This article is a part of Thannal Homes series – Owner’s Build
Project Overview
Kanchana Rajendran’s journey to create her owner-built Chettinad natural home began in early 2021, when she set out to build a traditional home using only pure, sustainable materials. After attending Thannal’s 10-day hands-on workshop and learning earthen-and-lime techniques, she began construction in August 2021. By April 2025, her owner-built residence and out-house—totaling 4,500 sq ft—were complete. Her story serves as a powerful Thannal workshop review, showcasing the practical results of our training.
Project at a Glance
Location: Mangalam, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu
Construction Duration: August 2021–April 2025 (approximately 44 months)
Total Built-Up Area: 4,500 sq ft (3,500 sq ft main house + 1,000 sq ft out-house)
Construction Techniques & Materials
- Foundation & Plinth: Rubble masonry for the foundation and plinth/stem wall capped with stone slabs as plinth beams.
- Walls: Combination of adobe bricks bound with mud-and-lime mortar and traditional burnt clay bricks—structural stability is provided by brick arches instead of lintel beams.
- Roofing:
- Ground Floor: Mangalore (terracotta) tile roof over the courtyard.
- First Floor: Madras Terrace roof capped with Mangalore tiles.
- Out-House: Hourdi vault over the open kitchen and Porotherm block roofing on the remaining portion.
- Woodwork: All doors, windows, and built-in cabinets crafted from reclaimed timber by Kerala artisans.
- Finishes: 7 layers Chettinad lime plaster, tell-dakt plasters and clay plasters are the plasters. Terracotta tile flooring is laid throughout. Electrical and plumbing lines are fully concealed behind these natural finishes
Design Inspiration & Implementation
Kanchana’s affinity for Bharathanatyam and yoga inspired her commitment to living in harmony with nature. When she discovered that most builders were adding cement to mud mixes, she pursued Thannal’s workshop to master lime-and-earth construction with zero cement. She chose a Chettinad-style layout centered on an open courtyard. Over four years, she supervised each phase: sourcing stone for the plinth, producing adobe bricks on-site, and collaborating with reclaimed-wood carpenters. As construction progressed—masonry, joinery, and finishes—her family shifted from skepticism to enthusiastic support.
Key REVIVAL ELEMENTS
- Central Courtyard: Permits abundant natural light and cross-ventilation, anchored by a Mangalore-tile roof.
- Traditional Kitchen: Integrated Natural fridge in traditionally built low countertop kitchen.
- Arched Openings: Burnt-brick arches lend both structural strength and regional character.
- Reclaimed-Wood Works: From roof rafters of Madras Terrace roof to first floors Tile roof Kerala craftsmen fashioned intricate door and window frames, shutters, and shelving entirely from salvaged timber.
- Finishes: Chettinad Plasters, Tedelakt Plasters
A Note on the Journey's Cost
Many will wonder about the final cost of this beautiful home. Because this was a personal journey that unfolded over four years, Kanchana’s focus was on the art of building, not strict bookkeeping. It was a process of passion, sourcing materials as they became available and working with artisans day by day.
As a result, there isn’t a single, final number that captures the investment. It was less of a project with a budget and more of a dream taking shape, one adobe brick at a time.
A Powerful Thannal Workshop Review: Kanchana's Journey
Despite early family reservations and challenges in sourcing reclaimed materials, Kanchana remained resolute. Whenever workers and others attempted to add cement, she reinforced lime-and-mud techniques learned at Thannal. Over four years, she managed procurement, guided on-site teams in lime mortars, and ensured every detail—plinth beams, adobe walls, tile roofs, and clay plasters—reflected her vision. Her determination not only realized her dream home but also inspired local builders to adopt natural building practices.
FAQs: Building Kanchana’s Dream Natural Home
What is the current status of the home?
The house and out-house are fully complete as of April 2025. All finishes, electrical, and plumbing installations are operational.
Which Natural Building techniques and materials define the build?
- Foundation & Plinth: Dry Rubble masonry; stone-slab plinth beams.
- Walls: Adobe bricks with mud-and-lime mortar; burnt clay bricks set in lime mortar; structural brick arches.
- Roofing: Mangalore tile roof over the courtyard and first floor; Madras Terrace over living areas; Porotherm block flat roof on the out-house.
- Finishes: Chettinad lime base plaster, terracotta and clay plasters; terracotta tile flooring; reclaimed-wood fittings.
How did Kanchana journey begin?
In early 2021, frustrated by builders mixing cement into mud, she enrolled at Thannal to learn pure earth-and-lime methods.
What unique Chettinad features and techniques are present?
- A central courtyard that maximizes daylight and ventilation.
- Burnt-brick arches instead of concrete lintels.
- Reclaimed timber joinery and built-ins from Kerala artisans.
- Pure natural finishes – Chettina Plasters, Clay Plasters — no cement-based paints or synthetic sealers.
How can one learn more about sustainable construction and living practices?
To learn more about sustainable construction and living practices, one can explore Hands on workshops, Books, Online resources, and communities dedicated to eco-friendly living from Thannal. Kanchana’s journey began with attending such a workshop, which inspired her to create her Natural Home.
Kanchana Rajendran’s home stands as powerful proof that, with determination and the right knowledge, creating a true owner-built Chettinad natural home—grounded in traditional architecture—is possible even in today’s construction landscape.
Dharan Ashok
This article is by Natural builder and Architect Dharan Ashok. This article is a part of the Thannal Homes series - Owner’s Build
2 thoughts on “Kanchana’s Owner-Built Chettinad Home”
Namaste Harkirat,
Thank you for this wonderful comment. It’s a powerful thing when inspiration turns into a desire to act.
To learn the techniques, we always recommend our Combo Workshop as the best first step for a deep, hands-on experience. If attending a workshop isn’t possible for you right now, you can start your journey with our Self-Paced Online Course with guidance, which is accessible from anywhere.
Regarding your desire to advertise it, we see that as joining the movement! To help you understand the full picture, here are two essential articles:
Build a Natural Home
The Cost of Natural Building
For any questions about our courses, please email us at thannalroots<@>gmail.com. We are here to support you on that path!
I want to learn this technique and advertise it.