Restoring the Cheraman Juma Masjid - BUILDOTECH

September 30, 2012, 6:30:00 PM

Chennai based Conservation consultant and designer Benny Kuriakose believes in architecture appropriate to its environment. He uses a mix of traditional architectural elements and vernacular architecture in perfect harmony with simple construction techniques and cost-effective materials. “One of the lessons that I learnt from him (Laurie Baker) is to avoid waste in building construction,” he says and adds that “the biggest challenge is to come out of the style syndrome.”

Among his latest projects, he is excited about starting work on the restoration of the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungallu, Kerala. Buildotech Magazine takes an interview of Benny Kuriakose about conserving the 3000 years old historic monument- Cheraman Juma Masjid. When asked about his plans for the mosque, he says that “the challenge was to increase the capacity by retaining the historic character. How to change the look has been the challenge. Most of the Indian mosques have a Persian character, and we decided that we would make the look a bit different.” Read the full article here to know all the details!