Published Paper Details:

Chettinad residential architecture represents one of the most distinctive vernacular architectural traditions of South India, known for its unique spatial organization, climatic responsiveness, and cultural richness. However, limited research has explored how these houses create aesthetic and spatial experiences through visual perception and architectural composition. This study examines the aesthetic and spatial qualities of Chettinad houses using the frameworks of formal, functional, meaningful, and sustainable beauty. Particular attention is given to silhouette complexity, cone of vision, and the relationship between built mass and fenestration in shaping visual and spatial experiences. A qualitative case study approach was adopted, focusing on Chettinad residences in Kothamangalam, Tamil Nadu. Data were gathered through field observations, photographic documentation, spatial mapping, sequential experiential analysis, and a review of relevant literature. The study evaluates silhouette complexity from selected viewpoints, examines mass-fenestration relationships in relation to climate and aesthetics, and analyzes how spatial perception evolves from the public street to private interior spaces using cone of vision theory. The findings reveal that Chettinad houses successfully combine climatic efficiency, cultural symbolism, and carefully designed spatial experiences through a well-structured sequence of spaces. Based on these findings, the study proposes a five-point planning framework that offers valuable insights for integrating traditional wisdom into contemporary sustainable architectural design.