Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Students Preserve Chettinad Heritage with VR and Sensors
A team of students and researchers from Christ University in Bengaluru are working on a big project to save the history and culture of old houses in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu.
These houses are very special because they were built a long time ago with smart ideas to stay cool without air conditioners.
The team is using special cameras, sensors, and computers to make a digital copy of these houses.
They are also talking to the people who live there to learn about their stories, songs, and traditions.
This way, even if the houses get old and fall apart, the memories and knowledge will be saved for everyone to see and learn from.
The project will create a website, a documentary, and exhibitions so that people all over the world can experience the beauty and wisdom of Chettinad.
A team from Christ University is digitally preserving 1,042 heritage houses in Chettinad, Tamil Nadu using VR, sensors, and community stories.
The project, funded by ICSSR, runs from April 2024 to March 2026 and involves architecture, computer science, and media studies departments.
The team has collected 600 survey responses, conducted spatial and thermal studies, and mapped water systems.
They are using 360-degree cameras and 3D spatial audio to create an immersive VR experience of the mansions.
The project also documents rituals, music, folklore, and assists local artisans in securing IPR for traditional crafts.
- Who
- A team from Christ University, Bengaluru, including architecture, computer science, and media studies departments
- What
- A project to digitally preserve Chettinad heritage houses using VR, sensors, and community stories
- When
- Project duration is from April 2024 to March 2026
- Where
- Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu, India
- Why
- To preserve the knowledge and cultural heritage of Chettinad before it disappears
- Project Name
- Digitalising Chettinad Architectural and Cultural Heritage in Tamil Nadu for Sustainable Knowledge Management: An Empirical Analysis
- Funding Body
- Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)
- Project Duration
- April 2024 to March 2026
- Number of Houses Mapped
- 1,042
- Survey Responses Collected
- 600
- Participating University
- Christ University, Bengaluru
- Key Materials Used
- Belgian stained glass, Athangudi tiles, Burmese teak
- Unique Architectural Features
- High roofs, cross-ventilation systems, eco-friendly materials