Hidden Design: feed these lions on the University of Madras campus some paint

At finest, it was meant to be an amuse-bouche, savoured earlier than one had a style of the intricate, heritage architectural design discovered on the opposite aspect of the compound wall. Calling it an amuse-bouche would in actual fact be an excessively beneficiant, even deceptive description, if one knew the architectural repast inexplicably grander that’s unfold out inside. 

It is an earthen design of 4 lion-faced creatures, open-mouthed and looking out in 4 instructions, constructed right into a masonry pier. Two masonry piers with this design are within the compound wall marking off the southern boundary of the University of Madras campus. The lion-faced creatures (‘yallis’ might be apt time period) look too “rundown” to efficiently hunt for consideration.

It doesn’t take a lot to rejuvenate them, and together with them your complete masonry piers: a lick of portray. The paint having worn off, the options of the creatures usually are not sufficiently decipherable now. Before the portray is finished, they might do with some hairdressing. One set of them is sporting a collective, unlikely hairdo — a plantlet. 

The compound wall on the japanese aspect of the campus, which constitutes its facade, is extra presentable. This compound wall is an alliance between sturdy carved granite stones and durable steel grilles. The identical design (4 lion-faced creatures every setting its eyes in a special course) sits atop two stone pillars, every discovered on one aspect of the campus’ principal entrance. Being painted, they handle some consideration. If the lion-faced beings on the two masonry piers on the southern compound wall are “fed” some paint the way in which these are, they might handle to seek out some consideration too.

(Hidden Design is a column that highlights minor components of design and structure within the metropolis that wait to be observed.)