Weavers village at Kanadukathan, Chettinad/ Dhrisya K.S.

Abstract

The Chettiyars were a prosperous business class community who traded all over the world. They have settled in portions of Sivagangai district as a result of flooding in Tamil Nadu's northern regions, where they resided earlier. The villages in which they settled are a mix of various cultures and crafts. Athangudi tiles, wooden carvings, basket weaving, Kandangi handloom sarees, Chettinad jewelry, cement and Chettinad cuisine are famous in South India. Kandangi saree weaving, for example, is a 250-year-old traditional practise carried out on pit looms that are rapidly depleting. Kandangi sarees are worn by the wives of Chettiyars and weavers who live in the vicinity of prominent and wealthy residences. It is now restricted to a few locations, and the power loom has begun to supplant the handloom sector. It is therefore critical to revive the lost handloom tradition in order to enrich the culture and showcase the history to tourists and future generations. This thesis involves design of 136 residential units for Kandangi handloom weavers from Karaikudi thaluk under the scheme of Virudhunagar Mega Handloom cluster development scheme which is under Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development scheme. There are over 136 weavers with no basic facilities and looms to work, with no common facility centre or any kind of designer’s input to improve the handloom production. The site is located very close to the tourist area called Kanadukathan, which is selected in order to attract tourist to improve the marketing. The site will have a gallery which displays the heritage of Kandangi handloom industry, a designer’s studio, a common facility centre for warping, sizing, dyeing etc, a temple complex with meditation units and pond and four clusters of residential units that could accommodate nearly 136 weavers. The aim of this project is to re-establish the handloom industry of Kandangi sarees and improving its production by taking tourism as an important tool. The project will be designed in amalgamation with the contextual architectural style as well the spatial requirements of weaving community thus creating a sense of a place and collective memories of Chettinad architectural style. A person visiting this village will be experiencing Chettinad style of architecture in response to the ulity and modern-day requirements. This project for thesis is taken up to reintroduce the handloom culture and to bring betterment in the lives of weavers those who lack proper living conditions and needs. Proving a solution for the production by introducing designers’ input and by involving tourism into the project. Thus, having space from designing, material preparation, weaving and marketing.