I mentioned in ‘Mercuric’ of how traditional eco-friendly Keralite house (similar to a Roman villa) featured nadu muttams, like the Peristylium, and often an Impluvium to collect rainwater. Unfortunately, nadu muttams also tends to ease the burglars’ game plans. As a result, house owners have now come up with various solutions, including installing a grille along the corridors, or affixing fibreglass above the muttam. Those who installed wire meshes found their efforts to be futile. Another option was followed by the current residents of my mother’s maternal home, which used to have three nadu muttams: these have now been converted into rooms.
Any ideas of how to maintain a burglar-safe nadu muttam? 
Since my previous post, after the appearance of rainclouds in the evening, we are expecting some respite, although a local climate expert has dampened these hopes by stating that the resultant showers, if any, will be light. The more aged astutes are predicting torrential cloudbursts. The seas are apparently exceptionally rough.
Perhaps some of India´s native species could be utilised? Tigers are rather high maintenance, but a few cobras might suffice? In Brazil piranhas could be incorporated into a moat arrangement, which would simultaneously humidify and cool the air.
ReplyDeleteI hope your hot spell breaks and the cooling downpours arrive.
You mentioned fibre glass, one can get very good fibre glass ( quite transparent) which will move on rollers and the 'muttam' can be opened to the skies or closed . Not sure whether these are available in India. One of Kevin McLoud's Grand design programs based in London had a modern hourse with a movable roof which comprised of very thick glass which however will not deter the low life burglars in TVM.
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