Architecture of French Colonial Pondicherry.

1. FRENCH COLONIAL
ARCHITECTURE
PONDICHERRY
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2. Layout of pondicherry
Guerville, in 1763, proposed a
semi-circular enclosure.
An anonymous author, in
1768, suggested a curious
polygonal figure with
enormous demilunes.

3. • Fourcroix & Leveux in 1771
recommended the transfer of
the town to the south, inside
the Ile-aux-Cocotiers.
• Bourcet thought of a citadel to
the north of the enclosure.

4. • Finally, it was decided to rebuild
the fortifications on the
foundations of the destroyed
enclosure. During the short periods
of French occupation, bastions,
gates and parapets, were
renovated, but these did not stave
off the final disaster.
•
• On the site of the
fortifications, an outer
boulevard was laid out,
bordered with trees in
1824; the extension of the
canal towards the north
was ordered in 1827, and
the creation of a grand
bazar on the present site
was decided upon in
1826.

5. Poulailler and Rizière.
• Earliest of the colonial french building
• Shows the use of
• Symmetrical plan with probable living room at
centre and private room on sides with courtyard on
the back side

6. Ananda Ranga Pillai (109 on the street that bears his name), built in 1735
On the ground floor, in typically Indian
fashion, the courtyard is surrounded by
exquisitely carved wooden pillars;
On the first floor, the terrace is
supported by elegant masonry columns of
of European design.
This edifice is plainly the expression of
the two cultures to which the
great dubash of the French governor
Dupleix belonged.

7. The ceilings are marked by heavy
wooden beams and wooden joists
supporting terrace roofing made of
brick-on-edge masonry in lime
mortar, called argamasse in French
and Madras roofing in English; the
main building material for all
masonry works was burnt bricks in
lime mortar (the lime was made by
burning sea shells from the local
shore or lime stone quarried from
Tutipet)

8. • A mix of french and tamil architecture which developed overtime as
the result of cultural differences and adaptability to fill self void.

9. Hôtel Lagrenée de Mézières, built in 1772
monumental entrance
 house forms a rectangle integrating the back
veranda; the veranda of the façade, with five
openings, is in the forepart, supported by columns,
and the walls bear a fine floral decoration in lime
mortar and four bas-reliefs representing the arts,
intertwined with garlands of flowers.
One enters by a vast portal
framed by two columns
with capitals
Symmetrical plan
Stairs on both entrance on
either sides

10. • Opening on to the long veranda, the height doors have double
shutters in cane netting to allow ventilation

11. • The walls have
exquisite flowery
lime plaster
scrolls featuring
motifs
representing the
arts
• Different floral
pattern and
motifs
preferably for
ornamentation
on walls and
garden

12. French Consulate at Pondicherry

14. • Gateways made through the arches
• Even the wall decoration use the pseudo
arches
• Balcony similar to the imperial ones with
column and iron railings
• Parapet
wall in the
organic
flow :
crescent
curved
surface

15. Museum

16. CHURCH :
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 Three major church made by French missionaries
1.The church of our lady of Angels
2. Immaculate conception cathedral
3.Sacred Heart of Jesus

17. Church of our lady of
angels

18.  Perfectly
symmetrical
building
 Greek Roman
Architectural
style
 Its Façade faces
east towards
ocean
 The pastel
peach and lime
colours give it’s
a very pleasant
Appearance
 La basilique at
Lourdes,
(FRANCE)

19. Latin church

21.  Ceiling decoration similar
to pantheon in Rome
 Worship place
highlighted by keeping
it in the nave
 the nave has a dome
at top

22. Ribbed arched gallery with stained
glass to allow sunlight a property
of gothic art
 Use of vaulted
roof and arches
used to allow
increase in sitting
spaces
 Idol put in the
recessed arch
to emphasise
its importance

23. Immaculate conception cathedral

24. Frilly and organic elements

25. • Central dome
over the nave
of the church

26. Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Pondicherry
• This 100 years old historical church is
50 mts. long 48 mts. wide and 18 mts.
high with Latin rite cross shape in
aerial view is in Gothic style.
• Statues of the four evangelists were
erected, beneath which there are four
lamp posts describing their lives and
the inviting Jesus and the twelve
apostles on the front facade. The
church illuminated inside and out with
chandeliers, focus and flood lights.

27. • Use of ribbed
vaults
• To maximise
the sitting
spaces
• Clustery also
be seen to
allow day
lights

28. Top view showing latin cross

29. Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient
Ionic pillar, book shelves supported with walls similar to the

30.  The French styled architecture is suited
for this town because of the salubrious
weather with its long and huge windows
with vertical cast iron bars as grills, ornate
balconies, large courtyards, circular
arched gates, engaged columns and
stucco designs.

31. Individual French quarters
• Walls to
provide
focus on
privacy
• Letting the
viewer
have
mysterical
thoughts

32. • Partial street frontage
,compound wall with curved
panels, grand pieced gate
,parapet with pot balusters
• Large courtyard with
circular arched inner façade
with ornate balcony .
• Wooden railing over wrought iron
baluster
• Large hall,columns carring
heavy wooden beams that
support the roof.
• Semi circular arched gate
with engaged columns
• Stucco design

39.  pilasters
 Fine wall finish
 Entrance evolved from greek architecture

40. Proof of modification over the time
Use of iron for support, more finished wood work for door and
window

41. Youth
hostel
• Double
pillared
support for
the load
members
• Large span
of opening
using the
column

42. Hotels
• Entrance
emphasised
by using the
same
features
similar to
the French
houses and
garden in
front
• Fine finish
with the
windows
same as
french ones.
• The wall of
two floors
are merged
to focus on
verticality of
building

43. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
 Before French typical TAMIL architecture followed for
the buildings but after French missionaries started it
local architecture adopted many of French
architecture.
 Which became a combination of French and tamil
architecture initially.
 The churches made by French were adopted form
French Architecture.

45. THANK YOU