73.3

Wind speed

(Km/Hr)

(Outside)

9.8 4.57 4.1 5.2

Sunshine

(Hrs/Day)6.0 5.6 8.76 8.57

3.5.2 Rainfall

The Rainfall starts with the arrival of the monsoon from the middle

of June. The regular rainy season continues up to the middle of September.

The total annual rainfall is 940 mm. The normal rainfall for the district has

been recorded as 800 mm. However, during the two decades the district has

experienced rainfall only below normal. Most of the rain occurs during North

East monsoon. The season wise rainfall details are given in the Table 3.3. The

mean monthly average rainfall of the district was 77.13 mm and the heaviest

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rainfall in the district used to be recorded normally in the month of November

(162.2mm, 2009).

Table 3.3 Details of the season wise rainfall

Details of the season wise rainfall

1 Season Normal (mm) Actual (mm)

2 South west 393.9 79.0

3 North east 404.7 101.0

4 Winter 52.3 19.0

5 Hot weather 132.4 16.0

3.5.3 The Wind Speed

The average wind speed has been indicated as 4.2 (km/hr).The

average wind speed is in the range of 13.4 to 15 (km/hr) from May to

September. The predominant wind direction is from East to West.

3.5.4 The Sunshine

From the Table 3.2, it is clear that the sunshine has been noted as

8.57 hours per day.

3.6 CHETTINADU - AN OVERVIEW AND INTRODUCTION

TO CHETTIYAR DWELLINGS

Vernacular buildings are the structures built by local people using

locally available materials and affordable technology to deal with the local

and day-to-day needs (Singh et al 2009).

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Chettinadu, in the South-Western part of Tamil Nadu situated

approximately 35 kilometers west of the coastal Line of Bay of Bengal, is

spread across the districts of Sivagangai and Pudukkottai. The cities-Madurai

in the west and Tiruchirappalli in the north are the two important cities nearest to

Chettinadu region. Both are located at around 75 kilometers approximately from

this region. Chettinadu is a region which includes Karaikudi and 74 other villages

spread across Sivagangai and Pudukkottai districts of Tamil Nadu state in India.

Karaikudi is known as the capital town of Chettinadu villages. The

district lies between 9°50’ and 10°40’ North latitudes and 78°25’ and 79°15’

East longitudes. The study area - Kulipirai Village lies at 10°18’North latitude

and 78°39’ East longitude as shown in Figure-3.1. The traditional houses of

Chettinadu in Tamil Nadu, India represents the principle of climate oriented

architecture. The climate is warm- humid, based on the climatic zonation map

of India. The design of vernacular buildings is the outcome of the traditional

knowledge based on trial and error approach. This type of architecture

addresses the local climate constraints and shows maximum adaptability and

flexibility. This provides uniqueness to vernacular architecture and is often

used as a symbol to represent a particular community or cultural setup

(Plemenka 1982).

These Chettinadu houses are naturally ventilated buildings and are

in accordance with traditional lifestyles. Having created an interest, this

traditional architecture attracts many researchers’ attention to evaluate its

specialty. Majority of these studies focus on qualitative analysis of the

relationship between the building types, materials, construction techniques

and the local climate but lack field tests and quantitative analysis. It is

difficult to establish the real performance of traditional buildings in providing

a comfortable indoor environment without quantifying and monitoring the

actual comfort parameters over a period of time.

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3.6.1 Territorial

Chettinadu is a semi-arid zone of 1,550 Square kilometers, in the

heart of Tamil Nadu (South India). It is inhabited by majority of Chettiyars

who are spread over two cities and 74 villages. Since the foundation of these

settlements, the Chettiyars have upheld a vision of urban planning and

development which makes this area unique.

3.6.2 Historical background

The Chettiyars belong to a heredity of wealthy traders and

financiers who make their wealth by expanding their business to the whole of

Southeast Asia; they are into the gold and diamond business since 19th

century. Now-a-days, most of the young family members migrate to many

other parts of the world. Chettinadu is also famous for the traditional

Chettinadu food. The most important part of Chettinadu are their mansions,

which are rich in cultural heritage, art and architecture.

3.6.3 Street Planning and Buildings

The Chettinadu villages have unique settlement patterns that were

constructed following the grid iron pattern of streets, specific water

management, artistic creativity, etc., Every traditional house is built on

rectangular plots with 5’ to 8’ high plinth platform. These houses are

essentially composed of inner courtyards, and in some huge houses there are

around 3 or 4 courtyards.

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Figure 3.6 Plan and Section of the typical Chettinadu house selected for

study

3.6.4 Chettinadu House Planning

Sustainable buildings can be defined as those buildings that have

minimum adverse impacts on the built and natural environment, in terms of

the buildings themselves, their immediate surroundings and the broader

regional and global settings.

The traditional house taken for study is about 200 years old. The

houses were built on rectangular plots. The front door opens into one street

and the back ends into the next street. A floor plan for a Chettinadu house as

South

North

EastWest

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shown in Figure 3.6 illustrates an outside veranda for guests in the front of the

house, a series of courtyards for ceremonial functions, cooking and it ends

with the rear side of the house leading to female section of the house. The

houses are linearly designed. The basic idea behind planning such a huge

house is that the Chettiyars have,

• Combined living/Joint family

• To conduct family rituals in the house

The reason for such huge buildings is that they were diamond

merchants, who sold diamonds and precious stones - that richness refelcted in

their houses, resulting in the construction of huge houses. The individual

house planning details are discussed in Chapter 4.

3.7 CONCLUSION

From this chapter, a clear understanding of the study area, its

geographical location, the study area climatic zone and its various macro

climatic variables are clearly witnessed. This chapter also explains the house

planning and traditions of the Chettiyars which paved the way for the

researchers to undertake the research in these palatial houses.

But these traditional palatial houses which were built on bioclimatic

principles are vanishing one-by-one in these modern days. Bioclimatism is an

integral part of vernacular architecture and a deciding parameter towards

achieving sustainability of modern architecture (Plemenka 1982).

Therefore to bring out its legacy back to these modern days, it is

important to understand climate responsive architecture imbibed in these

houses, so as to put it back once again in the future sustainable society.