Mending the seams of an Urban Patchwork Quilt : achieving an 'Ordered Chaos' in temple towns of Southern India

Abstract

Historically rich and culturally vibrant, the city of Mylapore (located in Tamil Nadu) is a prominent temple town of Southern India, in which the Kapaleeshwarar Temple is treasured. The analysis of this town, in relation to its urban context, demonstrates the need for an architectural typology that tackles the problems of urban congestion, disorder, and ambiguity of access and circulation in a religious setting. This thesis will explore the multidimensional challenges of designing for order amidst the chaos of the dense and animated street culture of a temple town. By developing an infrastructural language that welcomes the progressive urban trends of commercialization and growth, while maintaining a sensitivity that caters to the traditionally bound culture, the design proposes a new urban vernacular that preserves the sacredness of the South Indian spiritual experience, while allowing for a layered cultural ambiance. As a record of its graceful evolution, this vibrant public space will finally allow the city of Mylapore to display its rich urban patchwork with dignity and elegance.