thadiyankudisai rural tourism
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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
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