Pastel Town: An Architectural Documentation of Pondicherry by Ipsita Choudhury

PA ST E L TOWN An Architectural Documention of Pondicherry

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

PREFACE

This brief documentation of the architectural styles of Pondicherry is an outcome of the efforts of fourthyear students of architecture at School of Planning and Architecture Bhopal, nearly three years after an educational visit to Pondicherry in December of 2017, as first year students of architecture. The collation of drawings and content in the document is a voluntary consequence of the annual educational trip undertaken by the Department of Design at School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal for the undergraduate students of Architecture. The objective of these week-long year-end trips is to familiarise and introduce the students with the subsequent semester’s Architectural Design discourse. This trip to Pondicherry and Chennai, 2017, was intended as an exercise in architectural documentation for first year students. The team found it important to digitally document the learnings and the eventual outcome of the trip to set a hopeful precedent for any such trips undertaken by the junior batches, that would allow a rich and justified collation of the extensive documentation carried out by the students of SPA Bhopal in their annual educational trips. The motivation to digitise the originally hand drafted and ink-rendered drawings was rooted in nostalgia, as the students fondly remembered their first experiences on site, all set with measuring tapes, parallel bars and drawing boards, truly living up to the expression, ‘budding architects’. Although the team hopes the document would provide a fair idea of the general architectural styles of Pondicherry, efforts have been made to best preserve the authenticity of documentation originally undertaken as first year students of architecture. Hence, any errors or discrepancies would be attributed to a few constraints such as lack of time and reliance on secondary sources to bridge gaps of understanding as it evolved from that of first year to fourth year students.

Image on Cover Page: Map of Pondicherry 2021

Pastel Town

III

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It makes us proud to see how far this documentation has reached. This would not have been possible without the contribution, motivation and support of some. We would like to Thank: Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Ar. Saurabh Tewari, Ar. Archana Singh and Ar. Shreyasi Paul, for mentoring and guiding us, first through the streets of Puducherry, unraveling its layers and narrating its tale; and then in the design studios through the process of documentation and compilation. The strict schedules and their attention to detail is what shaped the quality of this documentation. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Pondicherry, for their work at Pondicherry in the last few years and for providing us with resources. Thank you once again, for allowing us to document the office as the example for Franco-Tamil architecture. Thank You to the owners of the Tamil house, and the French House (La Maison Gratitude) for the same. The people at Hot Breads and Bon Bakes, for their amazing food and service which kept us going after an exhausting day at the site. Mr. and Mrs. Saksena, our beloved hosts, for their love and hospitality during our entire stay at Chennai. All our families, both at our home and at SPA Bhopal, for their constant care and support.

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

To Section-B 2017BARC, and everything we have been, from Pondi, till the Present

Pastel Town

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgements

III

Intent of the Study

History of Puducherry Brief Architectural Overview

The Tamil

The French

The Franco-Tamil

Impressions

VII

References

VIII

Team

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

Introduction

INTENT OF THE STUDY 1523

Portuguese set up a factory

1674-93

First French settlement

Dutch rule

1765-78

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PUDUCHERRY

1624

Danes set up a factory

1693-1700

French rule

1618

Dutch buy textiles

The ultimate outcome of the tour was intended as an exercise in measure drawing combined with historical and architectural appreciation of the three dominant architectural styles- The French, Tamil and Franco-Tamil. This was facilitated through the study of three buildings in Pondicherry: La Maison Gratitude, a French-colonial house turned heritage boutique hotel, a private residence built in the Tamil Style and the INTACH office, a Franco-Tamil house.

1700-61

French rule

1761-65

British rule

Pondicherry is often described as the ‘French Riviera’ of India. Puducherry, or ‘new town’ was a flourishing port-town during the Chola empire until the Portuguese, Dutch, Danes and eventually, the French started to trade in textiles in the 16th century. This tiny fishing village had turned into a grand port city by the end of the 18th century. It had intermittently been under the rule of the Dutch, the French and the English before the ultimate establishment of French colonial rule in 1815. It was the French who founded the town and built it to be a reflection of their legacy and culture during their occupation here. The older part of town is the French part, or ‘White Town’ as it is called. The newer parts of Pondicherry consist of the Tamil Quarters or the ‘Black Town’. A canal separates the French part of town, which is sea-facing, from the Tamil part which forms the interior of the town.

PASTEL TOWN 1778-83

British rule

1815-1954

French rule

Pastel Town

1793-1815 British rule

1783-93

French rule

In the last decade or so, Pondicherry has become a popular tourist hotspot, owing its distinct vibes to a culmination of ‘spiritual aura, rich colonial heritage, Tamil culture and the cosmopolitan flair of many nationalities in a small but varied town’. In the French quarter, tree-lined boulevards with bright yellow houses basking in the sun undoubtedly transport one to a typical street in Paris, right out of a movie! Adding to the old-world charm is the aroma of freshly baked croissants and coffee from the numerous cafes that spill onto the streets, with their wrought-iron furniture. Curious youngsters on cycles and vibrant Vespas, cheerful tourists haggling on the streets for handicrafts, clothes and leather goods lend a feel-good vibe to the town. The Tamil quarter, on the other hand, is a colourful rendezvous of typical houses dotted with local eateries and magnificent temples. To top it all, the Promenade along the sea invites all to experience the many hues of Pondicherry, a life away from the madness of the city, to take with them a bit of what is truly, ‘Pondy’.

Introduction

ARCHITECTURAL OVERVIEW As a conglomerate of different cultural influences, Pondicherry can be described as “heritage” in its entirety. These historical influences have found rich expression in defined streetscapes and architecture that has come to be the characteristic of the town today. Separated by the canal along the HM Kasim Street (Quai D’Ambour) are the French and Tamil Quarters, each with its own unique sense of place, their essence, best explored on foot.

THE TAMIL QUARTER Originally the native Tamil town developed around the nucleus of a group of temples in the precinct. Streets were laid along the east-west axis, onto which the back-to-back row houses opened. Although a continuous wall-to-wall construction is again prevalent, the streetscape is very different in character from the French streets. The exterior façades of houses here mainly feature a thalvaram (street veranda) - a social extension of the house flowed by a thinnai (semi-public veranda ). These spaces add to the intimate scale and interactive nature of the streets. Typical elements of vernacular Tamil architecture like lean-to roofs, ornamented thresholds, cornices, wooden columns and ornamental parapets, unify the houses on the streets. All houses are similar, but no two houses are exactly the same.

THE FRENCH QUARTER The French quarter developed along the sea, with an artificial sand strip that has long served as the ‘Promenade’. This part of town has mainly residential villas that are interspersed by institutional and public buildings. The typical French building models were adapted to suit local climatic conditions. The street façades are dramatic- occurring in bright flashes of pastel yellows, pinks and greys usually characterised by continuous wallto-wall construction with high garden walls and elaborate gateways. The long façades are divided into smaller panels by vertical white pilasters and horizontal cornices. A typical segmental arched window, with bands and louvered wooden shutters with wooden balconies over iron brackets,set a strong French character to the buildings. Continuous parapets with simple ornamental features lend an old-world charm. A striking deviation from the original French model is the use of flat terraced roofs instead of the pitched roofs of the Parisian villas. Another adapted feature is an indoor courtyard. The interiors of the houses, which are usually more ornate than the exterior, are characterised by high ceilings, tall arched doors, and vaulted staircases winding up.

Interestingly, within the intimate fabric of the Tamil town is a third- a synthesis of the varying tamil and French styles, evident in many buildings dotted across the Tamil quarters. Especially in the case of two storied buildings, the ground floor is typically of Tamil style with thinnai, thalvaram, pillared courtyard and carved wooden doors, while the first floor displays strong French influence through pilasters, columns with capitals, arched windows with stained glass ornamentation and stucco.

Grand Canal

Bay of Bengal

Christian Tamil

Hindu Tamil

Muslim Tamil

French Quarter

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

THE TAMIL

From ancient times of ringing temple behind to the moment we’re living here and now, has lived and is living, an evergreen story of culture and tradition. Constituted into breathing form, aesthetically pleasing and purely geometric with intricately carved organic details. In Tamil architecture the sun, the stars, play with the form and the skies fall into the house. Strength and stability give rise to form with high functional value. The residence is located in the Tamil town of Pondicherry by a homogeneity because of the use of connecting elements like lean to roofs, cornices, plasters or engaged columns and ornamental parapets. The Thalavaram (street verandas) form a series of connecting spaces between houses, and due to its intimate scale, promotes socializing. Houses are generally single or double storeys and follow Vastu Shastra. Features of a typical home include Thalavaram (street corridor), Thinnai (raised platform) with wooden columns, vestibule, Mutram (central courtyard), inner Thalavaram and a backyard. A series of open, semi covered and covered spaces with subtle levels and a through axis characterize the plan. The climate is hot and humid, country tiled roof of the surrounding Thalavaram funnel in air to the Thalavaram and Mutram. Red oxide flooring is used to keep the floor cool.

The Tamil

Fig. 5

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Tamil

Plots

Voids

Open Spaces

Form Evolution

Public

Semi-Private

Typologies of Spaces Pastel Town

Private

The Tamil

An arch shaped niche is made next to the main door in the wall enclosed in rectangular reliefs to place lamps as they believe the house shouldn't be dark. The door is usually made of teak and connects the Thinnai to the house. It has intricately carved recessions on the wooden frame and elaborately carved panels over the top. Floral and peacock motifs symbolise prosperity while the Kalash and garuda are for good will. Elevation

Section

The relief on top of the door has symbols pertaining to the community of the owner.

Main Door School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Tamil

Living Room

Thalavaram

Kitchen

Backyard

Entrance

Vestibule

Store

Thalavaram

Bedroom

Mutram

Thinnai

Toilet Toilet Living Room

Bedroom

Ground Floor Plan The stepped down square courtyard or Mutram is the highlight of Tamil architecture, located after the vestibule, enclosed by a narrow corridor with wooden columns providing the house with ventilation and a patch of sky. The space signifies the connection of the house with the five elements and hosts multiple activities. It is also used for religious ceremonies and sometimes a Tulsi plant is placed at its centre for worship. People wash their feet here before entering further into the house. The Mutram acts as a transition from semi private spaces to private spaces. Some rich houses may have multiple courtyards.

Pastel Town

The Tamil

Bedroom Kitchen

Toilet Store

First Floor Plan The first floor usually consists of part or half built up space and the front half left free for a terrace. The terrace looks down into the courtyard and hence a visual connect is established between the first and the ground floor. It usually consists of multiple smaller rooms alloted to the newly weds allowing them privacy. The terrace is used for multiple activities such as drying papads and spices. However the first floors usually have a corridor with an inclined roof, ornate with the rafters. The windows on the first floor have inclined overhangs usually made of mangalore tiles or slates.

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Tamil

Terrace Plan Above the half built first floor is a smaller terrace usually used for placing the water tanks and is used comparatively lesser to the other spaces. It's mostly used for spending leisure time in evening.

Pastel Town

The Tamil

Front Elevation Columns made of wooden posts placed on a stone base connected using tenon and mortise joint, with a groove in wooden post and tenon in stone. Not only are they important structurally but symbolizes strength.

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Tamil

Simple load bearing walls foundation is of rubble and have one or two stepping. Walls are of flat brick, 45-60cm thick and infill mud and brick bats. Madras terrace roof is used for flat roofing and Mangalore tiles for sloping roof Lean to roofs is made using wooden purlins and rafters, covered in Mangalore tiles and strikingly ornamented horizontal cornice. Parapets generally rest on an elaborate cornice projection and have gentle curves or just plain. The Thinnai is used to socialise away from heat. In older times travellers would take rest there.

Section AA'

Pastel Town

Section BB'

Section CC'

AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION PRODUCED BY ANPRODUCED AUTODESKBY STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION PRODUCED BY ANPRODUCED AUTODESKBY STUDENT VERSION

The Tamil

Louvers

Window Grills

Timber Window Frame

Outside Elevation (outside)

Inside Section

Elevation (inside)

Louvered and Grill Window

Plan

Glass Pane

Timber Window Frame

Elevation

Plan

Strip Window

Window School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Tamil

Ventilator Grills Tinted Glass Pane

Louvered Door Panel

Veneer finished Sal Door Panel

Timber Door Frame

Glass Pane Timber Door Frame

Timber Door Frame

Veneer finished Sal Door Panel

Pastel Town

Timber Door Frame Veneer finished Sal Door Panel

Veneer finished Sal Door Panel

Elevation

Plan

Double Panel Louvered Door

Four Panel Folding Door

Double Panel Timber Door

Section

Double Panel Glass Door

The Tamil

B Threshold

Threshold

Grills

Louvers

Timber Door Frame

Veneer finished Sal Door Panel

Elevation (outside)

Elevation (inside)

Plan

Double Panel Louvered and Grill Door

Detail A

Detail B

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Tamil

Pastel Town

Humble within, Ornate without earth, ether, fire, wind and water, flow about the Mutram, open to sky the Thalvaram, and the Thinnai, timber, brick, white of lime, withstanding the trials of time, yet again we look around, cherishing the takeaway we bow down, to be back another day

THE FRENCH

The buildings in the French Town are stately, almost imposing, owing to their large entrance doors, wrought iron gates and tall compound walls. The longish facades of houses are characterised by tall windows and pilasters that divide the facade into smaller 'panels'. The houses are typically painted in pastel shades of peach, canary yellow and those belonging to the Aurobindo Ashram in pastel grey. Interestingly, some adaptations such as the flat roofs over the more Parisian mansard roofs owe their influence to traditional Tamil architecture and possibly, climate. Approximately 200 years old, La Maison GRATITUDE is a Category II heritage building. After a close to authentic restoration with the help INTACH in the early 2000s, this colonial home has since been functioning as a boutique hotel.

The French

Fig. 6

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The French B

Guest Room

Guest Room Office

Entrance

A' Elevated Porch

Courtyard

Waiting

Lounge

Diner

Kitchen Garage

Inside, the focal point of the courtyard culminates into an elevated plinth with a flower bed and garden where sits a Ganesha Murti in black marble. 0

Ground Floor Plan Pastel Town

The French

Guest Room

Library

Ante Room

Owner's Bedroom Private Office

Owner's Living Room

The windows of the suites overlook the central courtyard. On the ground floor just by the courtyard is a semiopen diner and lounge, under the Mango tree. 0

Kitchen

Bath

First Floor Plan School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The French B

Spa

Laundry

Second Floor Plan Pastel Town

The French

Front Elevation The bright yellow facade features tall timber framed doors topped by segmental arches and evenly interspersed between them are windows, all bordered by white pilaster bands. Engaged columns on either side distinguish the main entrance door. The ornate balustrade of the balcony at first floor has lean timber posts at intervals that support the roof projection above it.

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The French

The stone paved courtyard is flanked by a colonnaded corridor on the right that transcends into the suites. The tall ceiling of the corridor is supported by wooden rafters and round columns. On the left of the courtyard is a semi-open diner and lounge, under the Mango tree. The windows of the suites, spa, private and office rooms overlook the central courtyard and diner from all three floors.

Section AA’ The interiors also incorporate semi-circular arches over doors and openings apart from the segmental arches. The door thresholds to the suites are slightly raised and etched with symmetric fish-like figures. The walls are as thick as 60cm and 25cm at the thinnest. The windows are lined with vertical cast iron bar grills both on façade and the interiors, a common feature across the town.

Pastel Town

Section BB’

The French

Mangalore Tiles Roofing

Timber Joists

Timber Truss

Timber Purlins

Arches as Openings

Balustrade

Joinery at Column-Rafter Fine details such as the classic wrought iron furniture, quaint period-style Parisian lamps and intricate lattices of wrought iron brackets supporting the balcony accentuate the overall French character of the building.

Parapet

Exploded View

Balustrade Detail School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The French

Pilaster

Timber Louvers

Hardwood and Natural Fiber Door Panel

Timber Door Frame

Timber Panel

Elevation

Plan

Double Panel Door

Letterplate

Wooden Flap Door

Section

Pastel Town

Elevation

Timber Window Frame

Window Grills

Timber Louvers

Elevation

Plan

Double Panel Front Door

Grill Window

Louvered Window

The French

Horizontal Bracing

Rose Window

Diagonal Bracing Glass Panels

Timber Panel

Door Handle Timber Door Frame

Timber Door Frame

Elevation

Plan

Garage Door

Folding Door School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The French

Hardwood Door Panel

Timber Door Frame

Timber Door Frame Timber Balustrade

Pastel Town

Elevation

Plan

Double Panel Door

Suite Door

Arches with Balustrade

The French

Engaged Column

Glass Window

Grill Window

Column

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The French

Pastel Town

The little tea set neatly laid On the window sill. Glittery rays stream in Shadows dance; on the stone floor. While the Bougainvillea like a veil does hide Perfect straight lines of white Against the quaint yellow. The remaining day beckonsWe have another place to be. In gratitude, one last look to; As we bid Adieu.

THE FRANCO-TAMIL

The Villa Noire, or the black town housed Tamil residents and hence showcased Tamil architecture. However, the French architecture piqued interests of the upper-caste Tamilians who wished to absorb certain French elements into their Tamil homes and hence evolved the style Franco-Tamil architecture. -Franco-Tamil buildings are typically large and do not have a conventional style, since the elements were picked on user’s whim. The documented structure is INTACH office. Initially a house belonging to Rukmani Illam, it transformed into an office, the interior spaces have hence been adapted to suit the needs of the office. The structure is composite, while mostly load bearing, a few I-sections have been used to transfer loads to the column brick. The wall thickness of a typical load-bearing is 45-60cm, tapering as we go higher. The slab along with tile work is a thickness of 300mm. It is important to notice that slabs were thicker than they are now.

The Franco-Tamil

Fig. 7

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTOD

Tamil window

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Tamil window

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTOD PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Tamil window

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

French railings

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Tamil style balustrade

PRODUCED BY

Pastel Town

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Tamil window

Tamil door

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

DUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

French window

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Tamil column

Tamil window

French door

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Franco-tamil flat roof

French pilaster

DUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Tamil sloping roof

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSI

Y AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDEN

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

K STUDENT VERSION

The Franco-Tamil

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUD

The Franco-Tamil

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

The main door is a typical tamil door, an elaborate frame of layered wood, finely carved to depict stories of hindu mythology or elements of nature. PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

An arch shaped niche is made in the wall enclosed in rectangular reliefs to place lamps as they believe the house shouldn't be dark. An indicative of light in the dark. There's always a niche adjacent to the main door.

Elevation

Section

Main Door

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Franco-Tamil

C Mutram

Lobby

Thinnai

Backyard

Office Room

Office

Reception

Storage

Office

Ground Floor Plan The lower level has most of the elements of Tamil architecture retained, the two courtyards – central and back (with a well), the aligned doors, red-oxide flooring and wooden columns. However, the rear end of plan would show certain elements of French architecture, like the arches and the glass windows around the backyard.

Pastel Town

Thalavaram

The Franco-Tamil

Storage

Bathroom

Kitchen

Office Diner

Lobby

Office

First Floor Plan The upper level has an increased height, circular pilasters, rose windows and louvred wooden doors, typically of the French architecture style in Pondicherry

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Franco-Tamil

Lower Terrace

Terrace Plan

Pastel Town

Upper Terrace

The Franco-Tamil

Front Elevation In some cases, the lower floor would retain features and climatic considerations of tamil architecture while the upper floor would be French.

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Franco-Tamil

Section AA’ This would mean elements like Thaalvaram and Thinnai for the Tamil folk to spend their days observing and interacting with the street folk; doors in alignment and courtyards with wooden columns, Mangalore tiled roof and red-oxide flooring and an elaborately carved main door to welcome the visitors.

Pastel Town

Section BB’ The upper floor would have an increased height, neoclassical elements like the rose windows, pilasters, louvred wooden shutters and cornices and other heavy plaster work, amongst other elements like the brackets,

The Franco-Tamil

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Section CC’ Of course, since it is not conventional, this could mean the elements could be scattered in any format, like rose-windows around the courtyard, French doors in the ground floor, plaster-work on all floors. Plasterwork is typically of pastel colours, much like colonial architecture.

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Franco-Tamil

Ventilator Rose Window

Louvered Door Panel

Section

Elevation

Open Door

Closed Door

Double Panel Door Pastel Town

Timber Door Frames

Timber Door Panels

Section

Elevation

Plan

Double Panel Louvered Door

The Franco-Tamil

Louvered Door Panel

Louvered Panel

Window Grills Glass Pane

Timber Door Frame

Timber Door Panel

Section

Timber Window Frame

Section

Elevation

Elevation (outside)

Timber Window Frame

Elevation (inside)

Plan

Louvered and Grill Window

Plan

Double Panel Louvered Door Rose Window Ventilator

Window Grills

Grill

Glass Pane Timber Door Frame

Glass Pane

Timber Window Frame

Timber Door Panel Section

Elevation

Plan

Double Panel Grill Door

Window

Rose Window

Elevation

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

The Franco-Tamil

Pastel Town

Thalvaram or Portico Tamil or French? Grand or Simple, Quaint or Humble? Ornate gateways, ambient arches compliment, coexist, modest and stately Tamil and French within, through the window, flows the same air, which leaves through the door, only to meet again

Pastel Town

VII

IMPRESSIONS

As the tour drew to a close, we recalled the week we had spent in Pondicherry. It had been a first-of-itskind trip for all of us. The Class was curious before the trip; it was fascinating for us to imagine what exactly we would do. We did know that as students of architecture now, we would have to make our senses consciously aware of the different aspects that make architecture whole. But here, we learnt it was not just about creating spaces, but about experiencing them first. The tour had been our first rendezvous with experiencing a new town, from a new perspective. Through our long, often tiresome explorations of the town on foot, we gained a substantial understanding of what constitutes the ‘intangibles of architecture’. We could now question if the imposing French houses would be the same, if not for the cobbled streets, a piece of graffiti on the corner wall, the colourfully dressed pedestrians strolling on the footpaths, following the smell of bread to a nearby pizzeria, perhaps? Or if the Tamil houses would seem as inviting and chirpy, if the streets had been wider, the houses taller and no vendors selling ‘sundal’ to the people talking in the verandah? Would the ambience be different in the late evenings, if not for the soft yellow glow of the quaint lamp posts? Would the cycle rides be as enjoyable if not for the long stretches of the Canal and the occasional bridge to cross over to the other side? We found ourselves to be so much more aware.

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

VIII

LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7

Tamil Street; source: intachpondicherry.org Tamil Street; source: Meena Madhrani via flickr.com French Street; source: Nimish via tripoto.com French Street; source: Nimisha Ghosh Tamil Architectural Elements Collage; source: Diksha Garg and Kamal Noyona French Architectural Elements Collage; source: Gousic J Franco-Tamil Architectural Elements Collage; source: tripadvisor.in, Nivedita via lbb.in, intachpondicherry.org

REFERENCES Department of Tourism, Government of Puducherry. (n.d.). Pondicherry Heritage- Tamil, French Monuments and Buildings. Retrieved from Pondy Tourism: http://www.pondytourism.in/puducherry-heritage.php Gratitude Consultants LLP. (n.d.). Retrieved from Gratitude Heritage: http://www.gratitudeheritage.in/ INTACH. (2008, March). Heritage Conservation in Pondicherry. Retrieved from Intach Pondicherry: https://intachpondicherry.org/flipbook/pdf/ Heritage_ Conservation_in_Pondicherry_opt.pdf INTACH Pondicherry. (n.d.). Retrieved from Intach Pondicherry: https://intachpondicherry.org/ INTACH Pondicherry. (2007, December 26). Heritage Trail Map FINAL-26 DEC 07. Retrieved from Intach pondicherry : http://intachpondicherry.org/ flipbook/pdf/Heritage_Trail_Map_Pondicherry.pdf Leeuw, A. d. (n.d.). Colonial Historic Geographic Heritage in Puducherry in Tourist Information. Retrieved from Utrecht University Repository: https:// dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/179486 Poke, S. (2015, January 10). POndicherry- Architecture in the French Quarter. Retrieved from The People Village : https://peoplevillage.wordpress. com/2015/01/10/pondicherry-the-french-quarters-architecture/ Saksena, R. (2020, October 6). Revisiting Pondicherry. Retrieved from Medium: https://medium.com/@reva.saksena/revisiting-pondicherry186d0a148cfa TATA Pravesh. (2017, July 23). The Tamil style door of the INTACH Heritage Centre - #DoorsOfIndia. Youtube.com.

Pastel Town

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DIGITISATION TEAM

Drafting

Anjali Thawari Ankita Singh Anushka Dutta Diksha Garg Gousic J Kaustubh Chaudhary Khushi Gautam Nimisha Ghosh P. Trishita Pranjal Maheshwari Priyanka Santosh Reva Saksena Rohan Agrawal Shambhavi Vishnoi Sidhart Goutham Tushar Choudhary

Photographs

Diksha Garg Gousic J Kamal Noyona Nimisha Ghosh

Graphics

Ankita Singh Diksha Garg Gousic J Ipsita Choudhury P. Trishita Priyanka Santosh Nimisha Ghosh Tushar Choudhary

Content

Kaustubh Chaudhary P. Trishita Priyanka Santosh Pranjal Maheshwari Reva Saksena Shambhavi Vishnoi

Conceived and Compiled by Ipsita Choudhury

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION

Ahsan Abdul Nizar Althaf K Anjali Anil Thawari Ankita Singh Anushka Dutta Bharat Bansidhar Bijin R. Hameed Dhrisya. K. S Diksha Garg Divisha Vadhera Eswar Panduru G Vinay Reddy Gousic J Ipsita Choudhury Kamal Noyona Kaustubh Chaudhary Khushi Gautam MA Muthalib P T Martemsu Kechu Mohit Arya

Pastel Town

Murtaza Khediwala NH Harshvardhan Nidhin Martin Nimisha Ghosh Nitya Kapoor P. Trishita Pranav Jadhav Pranjal Maheshwari Priyanka Santosh Reva Saksena Rohan Agrawal Samarjit Singh Shambhavi Vishnoi Sidharth Goutham K Sudipta Konhar Suresh Nishank Jain Tavleen Kaur Walia Tushar Choudhary Yashwant Rawat

Spartans, Ahooooooooo!

School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal