Friday, May 22, 2009




Nalukettu in Changanacherry
Nalukettu is the dwelling type in which the habitable spaces are built around a central courtyard. In this house, the courtyard is towards one end, which functions more as a utility space for the kitchen and not used as a major living space. The ara is located in the inner south, where as the kulam, kinar and kitchen are located in the north and north-east as per vastu prescriptions. The courtyard is unpaved and lets the water drain off without getting collected. The verandah around the courtyard is finished with terracotta tiles which absorb the sweeping water. The slight slope of the plot lets the water drain to the north, thus keeping the southern side comparatively dry. The kinar which is connected to the kitchen and the kulam located outside facilitates washing activities. It has an elevated plinth of more than a meter and a high roof with loft spaces inside. There are shaded verandahs all around the house.
The house has undergone extensions over years and the major living spaces have shifted to a side open verandah in the front and a living room with wooden jali on the longer side. Since the overhangs are not deep enough, there have been later additions of corrugated sheets attached to the roof ends. At the open ends, drain pipes are also attached to avoid water falling down directly. The kulam remains as a lotus pond, being rarely used these days.

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