ARCHITECTURAL PRESENTATION ABOUTPALIAM PALACE_PRESENTATION.pptx

A presentation about architecture splendor paliam palace in kerala

1. PALIAM PALACE CHENDAMANGALAM, KERALA

2. LOCATION Chendamangalam Paravoor Taluk, Ernakulam district State of Kerala, India.

3. OVERVIEW Paliam Palace is a 450 years old house and one of the architectural splendors of Kerala which used to be the residence area of Paliath Achans the Prime Ministers of Maharajas of Kochi. It is located in Chendamangalam town of Kerala and houses collection of historic documents and relics. It is a great Muziris Heritage Site. During Portuguese invasions, the ministers have shifted the King to this place who then used to live here.

4. PROXIMITY 01 Paliam Palace is located at the village of Chendamangalam which is in the of district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala, India. 02 03 04 SALIENT FEATURES GEOGRAPHY Nearest railway station: Aluva, about 19 km and Ernakulam, about 31km. Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 22 km. DEMOGRAPHY The Chendamangalam Census Town has population of 29,326 of which 14,153 are males while 15,173 are females as per report released by Census India 2011. RELIGION AND CULTURE It is a meeting place of cultural diversity. Jews, Christians, Muslims, and several of the distinct Hindu castes lived here harmoniously.

5. RAINFALL 01 Ernakulam has a tropical wet and dry climate. The average annual temperature is 26.5 °C. March is the warmest month of the year. 02 03 CLIMATE AND TOPOGRAPHY TEMPERATURE High amount of precipitation is receiving mainly due to the southwest monsoon. July is the wettest month. The annual rainfall is 2882 mm SOIL TYPE Lateritic soil is the most predominant soil type of the district. Alluvium and Hydromorphic saline soils are also found in the areas surrounding the backwaters.

6. HISTORY 1757-1776 1632 The Paliath Achans were hereditary prime ministers to the Maharajah of Kingdom of Cochin (Kerala) from 1632 to 1809 and second only to the Maharajah in power and wealth in the central Cochin area during that period. 01 The Zamorin invaded Cochin in 1757. Due to the diplomatic efforts of the Paliath Achan, the Kingdom of Cochin was saved. During Hyder Ali's conquest of the south of India in 1776, the Paliath Achan was able to effect a treaty between Hyder Ali and the Cochin Raja. 1654-1684 02 Komi Achan, I resisted the attempts by the Portuguese to impose their power on the Cochin Family. He also supported the Dutch against the Portuguese. In recognition of his efforts, the Dutch built him a palace (the Kovilakam) at Chendamangalam.  Paliath Govindan Achan was the last Paliath Achan to occupy the position of Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Cochin. Achan engaged the British East India Company troops in battle and was defeated. 1779-1825 03 04

7. This Kovilakam was meant solely for the residence of Valiyachan (Eldest Achan) of Paliam. The two buildings nearby were used as his offices. Achan held court with people and listened to their complaints in the Durbar Hall at the eastern end of the first floor. Here, he received his subjects and officials. Building usage ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER The architectural style of Paliam Kovilakam is a hybrid of Kerala and Dutch styles. Dutch Colonial is a style of domestic architecture, It is known for its distinctive gambrel roofs, overhanging eaves, Dutch doors, and heavy use of natural materials. Traditional architecture’ could include anything for which there is a tradition; grand palaces designed for a social elite, down to the humblest vernacular styles.

8. SETTING OF THE PALIAM PALACE After the refreshing sail across the Periyar River with the view of the trees trying to dip their heads in the waves, the boat slowly docks at Chendamangalam in Paravur. The heritage boat ride from Kottappuram that traces the spice routes followed by traders clears the haze and connects the dots that are intricately woven into our heritage.

9. The Paliam Palace is located in Chendamangalam, Paravur, in a very strategic setting in such a way that it is not easily spotted. It is part of a much larger Paliam Complex, with several structures, water tanks, and temples. The palace is a three- story building. Until the beginning of the 20th century, these were the tallest structures in the vicinity. The early 17th century Dutch colonial period is a good example of the use of porches introduced in the art of Kerala. SITE ELEMENTS

10. THE PALIAM PALACE GATEWAY The Paliam Palace gateway stands tall, with a promenade outstretched and rows of lamps welcoming visitors inside. The gateway has an arched wooden opening which denotes the confluence of cultures into Kerala architecture. The upper floor of the entrance passage was the Durbar Hall, where the prime ministers addressed the people of Chendamangalam on the Prasanga Peedam. The entrance of Paliam Palace is wider and the door frame is rectangular. The Paliyam palace is enriched with Dutch architecture.

11. THE COLONNADED OF PALIAM PALACE The gateway leads to a colonnaded covered veranda with an elephant sculpture in the center that welcomes visitors into the transition space before they enter the palace. The space is supported by beautifully carved stone pillars on either side. The pillars of the building resemble temple architecture. In these structures, stone pillars are used in the outer porch and wooden pillars are used in the interior. However, the pillars of the palace have more carvings on the head.

12. The Spatial Arrangement of the Paliam Palace The two-story Paliam Palace is a hybrid of Kerala and Dutch architecture. Since the building was used as the residence of the elder most male members of the family for official purposes, it mainly had office rooms and the Durbar Hall. Apart from the official spaces, there was a small kitchen, storerooms, and two large bedrooms, which were used by Valya Achan (the Prime Minister) and the King of Cochin on the first and second floors, respectively. There is no nadumuttam, or central courtyard, in the palace.

13. The ground floor of the palace begins at the entrance colonnaded passage, or the Poomukham, which acts as a transition space between the public and private spheres. It further leads to the drawing room, where guests can be invited into the palace. There was a staircase from the drawing room and a main staircase that could be accessed from both the outside and the drawing room. GROUND FLOOR PLAN

14. GROUND FLOOR It can be said that the stairs in the palace are more magnificent. This staircase is of Dutch style with almost no incline. The staircase here is also placed inside the building. In most of the contemporary constructions, steps are placed in the outer verandas. It is one of the earliest examples of the “dog legged” pattern of stairs in Kerala architecture.

15. The first floor was Valya Achan’s space and consisted of a living room, the minister’s bedroom, and a Durbar Hall. The semi-open hall was used to discuss important decisions with other ministers and the King. The King’s balcony from the second floor also meets at the Durbar Hall, which is supported by carved wooden planks on either side. FIRST FLOOR PLAN

16. FIRST FLOOR The Prasanga Peedam is at the edge of the Durbar Hall, where the Achan addressed the public. The bedroom is raised at a plinth’s height and has three windows; one of them was used for the mechanical fan called the Panka that was operated from outside with a rope by a Pankunni. A wide veranda circumscribes the first floor, which allows easy access to all parts of the floor and insulates the interior.

17. The second floor was the space believed to have been used by the King of Kochi to avert the Portuguese troops. The staircase lands at the living room, which has a balcony facing Durbar Hall. The room doesn't have a veranda but has plenty of windows that facilitate ventilation within. SECOND FLOOR PLAN

18. SECOND FLOOR

19. ROOF The roof of the building is made of wood in traditional architectural style. However, the difference in their shape and inclination gives them a special feature. The roof of the pallium palace has an inclination of 33 degrees (X/3) like a normal roof. At the top of the palace, you can see the Dutch- style roof inclined at 60 degrees. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

20. WINDOWS All the windows in the palace are rectangular. It should be assumed that most of the decorative patterns is originated in the colonial period. Types of windows including casement, louvered and sash windows for ground floor, first floor and second floor respectively DOORS Doors in the palace are wider and have a ventilator on top. All are made of wood and have relatively little metalwork. WALL The walls of both the buildings are 73 cm wide. Such colossal walls are usually used for buildings that require greater enclosure. The thick walls with splayed openings bear testimony to the Dutch influence

21. ASPECTS OF ITS MAKING CLIMATIC ASPECTS

22. MATERIAL ASPECTS LATERITE: Owing to the thick, porous laterite walls which act as insulating barriers. The interiors of the house remain cool irrespective of the outside climate.it is locally available and cheap. Used in wall construction. With greater atmospheric pressure and exposure, it become durable. FLOORING: CLAY TILE: They are durable and can withstand fire. It is insect resistant. This durability makes them not only structurally reliable but attractive for many years. Made from hard laterite. Clay absorbs around 5 degrees Celsius of heat. CEMENT FLOORING: clay tile flooring was black oxide flooring during conservation. It provides a cool

23. MATERIAL ASPECTS WOOD: locally available material which helps in providing better insulation. TEAK: being the highest grade of timber, it is used in columns and ornamentation. Although soft core makes it unsuitable for construction. Its high oil content helps to keeps the pests away. ROSEWOOD: It is more expensive compared to teak wood and it is used in furniture and roof structure. It has more oil content but easily disintegrated in contact with cement mortar. ROOFING The roof has two kinds of tiles. If the tiles inside are in Dutch style, the outer layer is our traditional brick-colored tile. They are durable and can withstand wind and rain. Made from hard laterite. Clay absorbs around 5 degrees Celsius of heat.

24. CONSTRUCTION ASPECTS

25. BEFORE AND DURING THE CONSERVATION OF PALIAM PALACE Like most heritage buildings in Kerala, Paliam Palace also went through major renovations that failed to understand the importance of preserving the ancient aesthetics of the architecture and not just the form of the palace. As a result, it was repainted in colors that did not match the original tonality of the building. The paint flaked from stone surfaces and wood, and termite attacks were common. The frequent rains in the area further aggravated the situation. Thus, the archival records and photographs of the palace had to be studied before initiating the conservation process.

26. SWOT ANALYSIS O Abundance of artists in Chendamangalam Window to the past Proximity to other Muziris projects STRENGTH S SWOT W T Self-sufficient. Old world charm Use of vernacular materials Construction techniques Expensive to maintain Diminishing administrative power Privacy Access to the site Funds modernization WEAKNESS OPPORTUNITY THREATS

27. 01 02 03 INFEERENCE FROM THE STUDY The design is such that visually integrated with the surrounding site. The architecture of the Palace lays prime emphasis on the climatic and traditional principles of planning the use of vernacular materials and the climate responsive nature of the structure has helped it survive through various stages of its expansion. The architecture of the Paliam Palace paints a picture of an aristocratic life and the luxury gifted to them for their power. From the grandiosity of the palace, one can easily understand how their strength could have molded society. The story could be depicted from a positive point of view, where their diplomacy saved the kingdom from major threats. Meanwhile, one fails to notice the other side where they oppressed the lower caste, which led to the birth of Paliyam Satyagraha and ultimately their fall. Thus, the public must be educated about both sides so as to understand every dimension of the past and its relation to the present. Paliam palace being a classic example of a Nair homestead. It is a self-sustained complex where the traditional aspects within a Nair abode are reflected the architectural arrangement of spaces is such that the cultural functions of various spaces are satisfied. 04

28. CONCLUSION Today, Paliam palace has been declared as a Muziris Heritage Museum and is the home for many artifacts. Muziris is a box of treasures that hasn’t revealed its full picture and longs to be unearthed and woven into the existing story of the lost city. Until the whole story presents itself, one can only perceive the marks left behind on the walls and the whispered stories of the cultures that prevail. This structure has been built to epitomize the science of Ventilation. Such buildings that have unique energy about them have increasingly rare in the recent years. The two storey (G+2) building can be termed as a highly efficient functional building of its times. In spite of minimum ornamentation, it reflects the Dutch influence in the architecture. The building features elaborately carved wooden staircases and balustrades and thick walls with splayed openings. A circulation space runs along the private area of the building, facilitating air movement, resulting in insulating the interior, making it cooler compared to the peripheral. In earlier times, women were not allowed inside. Only the elder members of the family could stay there. The Paliath Achans used to address the people of Chendamangalam from the Prasanga Peedum, which is on the top of the entrance passage of the Palace.

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