Chennai’s Pelathope hosts ‘namma theru our design’ to preserve cultural heritage amid urban development

As a young girl, Shreya Krishnan, an architect and urban designer, spent several after-school hours at her grandfather’s house in Pelathope, Mylapore. The house, with its quintessential ornate grilles and sturdy columns, is now more than 150 years old — an example of the neighbourhood’s everyday heritage.

Growing up, she noticed the gradual change in the character of the street that translates to ‘jackfruit grove’. The 50-to-100-year-old buildings in this street full of lawyers had fascinated her as a child. However, they began disappearing, making way for new construction. Witnessing Vedanta Desikar Swamy Street (as it is referred to today), experience an intense transformation, instilled in her a sense of urgency to preserve Pelathope’s heritage while addressing the urban challenges in shaping its future.