Tharavad

Architecture

Although Tharavadu houses come in different typologies, certain elements remain consistent in their layout. At the heart of the design is the nadumuttam, or central courtyard. The number of courtyards within a house traditionally spoke of the family’s wealth, status, and size.

Inseparable from the traditional concept of a tharavad is, historically, Kerala's distinctive Nālukettu architectural tradition. A classic Nalukettu tharavad would be built with four halls collectively enclosing a Nadumuttam, or open-air courtyard. Wealthier and more prominent tharavads would construct mansions with multiple such atria, such as the eight-halled Ettukettu, with two nadumuttams, or Pathinarukettu, sixteen-halled with four nadumuttams, and the preserve of royal families and tharavads of similar rank. Rarely, twelve-halled Pathrandukettu were constructed with three courtyards, and there is a record of a 32-halled Muppathirandukettu being erected, although it was lost to a fire soon after construction.