In the Coastal Village open air exhibition complex of the IGRMS at Bhopal, traditional house-types from Kerala are displayed.
Keeping in mind the social, technical and environmental conditions, the aim of this workshop, was to construction of house and introduce art and crafts. Under the leadership of traditional artist Ramachandran from Kerala prepare the roof of houses and the aesthetic characteristics, local knowledge and moral values of traditional life styles, demonstrating their excellence in housing construction has been done in front of the audience.
These were transplanted from Mannady village of Pathanamthitta district. The traditional Naalukettu pattern of architecture and lived in by the members of a joint family of more than ten generations since 18th century, was acquired in the year 1990 for posterity.
The house presents the splendours regional architectural designing in Kerala. High quality craftsmanship of 'Acharies' (traditional Carpenters) are visible in both these houses. Typically made of wild jackfruit trees, brick, and mud, these houses had superior ventilation and lighting that kept the house well lit and aerated at all times.
Naalukettu pattern of structures were generally constructed in the 15-18th centuries for the housings of Nambutiri Brahmins, and the warrior castes of Nayars (Nairs).
Traditionally, the Naalukettu of the Brahmins were known as 'Illoms' or 'Manas', while that of the Nayar joint families were known as 'Tarawads'. A whole lineage derived from a particular mother, i.e. all her children, all her grand-children by her daughters, all her brothers and sisters and descendants on the sister side, lived together in the same blocks of Naalukettu of Nayar Tarawads. Nalukettu means four blocks and a typical house built in this fashion would be divided into a north, south, east, and west block.