Pondicherry had been passed on to multiple colonial powers of Dutch, Portuguese, English, but predominantly French. Even now there's a huge French influence in Pondicherry, now a Union Territory of India.

1. LITERATURE STUDY:
FRENCH STYLE:
• PITCHED SLOPED ROOF (MOSTLY @FRONT)
• LARGE DOORS & WINDOWS (FRENCH WINDOWS)
• MILD PEACE COLOURS
• PROJECTED BALCONIES
• PROJECTED COLUMNS
• HIGH LINTELS (avg 8ft)
• PROJECTED SLAB (CORNICE)
• AVG 4M FLOOR HEIGHT
• THICK WALLS (@ EXTERIORS) + TEAK WOODS USED
• ARCHED OPENINGS + ARCHED WINDOWS
• DECORATIVE - HIGHLY DETAILED (GOLDEN)
• DETAILED MARBLE STATUE SCULPTURES
• CORINTHIAN COLUMNS - PLAIN COLUMN SHAFT
(MOSTLY CIRCULAR)
• WHITE IS THE COLOUR OF ELEGANCE
• METAL WORKS (WROUGHT IRON) MOSTLY DARK IN
COLOUR
• LARGER OPENINGS
• GRID PATTERN
• FRESH COAT OF PAINT
• GARDEN WATERWORKS (FOUNTAINS)
• ARTWORKS - EXCESSIVELY ELABORATE DETAILS
• MARBLE STATUE - ATTRACTION - GARDEN
• GILT FRAME WINDOWS + SINUOUS
SIDEBOARDS HOBNOB WITH SILKY
SATINS
• RUGGED WALLS
• MILD YELLOW CEILING LIGHTS
• DECORATIVE WHITE CORNICE
• RICH COLOUR + ELEGANT EQUESTRAIN PATTERNS
• CHANDELIERS + ECCENTRIC FLOOR DESIGN + OLD
PAINTINGS @ CORRIDORS
• FLOORING - WOOD PATERNS / PATTERN TILES (NOT
PLAIN)
• FLOWER PATTERNS
• ANTIQUES COLLECTION
ROMANTIC LOVE PEACE
CLASSIC ELEMENTS:
1. TREASURE ANTIQUES
& FAMILY HEIRLOOMS
2. COLOUR IS THE KEY
3. ERR ON THE SIDE OF
DELICATE MATERIALS
4. USE FLOWERS IN
SPARING AMOUNT
RICH LUXURY
# REFERENCE @ ROMANTICHOUSES MAGAZINE
Ar Muthu Krishnan

2. CASE STUDY:
PONDY FRANCO - TAMIL STYLE:
• DIVIDED IN TO TWO - VILLE BLANCHE (WHITE TOWN)
- VILLE NOGAR
• FLAT ROOF (MOSTLY)
• FRENCH + COLONIAL + (MIN.) DUTCH INFLUENCE
• THALVARAM , THINAI - SUPPORTED BY WOODEN POSTS
• VERTICAL COLUMNS + PILLARS WITH ORNAMENTED
PARAPETS.
• FRENCH INFLUENCE - TALL “ ARCHED WINDOWS” +
TALL “DOORS” ALONG WITH “HIGH CEILINGS”
• BUILT MOSTLY IN STREET FRONTAGE
• VERY SMALL PLINTH HEIGHT WHICH IS ALSO MOSTLY
HIDDEN
• WINDOW SHADES - WOODEN
- OTHER LIGHTER METALS
• CONTRAST COLOURS +
WHITE TO EMPHASISE THE BUILDING
• MOSTLY OPEN ALLSIDE OF THE BUILDING
- EITHER OPEN SPACE (GARDEN)
- PILLARED CORRIDORS
• RICH LOOK
• MADRAS TERRACE ROOF
- TEAK WOOD (FALSE CEILING IN SOME CASES)
• TRADITIONAL SLOPED SUNSADES OR PROJECTED
EMPHASISED WINDOW FRAMES
• OPEN COURTYARD (LIGHTING + VENTILATION)
- SEMIOPENDINING
- COMPLETELYOPENDINING
• DOUBLE HEIGHT (SIMILAR TO CHETTINADU STYLE OF
ARCHITECTURE)
• CORINTHIAN COLUMNS - DARK COLOUR
- PLAIN COLUMN SHAFT
• PROJECTED BALCONIES SUPPORTED BY METAL TRUSSES
OR FALSE METAL WORKS
• DECORATIVE METAL WORKS (DARK COLOUR)
• SIMPLE COLUMNS - CIRCULAR (MOSTLY USED)
- PLAIN SQUARE COLUMN HEAD
• PROJECTED BALCONIES ON EVERY FLOOR (1M WIDE .Avg)
• COLOURS (YELLOW ,BLUE ,WHITE, AND OTHER
CONTRAST COLOURS) WITH WHITE TO EMPHASISE
• A KINDA AVENUE VIEW CAN BE ACQUIRED
• #WHITE TOWN (HIDDEN PLINTH OF Avg 1’)
• #VILLE NOGAR (EXPOSED PLINTH OF Avg 2.6’)
• NO BASEMENT PARKINGS (MOSTLY)
• SILL HEIGHT (Avg 1.6’ - 2.6’) + LARGE WINDOW (7’ HIGH)
MAX. FRENCH INFLUENCE
MIN. FRENCH INFLUENCE
# REFERENCE @ PONDICHERRY NET STUDY + @ WHITE TOWN + LE PORTE STREET
RICH CONTRAST
Ar Muthu Krishnan

3. IMPLEMENTATION IDEAS:
ROMANTIC LOVE PEACE CONTRAST
• TERRACE GARDEN
• FIRST, SECOND, THIRD FLOOR
- OPEN VIEW BALCONY
• PENT HOUSE PRIVACY ???
• CURVALINEAR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
• IMPRESSION OF NATURE (DETAILINGS)
• WROUGHT IRON WORKS (BLACK OR OTH-
ER DARK COLOURS)
• MILD YELLOW CEILING LIGHT
• DECORATIVE WHITE CORNICES
• RICH COLOUR + ELEGANT EQUESTRAIN PATTERNS
• DECORATIVE WROUGHT IRON (LIGHT FIXTURES IN THE
EXTERIOR)
• “WHITE IS THE COLOUR OF
ELEGANCE”
• CHANDELIERS + ECCENTRIC FLOOR DESIGN
+ OLD PAINTINGS @ PATHWAYS #CORRIDORS
• FLOORINGS - WOODEN PATTERNS , PATTER TILES ,ETC.
• ANTIQUES COLLECTIONS
• FLOWERS + CREAPERS @FRONT ELEVATION @ DARK
BACKGROUND (CONTRAST)
• CORINTHIAN COLUMNS #PLAIN COLUMN SHAFT + DARK
COLOUR
• OPEN COURTYARD + SEMI OPEN DINING @ CORRIDORS
#BALCONIES
• MORE OPENINGS (IN THE SENCE OF SIZE)
• MARBLE STATUES #ATTRACTION @ OPEN DINING
• MINIMAL FRENCH INFLUENCE
• PLINTH HEIGHT Avg. 2.6’ - 3’ HIGH
• MEDIUM USAGE OF CONTRAST COLOURS
• MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL AREA
• ROAD WIDTH Avg. 5M
• A KINDA AVENUE VIEW CAN BE ACQUIRED
• MOSTLY NO SUNLIGHT CAN BE ACHIEVED AT GROUND
FLOOR
• Avg. TALL BUILDINGS SIZE OF G+4 FLOOR (POSSIBILITIES
FOR BEACH VIEW IS VERY LESS)
• NEARLY 1.6KM FAR FROM BEACH
• RESIDENCE NEAR BY - DHANALAKSHMI RESIDENCE
- WHITE COLOUR BUILDING (COMPLETE)
- VERY MINIMAL FRENCH INFLUENCE
- G + 4 (NO BASEMENT PROVIDED)
• Avg. COLOUR USED - WHITE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE (NO
EXTENSIVE DETAILS)
• PROJECTED BALCONIES ON EACH FLOOR (Avg. 1M WIDE)
• SIMPLE COLUMNS - CIRCULAR (MOSTLY USED)
- PLAIN SQUARE HEAD
• REGULAR SILL AND LINTEL LEVELS
• NAME BOARDS MADE IN SMALL WOODEN BOARDS
AND LEFT HANGING OUTSIDE WITH THE SUPPORTING
WROUGHT IRON WORKS
# SITE @ LE PORTE STREET , PONDYCHERRY
SITE VISIT:
Ar Muthu Krishnan

4. FRENCH INFLUENCE
Ar Muthu Krishnan

5. site:
• LA BOURDONNAIS STREET, DUPPUYPET ,PUDHUCHERRY
• WEST FACING SITE
• FRENCH STYLE BUILDINGS
• 3 STAR HOTEL
• COMMERCIAL + RESIDENTIAL MIXED AREA
Ar Muthu Krishnan

6. spatial organization:
PONDY FRENCH STYLE BUILDING:
• IN FRENCH STYLE BUILDINGS TO SHOW THE PRIDE
USUALLY THEY HAVE HIGH RISED PLINTH.
• FRENCH STYLE BUILDINGS USUALLY HAVE A HUGE
CENTRAL HALL SURROUNDED BY THE ROOMS.
• THERE IS NO CERTAIN ORDER MAINTAINED INSIDE THESE
BUILDINGS.
• USUALLY KITCHEN WON’T BE PLACED INSIDE THE
BUILDINGS.
• KITCHEN AND SERVENTS ROOMS ARE SEPERATED OUT
FROM THE BUIDING.
• TO ATTAIN GOOD AIR AND LIGHT VENTILATION THE
BUILDING IS PLACED WITH OPEN CORRIDORS ON ALL THE
SIDES OF THE BUILDING.
• IN FRENCH STYLE BUILDINGS THERE WON’T BE ANY
CENTRAL COURTYARDS.
• THERE WON’T BE ANY LEVEL DIFFERENCE INSIDE THE
BUILDING.
• FRENCH STYLE BUILDINGS IN PONDY ARE GENERALLY
EXPRESSED WITH THE USAGE OF MATERALS.
• AVERAGE FLOOR HEIGHT WILL BE ALWAYS HIGHER THAN
4 METERS.
• THEY FOLLOWED SAME FLOOR HEIGHT IRRESPECTIVE TO
BUILDING TYPE AND EVEN FLOORS.
• HEAD ROOM SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE WAY THAT
DOESN’T DISTURBS THE STREET ELEVATION.
• DEFINED SET BACKS.
CENTRAL
HALL
R
O
O
M
R
O
O
M
R
O
O
M
R
O
O
M
PORCH
OPEN CORRIDOR
“SYMMETRICAL”
Ar Muthu Krishnan

7. spatial organization:
FRANCO - TAMIL BUILDING:
• IN FRENCH - TAMIL STYLE BUILDINGS TO SHOW THE
PRIDE USUALLY THEY HAVE HIGH RISED PLINTH WHERE
“THINNAI” IS PLACED(INTERACTION SPACE).
• FRENCH STYLE BUILDINGS USUALLY HAVE A HUGE
CENTRAL COURTYARD SURROUNDED BY THE ROOMS.
• THERE IS CERTAIN VAASTU ORDER MAINTAINED INSIDE
THESE BUILDINGS.
• USUALLY KITCHEN WILL BE PLACED INSIDE THE
BUILDINGS FACING SOUTH EAST.
• TO ATTAIN GOOD AIR AND LIGHT VENTILATION THE
BUILDING IS PLACED WITH OPEN CENTRAL COURTYARD.
• VERY MINIMAL LEVEL DIFFERENCE SUCH AS COURTYARD
AND FLOOR LEVEL.
• FRANCO - TAMIL STYLE BUILDINGS ARE GENERALLY
EXPRESSED WITH THE USAGE OF MATERALS.
• AVERAGE FLOOR HEIGHT WILL BE ALWAYS HIGHER THAN
3.5 METERS. LINTEL HIGHTS ARE COMPARITIVELY TOO
SMALL AVG. 5.5 FT IN THESE KINDA BUILDINGS.
• THEY FOLLOWED SAME FLOOR HEIGHT IRRESPECTIVE TO
BUILDING TYPE AND EVEN FLOORS.
• NO DEFINED SET BACKS ARE ALLOTED.
• WALL TO WALL CONSTRUCTION IS FOLLOWED.
• THESE KINDA BUILDINGS WON’T HAVE INTERIOR
CORNISES ON CEILING, DUE TO MADRAS TERRACE ROOF-
ING METHOD IS APPLIED.
CENTRAL
COURTYARD
R
O
O
M
R
O
O
M
R
O
O
M
R
O
O
M
THINNAI
structural system:
THE BUILDINGS FEATURE LOAD BEARING WALLS (USUALLY TWO FEET
WIDE AND FOURTEEN FEET HIGH). THESE BRICK WALLS ARE PACKED
WITH AN INFILL OF MUD AND BRICKBATS. THE FIRST FLOOR WALLS
ARE LESSER IN WIDTH THAN THOSE OF THE GROUND FLOOR.
COLUMNS AND ARCHES ARE OF BRICK MASONRY SUPPORTING HEAVY
TIMBER OR STEEL BEAMS WITH MADRAS TERRACE ROOFING (BRICK-
ON-EDGE MASONRY IN LIME MORTAR OVER CLOSELY SPACED TIMBER
JOISTS). WATER PROOFING WAS DONE IN THE LOCAL LIME TERRAC-
ING TECHNIQUE.
BALCONIES ARE LINEAR (USUALLY FOUR FEET DEEP) AND REST ON
WOODEN JOISTS OVER AN EDGE BEAM HELD IN PLACE BY WROUGHT
IRON BRACKETS. OCCASIONALLY THE
BALCONIES REST ON CORNICE PLATFORMS.
MANGALORE TILED LEAN-TO ROOFS (MOSTLY ON THE FIRST FLOORS)
WITH WOODEN
RAFTERS AND EDGE BEAM THAT RESTS ON CAPITALS OVER SQUARE
COLUMNS. IN SOME CASES THE LEAN-TO ROOF IS SUPPORTED BY
IRON BRACKETS. BRICK CORBELLING IS USED FOR CORNICES, COP-
INGS AND DECORATIVE BANDS.
“SYMMETRICAL”
Ar Muthu Krishnan

8. ENTRENCE GATEWAY: DOOR:
Ar Muthu Krishnan

9. FRENCH STYLE WINDOW: TYPES:
Ar Muthu Krishnan

10. BALCONIES: TYPES:
Ar Muthu Krishnan

11. PARAPET: TYPES:
Ar Muthu Krishnan

12. STAIR: TYPES: PILASTERS &
CORNICES:
Ar Muthu Krishnan

13. COLUMNS:
Ar Muthu Krishnan

14. IMPLEMENTATION IDEAS:
ROMANTIC LOVE PEACE CONTRAST
• TERRACE GARDEN
• FIRST, SECOND, THIRD FLOOR
- OPEN VIEW BALCONY
• PENT HOUSE PRIVACY ???
• CURVALINEAR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
• IMPRESSION OF NATURE (DETAILINGS)
• WROUGHT IRON WORKS (BLACK OR OTH-
ER DARK COLOURS)
• MILD YELLOW CEILING LIGHT
• DECORATIVE WHITE CORNICES
• RICH COLOUR + ELEGANT EQUESTRAIN PATTERNS
• DECORATIVE WROUGHT IRON (LIGHT FIXTURES IN THE
EXTERIOR)
• “WHITE IS THE COLOUR OF
ELEGANCE”
• CHANDELIERS + ECCENTRIC FLOOR DESIGN
+ OLD PAINTINGS @ PATHWAYS #CORRIDORS
• FLOORINGS - WOODEN PATTERNS , PATTER TILES ,ETC.
• ANTIQUES COLLECTIONS
• FLOWERS + CREAPERS @FRONT ELEVATION @ DARK
BACKGROUND (CONTRAST)
• CORINTHIAN COLUMNS #PLAIN COLUMN SHAFT + DARK
COLOUR
• OPEN COURTYARD + SEMI OPEN DINING @ CORRIDORS
#BALCONIES
• MORE OPENINGS (IN THE SENCE OF SIZE)
• MARBLE STATUES #ATTRACTION @ OPEN DINING
Ar Muthu Krishnan