ANALYSIS

Historic elements

The historic elements in the core city are undergoing transformation because of more commercial activities. The elements taken for study show the proportion of the structure being affected by the process of commercialization. The elements are losing their architectural features, change of use and encroachments affect the ambiance of the structure.

Though Madurai seems to be an heritage zone, the present situation portraits it becoming a commercial area. The commercialization has taken up more than 40 percent of the land and using up 37.5% of residential units for go-down purposes. This makes the residents move outside the core area, making it a commercial hub.

 Percentage of decay:

Nagara mandapam, Viravasantharaya mandapam, pudhu mandapam and raya gopuram parts of the temple complex are taken for study , which are getting transformed in to commercial spaces from historic monuments.

The historic elements are affected by the shops, through the temporary structures added by the people, the large amount of intake of people and destructions of the historic elements. Because of the commercialization, the city sustains itself but commercialization has created a situation where the city have more changes to be got converted in to a commercial hub.

 Comparison of the historic elements through time

Factors affecting the historic elements:

The historic core area is a tourist attracting place and the added to that Madurai core area is the commercial zone for the entire city of Madurai. The people from the nearby area travel to Madurai for shopping more when compared to the tourism or visiting the temple complex. During the festival season, the percentage of crowd is more including the residents of Madurai and other places of the country. In the main city , more than 37.5 % of the residential area are being used for commercial activates.

. In Chitirai Street:

The government has taken steps to conserve the historic core of Madurai. The processes undertaken are,

-       Removing the encroachments

-       Deviating the vehicular traffic from chitirai street

-       Removed vendors

Problem found:

The fabric or the activity of the street is not controlled. This result in a varied character to the place and the elements does not react to the environment. The new constructions employ new materials which is not restricted.

5.3.2. Avani  Street:

This is the second circumferential street network that covers the Meenakshi amman temple. the variety of shops ranges from textile , books to lodging facilities.

Problem due to more commercial activity are parking on streets, the facade treatments and vendors. Half the length of the streets is occupied by the parking. The parking facilities provided by the city planning department is not enough for the public.

Masi Street.

This comprises the third layer covering the meenakshi Amman temple. This area consists of commercial, residential and mixed residential area. The major land use type is mixed residential, where many buildings are getting transformed into shops and go-downs.

Veli Street:

The outer ring of the historic core of Madurai city is Veli Street. It was initially the moat surrounding the fort wall of Madurai city, which was destructed and converted in to a street during the British period. This street now serves as parking space for Lorries and entry point into the historic core.