Andhra
Pradesh consists of three distinct regions : Rayalseema,
Telangana and Coastal Andhra.
The Rayalseema area is part of the Deccan plateau and for
the most part consists of dry and stony land. Cuddapah,
a black slate used for flooring, shelving and even roofing,
derives its name from the town of Cuddapah from where it
is mined. Stone and mud are the main building materials
in this area. Thatch is the most prevalent roofing material.
The Nizam’s region or Telangana comprises of Adilabad,
Nalgonda, Warangal, Medak, Mahboobnagar, Nizamabad, Karimnagar
and Bidar. The Muslim rule of the kingdoms here had a major
influence on the architectural forms. The most elegant Muslim
homes and cenotaphs are characterized by beautiful, intricate,
stone-cut screens, delicate fluted arches and fine stucco
work.
Agricultural communities built with the materials at hand
in simple forms, which are convenient to their lifestyles,
for the protection of their livestock, for storage and for
security. The skills of the builders and crafts people are
evidenced in the meticulous workmanship of stone buildings.
Coastal Andhra consists of Nellore, Guntur, Krishna, East
and West Godavari, Khammam, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam
districts. Many architectural forms in these areas exemplify
the cross migration of the people from coastal Andhra and
Tamil Nadu.
At DakshinaChitra, three more
houses can be added to the Andhra section. The houses the
centre would like to put up are : a stone house from Cuddapah;
an agricultural home from Nellore and an old, Muslim house
from Hyderabad. Madras Craft Foundation welcomes help from
students and architects interested in identifying and documenting
traditional houses from Andhra Pradesh which might be suitable
for purchase for DakshinaChitra.
