The ‘Pethakal House’ in Kannerimukku is a solid proof that light, inexpensive structures can be built in the Nilgiris as an eco-friendly alternative to the concrete structures that scar the landscape of the Blue Mountains.
The house belongs to Venugopal Dharmalingam, the founder of ‘Save Nilgiris’ campaign and the honorary director of the Nilgiri Documentation Center.
Local materials
Mr. Venugopal said that he has made extensive use of locally sourced materials, including wood from invasive tree species such as Eucalyptus, Cypress, and Jacaranda for furnitures, stairways and other support structures of the building. Expertise of local communities, including tribal groups such as the Kotas, renowned for their masterful carpentry work, has also been used to build the house.
“The country wood has been tempered and used for many parts of the house. Seeing that there is overall agreement that trees such as eucalyptus have to be cut down, we can use them for construction purposes,” he said. Local artists and artisans have been used to decorate and help design the furniture used in the bungalow. While the Kotas, an indigenous tribe in the Nilgiris renowned for their carpentry skills were involved in making the furniture, Gokul, a Badaga artist, has painted a mural that adorns one of the walls.
The artwork depicts life in a typical Badaga village before the plantation of tea and at a time when the Badagas were “real cultivators,” said Mr. Venugopal.
The roof is also modelled on British architectural styles using zinc sheets and Mangalore tiles, and the entire house itself was not very expensive to build, costing less than ₹20 lakh to complete.
“At a time when resources are at a premium, shifting architectural styles to ensure that houses are built with a minimum impact on the environment is crucial,” said Mr. Venugopal.
The house, apart from being built with the environment in mind, was also designed to ensure that it was a lightweight structure that would not put a massive load on the hill slopes of Kotagiri.
