Nalukettu is traditional architectural style where a quadrangle is made in the center of the house. Earlier it was used in the houses of Brahmans and Nair families, but in today's time it has become a status symbol for the elite classes. In this style the house are made of wood and tiles and the interiors are decorated with teak and sandalwood items.
Principles of the style: In this the foundation and the floor of the building is made out of the carved wood which resembles a lot to the East Asian gabled and thatched structures. Gradually the tiles were replaced with the coconut fronds.
The courtyard in this style is generally made at a low level and the salas roofs protect these verandas from direct sun. This is done to make the the building cool even in summers. Beside this the outer veranda has four side which are enclosed differently.
Influence: One can also call Nalukettu the science of Carpentry or the Vaastushastra the ancient Indian science of architecture. One can say that Nalukettu has the influence of both Indian and Foreign style along with Chinese and Japanese architectural styles. This is clearly evident from the wood and grabled roof structures. In this art form eight corners are the symbol of prosperity and the good luck.
Popular Buildings: Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum of Trivandrum, Bolgatty Palace of Kochi and Arakkal Palace of Kannur are some of the fine example of this art form. Along with them The Padmanabhapuram Palace, Dutch Palace of Mattancherry and Krishnapuram Palace are some famous examples of the buildings made from this art.