Okayeen to revive majestic constructions with historic worth within the State, the Tamil Nadu authorities allocates ₹50 crore yearly for reviving the gorgeous structure of yesteryear.
Moreover collating data on iconic buildings throughout the State with hidden historical past and constructing methods, the Public Works Division’s Constructing Centre and Conservation Division (BCCD) makes painstaking efforts to seek out matching supplies and expert masons to revive edifices to their authentic glory. The heritage wing of the PWD has been executing 82 works to breathe life into the dilapidated architectural marvels and plans to finish every work inside two years. Previously 5 years, it has restored 24 heritage constructions and targets to offer a facelift to twenty extra constructions by this yr.
With extra heritage works in hand, the PWD has appointed a ‘stapathi’ and conservation architect for technical session. Whereas 16 districts have shared the record of their heritage constructions, the method is on to gather data from different districts. Okay. Lakshmi finds out extra…
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The Hindu
Poosimalai Kuppam palace, Tiruvannamalai (12 months of development:1850; Price: Rs. 11.54 crore; Standing: 15% work accomplished; Space: 14,210 sq.ft. — The pink brick construction was constructed by the tenth Arni Jagir, Srinivasa Rao Sahib. The crumbling construction has solely stays of pillars on the second ground. The palace has two bedrooms on the bottom ground and two on the primary ground. It’s in all probability one of many few palaces within the area with a chimney for a fireside because the Jagir desired a British-style construction. It was in use as a college and a shelter for Sri Lankan refugees until the Nineteen Nineties. The division is strengthening the inside partitions and relaying the broken parts of the Madras Terrace and the Mangalore tiled roof.
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The Hindu
Danish Fort, Tharagambadi, Mayiladuthurai district. 12 months of development: 1620; Price: Rs. 3.63 crore; Standing: 15% work accomplished; Space: 36,410 sq. ft.
— The fort, stated to be the second largest Danish fort after Kronborg in Denmark, acted as a base for Danish settlement through the early seventeenth Century. It misplaced its significance after it was bought to the British in 1845. After Independence, it was used as an inspection bungalow until 1978. Then, the Division of Archaeology took it over and established a museum. Constructed within the Danish model, the edifice is trapezoidal in form and characterised by excessive ceilings and huge halls. Moreover restoration of the fort, there are plans to create facilities for guests.
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The Hindu
Danish Fort, Tharagambadi, Mayiladuthurai district. 12 months of development: 1620; Price: Rs. 3.63 crore; Standing: 15% work accomplished; Space: 36,410 sq. ft.
— The fort, stated to be the second largest Danish fort after Kronborg in Denmark, acted as a base for Danish settlement through the early seventeenth Century. It misplaced its significance after it was bought to the British in 1845. After Independence, it was used as an inspection bungalow until 1978. Then, the Division of Archaeology took it over and established a museum. Constructed within the Danish model, the edifice is trapezoidal in form and characterised by excessive ceilings and huge halls. Moreover restoration of the fort, there are plans to create facilities for guests.
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The Hindu
Sankarapathi Fort, Sivagangai district; 12 months of development: 18th Century; Price: Rs. 9 crore; Standing: Work to start
— The only-storey construction has been constructed within the British structure model, and comes below the judicial sector. Like many different buildings, the court docket advanced suffered injury owing to ageing. The BCCD has reconstructed the brick masonry in lime mortar and laid flooring with Athangudi tiles and Kota stones. Plastering was executed for partitions with the standard Theervai combine.
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The Hindu
Rani Mangammal palace, Madurai; 12 months of development: 1689; Price: Rs. 1.98 crore; Standing: accomplished; Space: 8,500 sq. ft.
— Situated on North Avani Moola Road, the single-storey palace is constructed with conventional supplies. It’s named after Rani Mangammal, who ascended the throne in 1689 as Queen Regent. A portion of the palace was functioning because the workplace of the Superintending Engineer, Periyar-Vaigai Basin, Water Assets Division, Madurai. The BCCD has additionally renovated the roof and given a facelift to the joinery.
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The Hindu
Nagapattinam district mixed court docket and munsif court docket; 12 months of development: 1886;Price: ₹7.9 crore; Standing: 80% work completed; Space: 34,432 sq.ft. — The only-storey construction has been constructed within the British structure model and operated within the judicial sector. Like many different buildings, the court docket advanced suffered injury owing to ageing. The BCCD has reconstructed the brick masonry in lime mortar and laid flooring with Athangudi tiles and Kota stones. Plastering was executed for partitions with the standard Theervai combine.
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The Hindu
Saarjah Maadi, Thanjavur; 12 months of development: 1824; Price Rs. 9.12 crore; Standing: 40% work over; Space: 30,605 sq. ft
— Part of the Thanjavur Palace advanced, Saarjah Maadi is a five-storey construction with ornamental balconies and latticed home windows. Its decorative Jharokha design is from Rajasthan. This architectural marvel can be referred to as a seven-tiered tower. Although it was initially referred to as Sajyasa Mahal, it was later referred to as Saarjah Maadi (which means a towered constructing in Marathi). The ceiling of the bottom ground is supported by lofty pillars and stucco collectible figurines adorn the partitions on the bottom ground. The BCCD is restoring masonry, ornamental cornices, and the Dasavatara idea stucco work, other than retrofitting brick masonry.
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SRINIVASAN Okay.V.
Humayun Mahal; Chepauk palace advanced; 12 months of development: 1868-1871; value: Rs. 41.12 crore; Standing: ready to be inaugurated; space: 76,567 sq. ft
— The only-storey majestic pink constructing has 13 lengthy halls and 4 corridors, refurbished with vibrant Athangudi heritage tiles and sophisticated Mughal/Theervai wall-plastering. It functioned because the Income Division’s headquarters through the British period after which housed State authorities places of work, together with the Departments of Horticulture and Income. An Independence Day Museum is about to be established right here.
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KUMAR SS
Kalyana Mahal; Thiruvaiyaru; yr of development: 1824; Price: Rs. 18.8 crore; Standing: Introduced in Price range for 2024-25; Space: 52,465 sq.ft.
— The Maratha King Serfoji II’s wives are stated to have stayed on this mansion and practically 320 individuals had occupied the constructing then. Standing on the northern aspect of the Cauvery, part of this Mahal had a mint too. The Mahal, comprising three blocks, appears like a box-shaped constructing with two courtyards. With 40 rooms, it’s functioning as the women’ hostel of Rajah’s Faculty of Sanskrit and Tamil Research. The division plans to redo the flooring with the Cuddapah and oxide flooring and use strengthening methods like grouting.
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VELANKANNI RAJ_B
Kings Institute of Preventive Medication, Guindy;12 months of development: 1905; Price: ₹8.30 crore; Standing: 60% work accomplished; Space: 35,779 sq.ft. — The T-shaped essential administrative constructing on the campus underwent a considerable enlargement in 1914 below engineering contractor Masilamoni Mudaliar. The only-storey construction is an enormous, uncovered brick edifice, and has verandahs on all sides. The roof has been raised to resemble turrets, and the heritage construction has a bifurcated staircase and labored brick hand rails. The BCCD has prioritised replastering the ceiling with lime mortar and restoring the brick partitions, the pillars and the arches. The broken uncovered bricks on the outside portion are being changed with wire-cut bricks of the identical measurement in lime mortar. Finishing up restoration in such buildings is a difficult process, say officers.
