9 Stunning Indian Courtyards That Soak Up the Sun
Bring natural light and ventilation to the spaces where the sun doesn't shine, with this old-school architectural feature
Climate and culture have always been major influences on architecture. They are the reason why the interior courtyard or aangan in India can be traced back to the Indus Valley civilisation. Traditionally defined as a roofless space that is either enclosed completely or partially by walls, the courtyard provides a cool, secluded area to socialise or relax outdoors, but within the home. Its form, size and the materials used have changed significantly over the years, but the courtyard has never been more appealing to the architectural world. Check out these gorgeous spaces to find out why.
2. Protecting the natural landscape
SPASM Design Architects conceptualised this home to fit into its surroundings with minimal environmental impact. The 284 existing trees and the extensive lawn dictate the design of this family home in Ahmedabad. The courtyards here are as much about protecting the trees as they are about ensuring adequate sunlight and ventilation.
Since Ahmedabad is accustomed to hot weather and courtyards allow hot air to rise and cool air to flow in from the sides by convection, the architects constructed them wherever there were trees, to serve the dual role of housing trees and aiding natural ventilation.
Take a tour of this house
SPASM Design Architects conceptualised this home to fit into its surroundings with minimal environmental impact. The 284 existing trees and the extensive lawn dictate the design of this family home in Ahmedabad. The courtyards here are as much about protecting the trees as they are about ensuring adequate sunlight and ventilation.
Since Ahmedabad is accustomed to hot weather and courtyards allow hot air to rise and cool air to flow in from the sides by convection, the architects constructed them wherever there were trees, to serve the dual role of housing trees and aiding natural ventilation.
Take a tour of this house
3. Showcasing nature at its finest
This Alibaug home by Architecture BRIO delicately weaves a stream and many medicinal and fruit trees into its design. Here, the courtyard concept, minus one concrete enclosure wall, creates a comfortable microclimate. To best enjoy this intimate ambience and take advantage of the view, the ‘day areas’ of the house – dining, kitchen, living room and entrance verandah – are all located around the courtyard.
This Alibaug home by Architecture BRIO delicately weaves a stream and many medicinal and fruit trees into its design. Here, the courtyard concept, minus one concrete enclosure wall, creates a comfortable microclimate. To best enjoy this intimate ambience and take advantage of the view, the ‘day areas’ of the house – dining, kitchen, living room and entrance verandah – are all located around the courtyard.
4. Vertical connection
The interior courtyard was traditionally developed for warmer climates because of its ability to thermally moderate the whole building. Given its direct openness to the sky, it brings in fresh air and promotes passive cooling at night.
Here, the court visually connects multiple levels of the house, and also lets the sunlight reach all adjoining spaces. The wooden flooring and wall treatment, coupled with the skylight and the plants, further accentuates the indoor-outdoor flow.
How to Live With Plants
The interior courtyard was traditionally developed for warmer climates because of its ability to thermally moderate the whole building. Given its direct openness to the sky, it brings in fresh air and promotes passive cooling at night.
Here, the court visually connects multiple levels of the house, and also lets the sunlight reach all adjoining spaces. The wooden flooring and wall treatment, coupled with the skylight and the plants, further accentuates the indoor-outdoor flow.
How to Live With Plants
5. Court with a view
Malik Architecture uses a C-shaped court in this Alibaug retreat to maximise on the panoramic views of the valley beyond, while still drawing natural light and ventilation into the deeper recesses of the home. The space is large enough to house an infinity pool and an outdoor sit-out area to catch that cool summer breeze.
Take a tour of this house
Malik Architecture uses a C-shaped court in this Alibaug retreat to maximise on the panoramic views of the valley beyond, while still drawing natural light and ventilation into the deeper recesses of the home. The space is large enough to house an infinity pool and an outdoor sit-out area to catch that cool summer breeze.
Take a tour of this house
6. Liven up the wall
Featuring a water body within a courtyard is a surefire way to enhance the nature element. However, Spaces Architects takes it a step further by adding a vertical garden to the mix too. Don’t the reflection pool, living wall and Buddha statue just beckon you to calm down?
Tricks to Make Your Walled Courtyard Look Bigger
Featuring a water body within a courtyard is a surefire way to enhance the nature element. However, Spaces Architects takes it a step further by adding a vertical garden to the mix too. Don’t the reflection pool, living wall and Buddha statue just beckon you to calm down?
Tricks to Make Your Walled Courtyard Look Bigger
7. Exhibition experience
Here, in this home by Cadence Architects, the glass-encased atrium looks as if it is on display. Given the site’s proximity to busy streets, the architects were prompted to conceive an introverted building. The home is laid out in an H-shaped plan, such that each arm of the H flanks the courtyard, adding extra volume to each area it touches. The open-to-sky courtyard not only becomes the point of interest and activity but also represents the outside within this introverted home.
Courtyard Styling Tricks Anyone Can Do
Here, in this home by Cadence Architects, the glass-encased atrium looks as if it is on display. Given the site’s proximity to busy streets, the architects were prompted to conceive an introverted building. The home is laid out in an H-shaped plan, such that each arm of the H flanks the courtyard, adding extra volume to each area it touches. The open-to-sky courtyard not only becomes the point of interest and activity but also represents the outside within this introverted home.
Courtyard Styling Tricks Anyone Can Do
8. Pretty in pink
Inner courtyards are great multitaskers. They have traditionally been used to let the smoke out, as well as boost natural light, ventilation and the indoor-outdoor flow. While larger courts are used in family socialising activities, smaller ones can be used to create intimate and relaxing spaces. As they provide privacy, yet let you enjoy the outdoors, they are often seen as havens to unwind; your own personal refuge from a fast-paced world.
However, styling your court doesn’t have to mean adding things just for the sake of it. The Ashleys showed restraint with this weekend home’s courtyard. The single pink wall here accentuates the green of the potted plant and grass.
Take a look at more courtyards from around the world
Inner courtyards are great multitaskers. They have traditionally been used to let the smoke out, as well as boost natural light, ventilation and the indoor-outdoor flow. While larger courts are used in family socialising activities, smaller ones can be used to create intimate and relaxing spaces. As they provide privacy, yet let you enjoy the outdoors, they are often seen as havens to unwind; your own personal refuge from a fast-paced world.
However, styling your court doesn’t have to mean adding things just for the sake of it. The Ashleys showed restraint with this weekend home’s courtyard. The single pink wall here accentuates the green of the potted plant and grass.
Take a look at more courtyards from around the world
9. Solitary refuge
Through the use of courtyard-centric planning, Kumar Moorthy & Associates designed this house to combat the Delhi heat by optimising the benefits of the sun and air. The courtyard plays such an intricate part in the design that each ensuite bathroom has its own private court, and the connect with nature is never lost.
Take a tour of this house
Read more:
The Journey of Materials in Modern Architecture
5 Indoor Pools That Lap Up All the Attention
Tell us:
Does the idea of an internal courtyard appeal to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Through the use of courtyard-centric planning, Kumar Moorthy & Associates designed this house to combat the Delhi heat by optimising the benefits of the sun and air. The courtyard plays such an intricate part in the design that each ensuite bathroom has its own private court, and the connect with nature is never lost.
Take a tour of this house
Read more:
The Journey of Materials in Modern Architecture
5 Indoor Pools That Lap Up All the Attention
Tell us:
Does the idea of an internal courtyard appeal to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
For this urban Bangalore home, Cadence Architects looked to the traditional courtyard for answers to their design dilemma. Since the home is sandwiched between houses on all sides, the architects brought the views inside and created an introverted space.
Traditionally, a courtyard occupied centre space in a home; but this one has been moved to a corner of the house instead. By doing this, not only is the indoor-outdoor connect established, but the other areas of the house – the living and the dining room – are magnified. The space is further accentuated by a sculptural element that serves as an informal dining area, as well as a tub to house a tree. This space is open to the sky above and the cut-out motifs act as a jali (lattice) wall and create patterns with the sunlight shining through, further heightening the experience of the court.
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