CHENNAI

W E A T H E R

D A T A

A N A L Y S I S

CHENNAI - Introduction
Country
India
State
- Tamilnadu
Former name Madras
Native language Tamil
Established
1639
Elevation
6m (20 ft)
Population (2011) 8,696,010
Density
20,000 Km2
CLIMATE
http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F
Chennai has atropical wet and dry climate
%2Fwww.auick.org
The city lies on thethermal equatorand is also
on the coast, which prevents extreme
variation in seasonal temperature
The hottest part of the year is late May to early June, known regionally asAgni
Nakshatramwith maximum temperatures around 3540C (95104F)
The coolest part of the year is January, with minimum temperatures around 1522C
(5972F).
The lowest recorded temperature was 13.8C (56.8F) on 11 December 1895 and 29
January 1905
The highest recorded temperature was 45C (113F) on 30 May 2003
The average annual rainfall is about 140cm (55in)
The city gets most of its seasonal rainfall from the northeastmonsoonwinds, from mid
October to midDecember
Cyclonesin the Bay of Bengal sometimes hit the city.
The highest annual rainfall recorded is 257cm (101in) in 2005
Prevailing winds in Chennai are usually southwesterly between April and October and
northeasterly during the rest of the year
Historically, Chennai has relied on annual monsoon rains to replenish water reservoirs,
as no major rivers flow through the area
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai#Cli

WARM AND HUMID

The warm and humid zone covers the coastal parts of the country
The high humidity encourages abundant vegetation in these regions
The diffuse fraction of solar radiation is quite high due to cloud cover, and the
radiation
can be intense on clear days

The dissipation of the accumulated heat from the earth to the night sky is
generally marginal due to the presence of clouds. Hence, the diurnal variation in
temperature is quite low
In summer, temperatures can reach as high as 30 35 C during the day, and
25 30 C at night

In winter, the maximum temperature is between 25 to 30 C during the day and

20 to 25 C at night
The temperatures are not excessive, the high humidity causes discomfort.
An important characteristic of this region is the relative humidity, which is
generally very
high, about 70 90 % throughout the year

Precipitation is also high, being about 1200 mm per year, or even more. Hence,
the provision for quick drainage of water is essential in this zone.
The wind is generally from one or two prevailing directions with speeds ranging
from
extremely low to very high

Wind is desirable in this climate, as it can cause sensible cooling of the body.
The main design criteria in the warm and humid region
are to reduce heat gain
h t t p : / / m n re . g o v. i n / s o l a r-

DESIGN
CRITERIAS

DESIGN
CRITERIAS

DESIGN
CRITERIAS

DESIGN
CRITERIAS

DESIGN
CRITERIAS

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE - CHENNAI

Agraharam architecture
Some residential areas like Tiruvallikeni
(Triplicane) andMylaporehave several houses
dating from the early 20th century, especially
those far removed from arterial roads, Known as
theAgraharam
This style consists of traditional row houses
usually surrounding a temple

Many of them were built in the traditional Tamil

style, with four wings surrounding a
squarecourtyard, and tiled sloping roofs
Typically, agraharams can be seen where an
entire street is occupied by Brahmins,
particularly surrounding a temple

Tamil
agrahara
m

The architecture is distinctive with Madras

terraces, country tile roofing, Burma teak rafters
and lime plastering
The longish homes consisted of themudhal
kattu(receiving quarters),irandaam
kattu(living quarters),moondram kattu
(kitchen and backyard) and so on
Most houses had an open to sky space in the
Old tamil
centre called themitham, large platforms lining
agraharam
the outside of the house called thethinnaiand a
private well in the backyard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Ch

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE - CHENNAI

http://sharatsunderrajeev.blogspot.in/2009/12/tales-from-capital-city-

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES

Most Chettiar mansions comprised of a public reception area abutting the

street.

The basic floor plan of a Chettinad house consists of an outside verandah

(thinnai) for guests,

with a room for conducting business on one or both ends;

an interior courtyard to be used in ceremonies, with a raised seating area at

one or both ends;

a series of small double rooms opening off the main courtyard, for storage,
prayer and sleeping and a small courtyard behind for cooking and for the
women to socialize.

The Chettinad houses were usually tile roofed with a small two-storeyed
tower at both ends of the front elevation

They later expanded vertically into two storeyed structures, and horizontally
through the addition of numerous halls and courtyards that could
accommodate guests at marriages and other ceremonies.

The rear hall served as the womens domain where the women of the
community reared children, engaged in food preservation and went about
other domestic activities.
R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES

Chettinad architecture stands out for its

use of large spaces in halls and
courtyards, ornate embellishments like
Belgian glasswork, intricate woodwork,
spectacular ceramic tiles, stone, iron and
wooden pillars like nothing else that can
be seen in this part of the world.
Chettinad houses are signs of successful
joint families that existed in the older
days.
Buildings are divided into portions
-Kattu.
Each house in chettinad is made up of
Mugappu, Valavu, Irandankattu,
Moonankattu & thottam
Mugappu The reception; entrance of
the house
Valavu Living area of the house
In the valavu, there are 4 platforms that
are called as Pattalai, each at 4 corners
of the valavu.
Pattalai Living halls of each family
Along with Pattalai, valavu consists of
numerous Irattai veedu.
Irattai veedu rooms used by each
family to keep their belongings(2 rooms
connected by a single door)

Mugappu" held by pillars made of

granite

R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES

The magnificent mansions in

Chettinad are the finest
examples of combinations of
vernacular architecture &
amalgam of South East &
European architecture.

The source of inspiration

derived from can be
attributed to their
connection with Trade,
Travel, Temples, Tradition
and Taste.

From birth to burial, the

Nagarathars observed
numerous ceremonies.

All such functions were held

within their own premises as
many of their palatial
buildings have Marriage
Halls (Kalyana Kottagai)
and Banquet Hall (Bhojan
Hall or panthi kattu).

The pillared corridors

around the 'valuvu
(courtyard), lead into
individual rooms, each
meant for a married son.

The long corridors of

second kattu-used for
dining

R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES
Their villages were constructed upon precise and sophisticated rules of urban
planning, represented namely by orthogonal streets and specific water
management systems, which are also directly linked to the earlier Tamil
traditions of rectangular plots and houses with an inner courtyard.

The houses, which evolved over two centuries, are veritable palaces.

On the ground floor, the architecture is typically Tamil, while one can see
Western influences on the higher floors.

This reflects the Chettiar way of life, a combination of their vibrant traditions
with the global economy.

The marble was brought from Italy, chandeliers and teak from Burma, crockery
from Indonesia, crystals from Europe and wall-to-wall mirrors from Belgium

The woodwork and stonework was inspired that of the houses in France and
other European destinations.

The walls of Chettinad Nagarathars buildings are embellished with Chettinad

plaster whose other names are:
- White Vellai poochchu
- Egg plastering
- Muthu Poochchu

Such walls were coated with several layers comprising mixture of lime base,
ground white seashells, liquid egg white, etc
R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES

Typical plan of a Chettinad house

The open aired 'valavu' (courtyard)

with wooden-pillared corridors on each
Side. The pillars were made out of
Burmese Teak.
R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES
The most important characteristic features of
Chettinad Buildings are

Cluster Houses, with

(Mostly)East West orientation
High rise compound wall (front side)
Entrance Arch with stone steps
Elevated plinth,
Tiled Portico,
Facade with stucco sculptures
Verandah Thinnai (two Platforms),
Wooden Pillars on it,
High door frame with ornate wood work,
Double main door
pattalai or pattasalai (smaller version of
the thinnai- platforms),
Open Courtyard (Mutram Valavu),
Second /third courtyard/s,
Passage on all the four sides around the
Mutram, is called Suththupathi,
Edges of the passages are lined with cut
stone slabs known as vellaikkallu,
The stone pillars meant for supporting the
roof
Sloping clay - tiled roofs

The color-glass arch flanked by

pillars on
either sides
R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES
The most important characteristic features of
Chettinad Buildings are

Square flat tiles floor of the mutram will

have rectangle stone slabs on all the four
corners to bear the brunt of the falling rain
water,
Small single / double rooms on one side or
either side of the passage (suththukkattu)
length wise
Kitchen on the last kattu,
Staircase on one or two or all the four
corners,
Banquet Hall Bhojan Hall Panthi kattu on
the side of the first kattu,
Floors laid with -Italian marble Black and
White, Granite & Athangudi tiles Pookkallu,
Japanese and Spanish tiles were both used
for side walls
Beams, pillars, brackets, capitals, frames
all made of Burma teak,
All the mediums used in making columns
viz, wood, stone, brick, and iron,
First floor facade is invariably adorned by
colonnade made of stone, wood, and
bricks,
Window niches and arches above are
decorated with stucco work or paintings.

R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
CHETTINADU HOUSES

Chettinad is rich in cultural heritage, art and architecture, and is well known for
its houses, embellished with marble and Burma teak, wide courtyards, spacious
rooms, and for its 18th century mansions.

Local legend tells that their walls used to be polished with a paste made out of
egg-whites to give a smooth texture

The construction material, decorative items and furnishings were mostly

imported from East Asian countries and Europe.

The Reception area Chettinad

House with imported Italian
Marble flooring

Extensively carved Wooden Ceiling

of a
Chettinad mansion
R e f - S R M u n i v e r s i t y - Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar

TH A N K

YO U