Page 139 - HUDCO DESIGN AWARDS 2023-24

HISTORY AND OLD STRUCTURE

Gundert has given invaluable contributions to the
Malayalam language. In 1839, he stayed at the
bungalow, at Illikunnu, Thalassery, for two decades.
Dr. Gundert was instrumental in bringing out the
first Malayalam dictionary in 1859 and the first
Malayalam newspapers, Rajyasamacharam, which
was followed by Paschimodayam. It was while he
stayed at this bungalow that he labored long and
hard at these dream projects. He also started
school in the building in 1839.

The bungalow has wide verandahs, huge doors Plan of Old Structure
and other features of a typical colonial mansion
in Kerala. It consist of front portico with large
corridors and has sloping roofs with attics. Few
structural members were of wood and the flooring
has been completed with terracotta tiles.

It used to house a part of the Nettur Technical
Training Foundation, a distinctive institution started Section
by the Swiss Foundation. The entry to this historic
bungalow is restricted to the public. The bungalow
used to be owned by CSI church.

The bungalow was disused by keeping all the heavy
machinery. Due to the lack of maintenance, the
building was in a deteriorating stage with leaked
roofs, broken tiles, wear and tear etc.

Old structure which was part of Nettur Technical Training
Foundation

GUNDERT MUSEUM KODUVALLY, THALASSERY, KANNUR

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