Padmanabhapuram Palace in Tamil Nadu, India, is an architectural marvel well worth a visit. In contrast to many other historic monuments in India, the palace recently got a touch up as it featured in a recent movie, therefore attracting Indian tourists. Upon visiting the palace, three things surprised me: Firstly, foreigners had to pay eight times more than locals (hey, double or four times would have been enough), secondly one had to take off their shoes and walk on the sand (covered with bird droppings!), and thirdly how cooling it was inside the palace. I visited the palace, built in 1601 AD, on a hot and sticky day. Upon entering the palace I was surprised how cool the rooms were, without any fans or air-conditioning. I was intrigued. The secret of the natural cooling of the palace is ancient: it is how the palace is built. The floors are either solid wood or terra-cotta tiles. The walls are made out of clay bricks covered with a mix of coconut fiber, clay and several minerals. The roof is constructed from a wooden frame with terra-cotta tiles. And last but not least, the upper part of the wall that is connecting with the roof, is made from a delicate wooden structure that lets air and light in and provides a cooling draft. The result is that fresh draft of air cools the palace even in the midst of mid-summer heat without utilizing any electricity. Unfortunately this ancient technique is completely neglected today.
Picture: Natural, handmade, stunningly-beautiful and environmentally-friendly building technique.
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