Charupadi is an aesthetic seating area on your balcony which overlooks the front garden and driveway of the house.
Charupadi is an essential element in Kerala house sit-out design. Charupadi is also known as sopanam in the local language.
The word sopanam is derived from the Sanskrit word sopana which means platform. In Kerala, it is a raised platform accessed by steps and used as seating for guests and VIPs.
In the past, houses in Kerala had the charupadi, an elevated seat made of wood that was attached to a porch or balcony known as the Poomukhom.
Purpose
The elders in the earlier days used to extemporize the charupadi as a gathering place for friends and family. The design of the seating offered both privacy and the capacity to welcome the public.
The charupadi is commonly used as a freestanding structure with a flat base and a back-to-contour. It is typically mounted to the base of the building or protrudes to save space.
The flat base also serves as a seat to rest one’s feet or take a nap. Its proximity to the garden explains the comfortable setting it offers.
Charupadi as a symbol
There were 2 distinct sorts of charupadi, one with a foot-long backrest extending up to the ceiling and the other with a halfback. The glided supporting columns frequently bore elaborate carvings, eagerly proclaiming the house’s status in society. The prevailing fashions bore the shape of a horse or a peacock.
Old Palaces in Kerala offered amazing designs. Suppression from the 1970s and 1980s eliminated the writing part and the writing books from the bottom floors of palaces.
The charupadi were usually built with the males of the household in mind, and the ones with elongated backrests were built to provide the ladies of the household a vantage point without being viewable from the outside.
Although the construction of charupadis was popular in certain areas and brought practical value, they had several different purposes as well. They were constructed in such a way as to be conveniently located near neighbourhoods or villages where people might have gatherings or settle accounts.
They were equipped with comfortable couches and chairs, offering a place for the family members to unwind and think about the day. Traditional architecture is currently experiencing a bit of regurgitation, as evidenced by the growth of charupadi in new homes.
Lots of new houses in the twenty-first century currently feature Balinese-style flooring in their balconies or verandahs. Contemporary designers have integrated old ideas with the latest trends.
Advantages and Types of Materials Used
Recall that the advantages of charupadi over conventional furniture are numerous. This has sizable benefits for public buildings and offices that utilize a lot of people. Setting up seats in Ferro cement reduces the cost by up to 30 per cent while their durability is boosted.
The design of a building will be affected if the nature of the design is disproportionate brittle building, the design of it may be considerably afflicted.
An essential aspect of a house’s interior is the charupadi, which is typically found in the middle of the inner courtyard. it is usually designed as an overhang jutting out into the courtyard to provide light to occupants. Because of its strength, teak is the preferred wood for a charupadi but other varieties of hardwood are also often used.
Preparing and carving a charupadi requires the use of skilled craftsmen.
The seat frame is mounted to the groundwork and the claws, or rakes, are nailed to the columns to make a chair. These days wood is replaced with cheaper options like Stainless steel, granite, Ferro cement etc.
Conclusion:
It is a great relaxation spot for you at your home, especially during the rain. It is a good way to relax and improve your health. And helps remove all the stress from your body.
KJA & Sons is a well-established company aiming to provide high-quality steel charupadi. We have large collections of steel and wooden charupadi designs.
Our charupadis are designed with beautiful patterns and colour combinations, which will make your room decor more dramatic.