Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

The paper explores the connection between the city and the culture through architectural and urban design, taking Fort Kochi as a case study. The colourful past created by the rule of Arabs, Kochi rulers, Portuguese (160 years), Dutch (112 years), British (152 years) and post-independence have created deep imprints in the city but none of them have been able to erase the imprint of its predecessor. The existing architecture and townscape of Fort Kochi demonstrates that not only the local Keralite culture thrived in the midst of strong European cultures but an intelligent design came up showcasing an excellent plurality of different cultures of Portuguese, Dutch, and British. This design is characterized by a mix of forms and patterns, which can be seen on architecture elements like windows, doors, balconies, veranda porches, brackets, etc. Some of these forms are purely derived from a former culture and shows a clear identity while others have transformed by different layers and shows an eclectic identity. Such a study is relevant in order to preserve the built heritage of the area and further conserving them. The method employed is reviewing the literature dealing with the history of Fort Kochi and architecture styles of Keralite, British, Portuguese, and Dutch houses. Further, the site area is documented, architecture elements are analysed, drafted, and listed. Such a repository will help to design an approach sensitive to the architectural plurality of any region.