Breathing new life into a heritage structure
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A rare Travancore-era building is going under the knife to trim away the creases of time. SANGEETHA UNNITHAN returns from the heritage structure under restoration.
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— Photo: S. Gopakumar
Preserving a heritage: Landscaping on in the Thanjavur Amma Veedu compound near the Fort area in Thiruvananthapuram.
Owning a heritage building is indeed a matter of pride, but maintaining one has its price. Apart from the availability of resources, it takes perseverance, diligence and a genuine love for the traditional to conserve a heritage structure and keep it shipshape. And that is just what managers of the non-governmental organisation Mitraniketan are discovering.
Owner of the 61-cent Thanjavur Amma Veedu property along Arat Road, between West Fort and Eenchakkal junction, in Thiruvananthapuram, Mitraniketan is currently involved in a project to restore the ‘Pathinarukettu’ adjoining the main structure.
The Mitraniketan Nippon Facilitation Centre project coming up in the compound will involve construction of two buildings and renovation of the century-old ‘Pathinarukettu.’ The Rs.64-lakh project is being implemented with financial assistance from the Japanese Consulate.
“‘Pathinarukettu’ is today quite rare in Kerala. It is a structure that comprises four ‘Naalukettus.’ This particular ‘Pathinarukettu’ and Amma Veedu were bought by Mitraniketan from the ruling family of erstwhile Travancore in 1975. We have been doing periodic maintenance work on the building from time to time. But this time, we are doing a major renovation work as part of the facilitation centre project,” said project coordinator Reghu Ramdas.
The Amma Veedu was built by Maharaja Swathi Tirunal Rama Varma in 1845, and Sundara Lakshmi Ammal, a dancer known by the name Sugandhavalli, lived there.
A typical example of traditional Kerala-style architecture, the ‘Pathinarukettu’ in the Amma Veedu compound is a gable-roofed building built largely of limestone and teak, mahogany and rosewood. The wooden walls within have traditional designs and carvings.
Wear and tear
However, many parts of this time-worn structure have been damaged from wear and tear. Broken tiles and leakages on the roof threaten the wooden rafters, while the wood panels inside bear the marks of mishandling by film crews.
The restoration of the heritage building is being done by Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD). Renovation includes replacement of the broken tiles on the roof and flooring with terracotta tiles and repairing of damaged wood panels and reapers, as well as landscaping.
“As this is a heritage structure, we had to get the approval of the Archaeology Department and the Heritage Commission before starting the renovation and construction work. The renovation work is being done keeping the traditional style and aesthetics of the building intact,” Mr. Ramdas said.
He said the plan for the new building had to be revised thrice before getting the final approval. According to the original plan, the facilitation centre was to come up in a three-storey building near the ‘Pathinarukettu.’ However, the plan was not approved as a taller structure could affect the view and aesthetics of the heritage building.
“So, now we are constructing two double-storey structures on either sides of the ‘Pathinarukettu.’ The design and architecture of these buildings is also in tune with that of the ‘Pathinarukettu.’ While the new buildings will function as facilitation centre, the ‘Pathinarukettu’ will function as a mini culture centre on the lines of the Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan,” Mr. Ramdas said.
He said Mitraniketan was planning to renovate the main Amma Veedu building. “That again will require the approval of the Archaeology Department. Also it will require a huge investment to maintain it in its original style,” he said.
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