Temples of Kerala; an approach to conserving the legacy -the physical and the metaphysical.
- Vol.87(12), Dec
- Mumbai Indian Institute of Architects 2022
- 79-84p.
The Temples of Kerala have a unique architectural vocabulary that is adapted from the Dravida tradition, strongly influenced by the geographical and climatic factors of the state. Several political, economic, and cultural factors too have come together to influence the evolution of Kerala temples which are classified as the early, middle, and late phases by scholars. Though we see a steady development in scale, complexity, and built form, there are certain values that have remained constant through all these phases. These spiritual abodes were considered living entities and the physical form had a deep relation and meaning that was enhanced by the metaphysical. They have always been an apogee of sustainable construction practices and centres of knowledge systems. The traditional conservation practices too respected these values. The paper examines the traditional concepts in the conservation practices followed in Kerala temples and why today an informed and meticulous conservation process becomes inevitable for the continuity of this legacy.