Re-establishing the historic significance of Karaikal Town, Pondicherry

Abstract

The ancient French precinct- Karaikal was well known for its religious and cultural heritage for centuries. Even though Karaikal doesn’t have a lot of monumental buildings or historic structures, its still seen peculiar because of its vernacular style of architecture. The architectural character here is a result of varied cultural influences throughout history. If this heritage has to be protected then every old house counts. These architectural heritage are the major identity of the town. The town is perceived as unique because of its architectural setting which is an outcome of a synthesis between French and local Tamil vernacular. The distinct character of the town is due to the influence of varied invasions that occurred in Karaikal over the last centuries. The historic buildings have a complex fabric of every invader in different elements present in a building. Due to the growing urbanisation, the necessities have compelled the people to alter the buildings according to their needs. The practices done to extend space, add or destruct due to pressures of growing economy has disturbed the architectural value of the structure. These practices have highly endangered the existing historic fabric and built heritage of the town. Karaikal doesn’t have a specific set of guidelines for preservation, conservation and restoration of heritage according to their character, which makes the built heritage even more vulnerable when they are reconstructed. Hence, the thesis investigates, and understands the historic fabric and urban identity of the town to re-establish its historic significance to protect it as a heritage town. It also studies the cultural pluralism present in the precinct to understand the coexistence of different cultures and their significant relation with the town. Through documentation, the architectural, cultural and spatial aspects of the town are analysed and the heritages were listed. Conservation strategies and guidelines for the delineated core zone are proposed to preserve the built heritage of Karaikal. There is an effective need for conservation of these heritage along with its cultural identity to maintain its authenticity and integrity. These site specific recommendations will help both public and private to design, alter or restore historic buildings in an heritage environment..