摘要: Justification of Outstanding Universal Value　　Chettinad possesses some outstanding physical characteristics of urban and rural planning which create a unique architectural ensemble with thousands of p

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

　　Chettinad possesses some outstanding physical characteristics of urban and rural planning which create a unique architectural ensemble with thousands of palatial houses. This ensemble reflects the way the Hindu Tamil community of Chettiars lived. As the result of their travels, they have integrated multiple influences into the Tamil traditions. This blend represents the uniqueness of Chettinad.

　　They had a vision of land-use planning which has connected the different urban to landscape elements, particularly for rainwater harvesting and storage system. The architectural features of the houses comprised of series of courtyards organized along a longitudinal axis as well as the use of material is taking into consideration the semi-arid and hot climate.

　　Chettinad architecture is also closely linked to the lifecycle rituals of the Chettiar community. The mansions were conceived to perform the different functions, rituals and family celebrations during the course of life from birth to death. In addition to the lifecycle rituals, the temple and village festivals are part of the Chettiar culture forming a large set of rituals all over the Tamil year.

　　Criterion (ii): Since the time the community settled in the area, the Chettiars have upheld a vision of planning and development of their territory comprised of outstanding components. Here traditional and overseas influences blend together creating a unique style expressed at the urban, architectural and decorative levels. While the town planning characteristics remain unchanged with the ensemble created by long series of houses, the plan and volumetric configuration and the typologies of the buildings evolved over decades, from 1850’ to 1940’. Pavilions, halls and courtyards were added for business purposes and as areas for receptions and weddings, thus adding palatial features to the traditional houses. Every aspect of the architecture was conceived and made to display the wealth of the owner: from the huge development in plan, to the monumental facade, the height of which was enhanced by adding multiple levels of balustrades and the use of many architectural elements such as doubled colonnades and loggias.

　　In order to construct and decorate these mansions, materials and expertise were brought from all over the world, which added to the cultural glory of Chettinad. For examples, teak wood was imported from Burma, satin wood from Ceylon, marble from Italy and Belgium, cast iron and steel from UK and India, ceiling in metal plates from Great Britain, tiles from Bombay, Japan, Germany, France and England, chandeliers from Belgium, France and Italy. As they required the best, they also brought skills from different regions of India such as woodcarving, frescoes and egg-plastering.

　　The layout as well as the large scale and the number of these palatial houses (estimated from 10,000 to 15,000), are very unique in India

　　The Chettinad region comprises a great number of striking “Art Deco” style houses wlhich were argely built during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Many villages have examples of this international architectural style.

　　Criterion (v): Due to the fact that they settled in a hot and semi arid region, the Chettiars took the climate into consideration to plan the villages, design the palatial houses and in choosing the materials to use. They had a vision of land-use planning which has shaped a unique landscape.

　　The villages are organized following north-south axes, along which are created the longitudinal east-west orientated plots. Following this configuration the houses are built around an east/west central courtyard which provides shade, light, coolness and air.

　　The materials used for construction also respond to the climatic requirements: thick walls of bricks, lime plasters, multiple layer of terracotta tiles roofing, marbles and stones floors are essential components.

　　The slopes of the roofs are important and allow the collecting of rain water during the monsoon season. The collected water serves for household use and to fill up the wells; the overabundant water flows into the drainage system of the village which feeds the common ponds and tanks.

　　The Chettiars have undertaken important earth-work in order to manage the rain water harvesting. They have developed and enhanced on a large scale over the territory, the traditional Tamil techniques of water management. They have shaped together with the local agrarian communities a specific landscape which is today a green and attractive area which hosts migrating bird species a part of the year after the monsoon, in the vicinity of the Gulf of Mannar. This landscape is made of an alternation of lakes lined by bunds planted with different species of trees, of agricultural lands, and of forests and ancient sacred groves.

　　This water system is comprised of two types of inter-connected networks. One is inside the villages comprising drainages and ponds (or ooranis). The other one is made of erys (or Kanmois), traditional surface water storage reservoirs, spread over the countryside around the villages.

　　Criterion (vi): Chettinad architectural uniqueness such as described in criteria (ii) and (v) is closely linked to the lifecycle rituals and living traditions of the Chettiar community. The mansions were conceived to perform the different functions, rituals and family celebrations during the course of life from birth to death. They have been planned by the master masons who built the temples, the stapathis, and followed the traditional Tamil space organization. Chettiar tangible and intangible heritage are inseparable.

　　The main courtyard is considered as the centre part of the house where the rituals are taking place. It operates as a temple sanctuary where the Chief priests of one of the 9 clan temples (each Chettiar belongs to one of the 9 clan temples), celebrate the events. Each space in the house was planned both for receiving daily functions and occasionally hosting rituals.

　　It is to be noted the importance of the cooking area in the Chettiar house where many cooks were hired at the occasion of the celebrations. This way the Chettiars have elaborated a sophisticated cuisine taking recipes from South India and from the countries where they have developed their business shaping a blend and creating an original stylish cuisine.

　　In addition to the lifecycle traditions, the temple and village festivals are part of the Chettiar culture forming a large set of rituals all over the Tamil year.

　　There is an important local craft industry which produces fine architectural and decorative elements such as tiles and wood carvings, ritual items such as bronze figures as well as gifts for weddings such as sarees, basket weavings and jewels.