Ezha, a women-led architectural group, shows the way in conservation architecture with their project in Kozhikode 

Ezha, a women-led architectural group, wins accolades for conserving a heritage structure in Kozhikode

Conservation architects Swathy Subramanian, Savita Rajan and Ritu Sara Thomas could not believe their ears when they were requested to restore a centuries-old dilapidated structure within two months for an annual ritual. They visited the heritage Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple in Naduvannur, 29 kilometres from Kozhikode in January 2023. They had to restore a mandapam in front of the sanctum sanctorum by March 10.

A year later, they are basking in the accolades coming their way for successfully restoring the heritage mandapam.

In December 2023, the women-led project won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation for their work on the Karnikara mandapam at the temple. They also won the Gold Leaf Award, instituted by the Indian Institute of Architects. Three of them, alumnae of the School of Planning and Architecture, formed Ezha in 2017. It focuses on conservation architecture, documentation and restoration of heritage structures.

Their first project for a national competition aimed at conserving and reviving a factory building of Comtrust in Kozikode. They were short-listed as one of the top nine entries from 120 submissions. That award caught the attention of Sruthin Lal, executive director of the Archival and Research Project (ARPO), who contacted them to restore the 300-year-old mandapam.

However, they did not expect it to be in such a state of disrepair. “The 16 teak pillars were crumbling due to termites and the roof would have caved in the next rain. As the wooden base was also eaten up, the pillars were hollowed. A beam holding its pillars and the roof had deteriorated,” recalls Swathy, adding, “The wooden pillars and rafters had to be replaced without altering the ancient building, and respecting the beliefs of local residents.”

The structure had a laterite plinth and a mud floor as Kalamezhuthu, a ritual, was held there. During the ritual of Kalamezhuthu, a ritualistic artwork representing deities is drawn on the floor with coloured powders made from natural ingredients.

More than a place of worship, this was the oldest structure in the neighbourhood. About 300 to 400 years old, the temple has an intrinsic connection with the locality.