The aim of this project is to observe the coexistence of ethnicity and modernization, to identify a Historical vernacular pocket in metroplolis, learn about its religious and cultural rootings and also to observe the changes due to the onslaught of modernization and how traditional culture has endured or adapted itself to form a new self into the present times. The study extends into that of images, architecture, remains, and monuments, as well as its people, their needs, fears, and desires. This also leads to a chance to compare the city with the vernacular pocket or it is the study of co-existance of tradition and modernization. The role of a designer in this project is that of an observer who pans his eyes through the past, present, and future of that community.

Kochi, as it is known to the western world, is "the queen of the Arabian Sea." Her contact with the western world, which dates back to history, explains her evolution as a major metropolis and the trade capital of Kerala. She is different from the other parts of the state as a lot of radical changes have taken place in her history. The vernacular pocket identified for this is the Jew Town of the Mattancherry township, a major part of the metropolis of Kochi. Mattancherry is a small town in Kochi which is not much affected by the fast growing pace of the city and has a mix cultured community comprising of Kerala hindus, the biggest part, Muslims, Christians and a minor North Indian community of Parsees and Gujarathis mostly. The jew town part of Mattancherry was once in her full glory dating back to centuries and now on its journey, becoming a monument of that glorious past, with a few jews freezing inside it, still the conservative nature and strong social bonds of this community is another reason for working on this particular area.

The study extends to the documentation of people, places, objects, phenomena, activities, and rituals, looking at and observing things from a designer's point of view, for whom an awareness of and information on the society in which he lives is very important.