Understanding the Change in Character of Courtyards

Shuchi Mishra

ABSTRACT

The ‘Courtyard’ typology has existed for thousands of years in our country and can be traced back
to the Indus valley civilization. Traditionally used as a central space between houses/rooms owned
by individual families, courtyards served as the focal point of a settlement and strengthened
interior relationships while keeping the outside separate; it served as a protective barrier against
the climate, enemies, animals and so encouraged social interactions and became an important
interface for all communal activities.

As one of the most primeval typology in architecture, courtyards have been seen in all types of
buildings, be it commercial, residential, institutional, recreational or industrial; however, they have
been most prominent in residential dwellings. They serve as source of air flow, illumination and
provide thermal comfort to a residence by acting as a heat radiator in summers and absorber in
winters.

A courtyard traditionally served as a place for family gathering and living, a comfortable and cool
place for sleeping during the hot summers, a safe area for the children to play, a source of day light
and natural ventilation for the surrounding rooms and a circulation core of the house linking all the
spaces in a controlled manner. Despite all these advantages, the courtyard house has been
neglected and ignored in the development of contemporary housing projects in the Indian-
subcontinent. Observing newer construction today, this typology has faded away in most of our
country’s metropolitan/developing cities and only gives a vague notion of its origin. Change in
social, climatic and cultural patterns have all contributed to the above mentioned statement.
Moreover, the change in family structure, housing policies, reorientation of the house to the street
and the individualization of rooms has made the introduction of a courtyard space a difficult task.

The research paper aims to understand the residential ‘courtyard typology’, its conception,
perception and execution; briefly discussing its social, cultural, religious and climatic implications;
and its significant change as a function in contemporary times. It takes one through the evolution of
courtyards and ends with explaining contemporary courtyards, how they have evolved, changed
and perceived today. It discusses their disappearance and reasons for the same. The paper tries to
achieve this possible conclusion by understanding the evolution and supporting it with case
studies

The paper establishes the relevance of the courtyard typology in contemporary times and ends with
the conclusion that the courtyard house remains an appropriate built form, not only for the climatic
conditions of hot-arid regions but also for Indian Culture. It could still fulfil the requirements of
contemporary lifestyles, if redefined and considered in the light of technological and socio-
economic changes. Architects could usefully redefine aspects of the courtyard, such as the degree
of enclosure, spatial configuration, façade proportions, architectural details, materials and so on,
in order to modernize the typology. Instead of being a simple symmetry and the closed form, the
traditional house courtyard could become a dynamic, asymmetrical balance of interacting walls
and spaces suited for a more contemporary living.

1. Understanding the ‘Courtyard Typology’

Historic Evolution of Courtyards

A courtyard can be defined as an open to sky space usually enclosed by buildings on all four sides.
This typology has existed for over thousands of years now and the earliest courtyards discovered
can be traced back to 6500 BC in India and China.[1] Before courtyards, open fires were kept
burning in a central place within a home, with only a small hole in the ceiling above to
allow smoke to escape. Over time, these small openings were enlarged and ultimately led to the
development of the centralized open courtyard we understand today. [2] Traditionally, this typology
was designed in an attempt to protect oneself against the harsh changing climate, enemies and
animals; and to successfully bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor spaces by creating
outdoor enclosures that offer environmental advantages and privacy, spaces that both – protect
and expose at the same time.

Illustration1: Elements of a typical Courtyard

Although the basic understood courtyard form of a residential dwelling is rectangular or cubic in
plan, it does not have a fixed shape or size, it may be curvilinear or amorphous too. A block with a
perforated hole in the middle as a space designed for ventilation, yet confined with the box is the
conventional courtyard type. However, this form may be and has been altered to adapt to the
topography, site restrictions, building orientation andDiagram 1 shows the different elements of a
typical courtyard, it possesses numerous important and strategic features which are vital in its
concept and form. It must be understood that though these elements have been modified and
altered in different regions and cultures, they are usually constantly present in all courtyard houses
across the world. A surrounding wall provides security and the inward looking spatial concept offers
family privacy. The enclosed house efficiently eliminates the noise, dust and urban commotion of
the street.

functions to create new formal shapes such as the L, U, H, T, V or Y.[3] The size and scale of a
courtyard can vary from very intimate to quite spacious depending on the climate zone and social
culture placed in. In any case, the aim to be achieved is to create a pleasing frame of light and air.

Traditionally, courtyards served as a central space between houses/rooms owned by individual

families, there by acting as the focal point of the settlement which increased social interactions
and strengthened interior relationships. It ensured privacy, security, and serenity for the members
of the settlement. It offered opportunity for the family surrounding it to create a quiet private area
uniquely identified with the family and its culture through architectural design and detailed
treatment.1

Based on Historical evidence found, courtyard Houses in India can be traced back to 6500-6000
BC. Evidence of the earliest village incorporating this typology is from Mehergarh (Kacchi
Plain of Present Pakistan)[4]. The settlement consisted of an irregular scatter of mud brick houses
arranged around a central open to sky space. Over the years this typology evolved under the various
ruling dynasties, giving rise to courtyards that were incorporated within houses of different parts of
our country. This section of the paper gives a generic understanding of traditional courtyards of the
15th century and their social, cultural, religious and climatic implications.

Social Implications

The primary benefit of this typology is the sense of enclosure and privacy given to the residents of
the house because of its inward form. The courtyard acted as the principle organizer of space with
all functions oriented towards it. It functioned as the heart of the house, where different activities
could take place during different parts of the day. Analysing the below illustrations, one observes
that no specific function is designated to the different rooms surrounding the courtyard, exception
being the kitchen and puja room. This “outdoor room” can be used as an extension of the kitchen
and dining area during mornings, an extension of the living room during evenings to entertain guests
and as a sleeping area for the nights. Usually, all the rooms of the residence face the courtyard,
creating a direct relationship between the inside and outside. This arrangement would encourage
family members to use the courtyard as a group.
Illustration 1: Typical Plan and Section of Traditional Indian Courtyard residence

Cultural Implications

In many courtyard residences all across the country, more than one courtyard can be observed, this
is usually done to separate the public and private spaces within the house. The public sphere is
mainly for the guests and is largely used by the male members of the family whereas the inner court
is more constrained to the family and is usually an outdoor space enjoyed by the female members
of the house.[5] This implication of the courtyard house demonstrations how architecture can be
used as a tool to create a barrier between genders and also, how gender bias has been prevalent in
architecture design too.

Religious and Symbolic Implications

The courtyard is both symbolically and religiously significant. Courtyards have been accepted as a
secular form in almost all the religions around the globe. The most universal religious use of the
open courtyard is for the congregation for religious festivals. Most Hindu courtyards are well-known
by the placement of a Tulsi (basil) plant which is watered and worshipped.[6] Islam follows the
theory of segregation and the importance of house privacy. It gives priority to men as the leader of
the family in the house and on streets. In line with this concept, women are not supposed to
be seen by strangers inside the house or outside the house without a veil. This whole notion is
translated in the introverted design of the traditional Islamic courtyard house which helped
generate a space where women are not exposed to the street and yet enjoy outdoor leisure
activities.[7]

The courtyard within the surrounding walls of a residence has been considered as a spatial symbol
of inwardness and femininity in the house. It may symbolize many things: the principal focus of
interest in the house; a concentration of light, wind, sound and water or a private, safe and life-
sustaining retreat. Another symbolically recognized factor for a traditional courtyards is the area to
have a vedika (sacrificial altar). It is a place for a sacrificial puja and family marriage.

According to the ancient practice of Vastu Shastra, the Brahmasthan is the main centre of
any plot from where Vastu directions are determined which makes it an extremely calm and
cosmically connected point. According to Vastu this area of plot should be fixed for open space
with no construction as it is the root of all energies that are dispersed to every corner and
surrounding of plot. So construction in the centre of plot means blocking the main energy that
keeps a living place lively. Courtyards were incorporated in the centre of homes to fulfil the
mentioned purpose.

Climatic Implications

The courtyard is a space in the house that is least affected by the annual, seasonal and diurnal
weather changes. Courtyards have been generally referred to as a microclimate modifier in the
house due to their ability to moderate high temperatures, channel breezes and adjust the degree of
humidity. The properties of self-shading and thermal lag is used to reduce heat gain in courtyard
houses by using the right proportions and building materials (the right proportions and orientation
of courtyard may block higher summer sun angles while allowing lower winter sun angles). The
courtyard floor and surrounding walls are usually a good radiator of heat based on the material
used. Thus, the courtyard acts like a cool air reservoir especially in hot-arid climates where clear
sky conditions favour the heat radiation property of surface materials. This helps in maintaining
lower temperatures in the court and especially the ground floor rooms. Use of light-coloured highly
reflective surface materials in courts help to bring more daylight into the surrounding rooms. Using
plants and water elements in courtyards helps to add moisture to the air and enhance comfort
conditions in hot-dry climates. In some arid regions the courtyards also functioned as rainwater
collector, the courtyards here are linked to ‘tankas’ for harvesting rain water.[8]
Illustration 2: Climatic Implications of Courtyards 9
Phase 1: Cool night air descends into courtyard and fills surrounding rooms, walls, floors, roofs and
ceiling which become cooled and remain so until the late afernoon. Once the sun is up, the
courtyard loses heat by radiating it to the sky.

Phase 2: Once the sun strikes the courtyard directly around noon, the cool air starts to rise and leak
out of rooms through convection. With the outdoor temperature rising, wall thickness and material
prevent heat to penetrate through walls.

Phase 3: In the late afternoon, the courtyard floor and the interior of the house become warmer
allowing for convection and heat exchange with the cool interior air.[9]

2. Modernism and Social Changes

With the emerging 18th century, the British colonized India, set up the East India Company and by
the 19th century, the era of British Raj had started. This brought many British officials to India along
with their families and they brought their culture, religion, social values and architecture with them.
A new residential typology stared spreading in British India, ‘the Bungalow’. According to Desai “A
bungalow is a free standing, ‘courtyard-less’, ‘outward-facing’, one- or two storeyed ‘European-style’
building.” 5

The British Bungalow

The bungalow typology was the opposite of the Courtyard typology present in traditional Indian
homes. The courtyard allowed penetration of light and air inside the house; social, cultural and
religious activities were centripetal: movement was inwards as opposed to the bungalow where the
activities were centrifugal on to verandah and further into the compound. The compound was an
extension of the bungalow’s internal space, an outdoor room, fulfilling a multiplicity of social,
political, cultural and I psychological needs. Here, the compound served as the traditional
courtyard.

By the 19th century, most Indian families adjusted and embraced the bungalow as a new form of
residence, however they continued to live their daily lives according to local traditions as social
changes were slower and more challenging. This resulted in a new typology that combined the
bungalow and the traditional courtyard house. New Indian residences displayed neo-classical
facades and strong European influences in their visual character but were planned as twin- or
multiple-courtyard houses which addressed the need for gender segregation and strict social
hierarchy in Indian joint families.[10]
 Image 1: Typical British Bungalow10

Before the end of British Raj in 1947, India had already entered into the new era of modernism, but
at that time any Western thought and practice introduced or followed by the British was seen as
“modern”. This was because India had no uniform independent architectural movement in the early
20th century. Ideas influenced by the Bauhaus School of Architecture and Le Corbusier, brought to
India were considered and known as ‘modern’. The later Art Deco movement, influenced by both
regional and exotic motifs, was also categorized under modern architecture. With strong visionaries
like Rabindranath Tagore and Jawaharlal Lal Nehru modernism in India was more like an overall
approach to life. It meant designing the world positively, improving it, doing better than the required
standard, being progressive and inventive.

Functionalism was a fundamental principle associated with modernism. Every room now had a
fixed function – a place to entertain guests, a place to eat, a place to cook, a place to sleep, a place
to relax, a place to study and so on. Due to this, the traditional multi-functional courtyard served no
unique purpose in residences. By the 1960’s and 1970’s the bungalow in its new guise had become
the modern house inhabited by many middle class families. While it was still located in a walled
compound it was very different in appearance and layout to the British Bungalows in India. The
amount of applied decoration on facades and in the interior spaces was completely eliminated.
They were designed using abstract composition rather than symmetrical patterns in organising the
various rooms. The circulation system was radically changed, the living spaces now flowed into
each other horizontally and vertically. The portico often got transformed into a simple overhang
above the main door and later the porch and varandah were eliminated altogether. The new way to
design also reflected the new ways of life, the adoption of a modernist house was seen by many
people as they were released from ‘the shackles of the past’- from past ways of life of majorly
casteism and sexism .It was a symbol of socially and psychologically moving towards a more
egalitarian society.[11]

Case Study – 1970’s Modern Residence

House in Koramangala, Bengaluru designed by Charles Correa

 The adaptation of the traditional South
Indian house to Modern Times is demonstrated in the house at Koramangala Bengaluru designed by
Charles Correa; the house was constructed in the mid 1987 as an Office /Studio/home for his
children. While the site layout is similar to the British bungalow (with a front garden and backyard),
the single storeyed dwelling is conceptually very different. The house is asymmetrical and designed
with the entrance off centre and a yin-yang concept. The courtyard acts as a centre with the studio
and home aligned diagonally to it. The path of movement leads one from the front door on the main
façade, and then moving along a shifting axis to arrive at the Courtyard of which the other rooms
open. The interior is flooded with light and cool breeze from the Courtyard which is located in the
symbolic as well as the geometric centre of the house and contains an ornamental Champa tree. It
is a reminder of the past and a statement of the house’s location India. In such houses, the
traditional Courtyard, if used at all, serves an aesthetic and symbolic function if not a climatic or
activity one. Correa was criticizing the British Colonialist Bungalow style houses as well as the
stereotypical ‘vernacular’ Indian Architecture to create this more modern take on post-
independence Indian Architecture. He successfully achieved cultural identity by starting from the
premise of local or regional architecture, in this case, the traditional courtyard houses of South
India and transforming it into something more symbolic and modern.[12]

Illustration 2: Section

Social Changes in Modern India and Modernization

The new social context is shaped by the sociocultural changes within the Indian society itself, and
by the effects of the importation of Western ideas and technologies. The term modernisation does
not denote any philosophy or movement, but it only symbolises a process of change. Modernisation
is understood as a process which indicates the adoption of modern ways of life and values. Initially,
the term was being used to refer only to change in economy and its related effect on social values
and practices. However, today the term is understood as an attempt, on the part of the people,
particularly those who are custom based, to adopt themselves to the present time, conditions,
styles, and ways in general. It indicates a change in people’s food habits, dress habits, speaking
styles, taste, choices, preferences, ideas, values, recreational facilities and so on.

Traditional courtyards were designed in accordance with community values (social, cultural, and
religious), with the urban design principles which shaped urbanisation in harmony with those
values. Today the pattern of values which favoured communal life and community living has
changed to that of greater individualization. Social changes along with the drastic increase in village
to town/city migrants, led to a change in family structure from a joint-family to a nuclear one, the
need to socialize and interact at a larger scale is redundant. Modern urban design is the material
expression of these changes. Architecture is strongly influenced by the world of technology, an
influence which touched even the house, as evidenced by Le Corbusier’s ‘machine a
habiter’.[13] Western exportations range from goods such as cars to construction materials and
also to concepts and ways of living. This is helped by means of communication via television, the
Internet and so on. As a result the local way of life and the psyche of Indian people has been
steadily undermined, leading to consequential changes in housing requirements. By following
modern trends and copying western architecture styles, local architects and clients have
encouraged the disappearance of traditional identity and architecture typologies.3. Contemporary
Courtyard Housing

3. Contemporary Courtyard Housing

The previous chapters describe the courtyard typology as an outdoor living space, favoured by local
climatic conditions and family life, the various advantages of having a courtyard in a residence have
been summarized below:

• an appropriate place for family gathering as a living and dining area

• a comfortable and calm place for sleeping during the hot summer nights

• a safe area for children to play under their mother’s supervision

• a source for daylight and natural ventilation for the surrounding rooms

• an internal environment with a pleasant microclimate

• the circulation hub of the house linking all the spaces in a controlled fashion.

However, despite all the advantages, the courtyard house has been neglected and ignored in the
development of contemporary housing projects in the Indian Sub-Continent. The contemporary
home for most Indian families is an apartment in a high-rise building or, for the wealthy, a detached
villa. In both cases the environment is mainly controlled by mechanical means (air-conditioning,
etc.) with the inevitable consequence of isolating the interior world from the exterior. This is what is
called the ‘exclusive’ model because the form of the building and the nature of the envelope
encourages isolation.[14] These buildings are self-contained blocks surrounded by free space. In
such buildings, people are isolated from their surroundings, becoming physically and socially
separate. This chapter will focus on studying the problems and reasons of not having courtyard
houses today.

Reasons for disappearance of courtyards

Today, people are more concerned about the image of the house than the integration of spaces
within it. It is the medium by which they appear on the public sight: the very thing that the
traditional common houses with their blind walls and doors rejected. There is a strong
psychological concern in this matter, people prefer their house to express their status and, as a
medium of relation with others. The reorientation of the house to the street has caused a shift in the
focus from the central space to the front facade. In this way the courtyard becomes less useful as a
symbol of status and acts as an unwanted and waste space. In addition, the individualization of
rooms (as a modern way of living) weakens the need for an internal space for a collective family life.
Due to the change from joint to nuclear families, the new space for ‘family living’ shifts to the
bedrooms or in some cases the living room. The housing policies have imposed small plots where
the introduction of the courtyard is difficult and cuts out space from other functional spaces valued
more today. In terms of comfort, people refuse to cross the open space (the courtyard) in order
to move from one place to another, preferring shorter, sheltered, air-conditioned transition spaces
of the modern houses. Construction has moved from horizontal development (plotted
neighbourhoods) to vertical development (high rise apartments) due to the inadequate
availability of land. These high rise buildings limit the introduction of courtyards due to the area
available per flat and high per square feet land rates.

Below are the summarized reasons for the disappearance of the courtyard house; Table 1 describes
the difference between the past and present homes with respect to the need of courtyards –

• The Housing policy has imposed small plots, making the introduction of courtyard space a
difficult task.

• The reorientation of the house to the street has created a social need to expose the
inhabitants’ social status to the wider world. Urban planning regulations have encouraged
this effect.

• The individualization of rooms has undermined the collective life of the family and made the
need for a shared internal space largely unnecessary.

• Shift from horizontal to vertical land development makes it difficult to incorporate

courtyards on each level/flat.

PAST PRESENT

Protection against animals & enemies New ways of construction and technology ensure sa
The need for privacy for women and children No longer need for privacy of women

Global warming has caused a drastic rise and fall in

Climate was moderate and adjustable; the concept of ‘air- temperatures for both summers and winters. High
conditioning was unknown dependence on air-conditioning

Joint families: Need for a large common space for interaction Nuclear families: Living room/Bedroom become the
and family activities space for family interaction

Less inclination on religious activities, separate puja

Religious implication of worshiping tulsi plant with tulsi plants placed in balconies or gardens

Insufficient play areas for children of the house, hence the Abundant number of parks and play grounds for chil
courtyard served as an indoor safe play area high rises and neighbourhood homes

Horizontal development of land- courtyards could be Vertical development with high rise apartments- diff
incorporated accommodate courtyards in all houses

Table 1: Comparison between Past and Present need for Courtyards

Observing construction and residential design today, one can see how exterior spaces in
residences have been reduced to small verandas/gardens and balconies that are seldom used
because they offer neither privacy (exposed to public spaces) nor functional space (dimensions
and relationship with other spaces are frequently inadequate). Thus, their role is to express
modernity, or façade modulation rather than use. Due to the plot and construction constraints
these are the only private ‘open spaces’ provided in homes today.[15] Moreover studying the daily
routine in one’s life today, people do not have the time to go and sit in a garden or an open space, all
free time is spent in other indoor activities, in such cases it is beneficial to have a courtyard house
as it keeps one in constant touch with the open, and in some cases green, thereby promoting a
healthier lifestyle.

4. Contemporary Case Studies

This section of the paper analyses courtyards in two contemporary houses in Gurgaon. It aims to
understand the space, society, environment, use and the idea behind its inclusion in the residence.
The primary first hand case studies are from Gurgaon , a city in India, situated in the state
of Haryana and immediately south of the National Capital New Delhi (32 kilometres southwest) and
with a population of 876,824. Witnessing rapid urbanization and modernization, Gurgaon has
become a leading financial and industrial hub with the third highest per capita income in India. The
city houses a number of young professionals with visions and ideas for tomorrow; one then tries to
understand the lifestyle and residence requirements for this generation in such a city.

The city experiences a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate. The city experiences four
distinct seasons – spring (February – March), summer (April – August), autumn (September –
October) and winter (November – January), along with the monsoon season setting in towards the
later half of the summer. Summers, from early April to mid-October, are typically hot and humid,
with an average daily June high temperature of 40 °C (104 °F). Winters are cold and foggy with few
sunny days, and with a December daytime average of 3 °C (37 °F). Spring and autumn are mild and
pleasant seasons with low humidity. The monsoon season usually starts in the first week of July and
continues till August with an average annual rainfall is approximately 714 millimetres (28.1 in).[16]

Case Study 1: 62, PineDrive Residence

Location: Gurgaon, Haryana | Area: 336m2 | Owner: Mrs Uma Ramanathan

Image 2: Courtyard

The 62 PineDrive residence is a house centred around a courtyard with water features and greens
as its focal point. The courtyard is central in plan, where every room faces onto the courtyard and
thus gets a good amount of light and vegetation. A driveway and secondary gate separates the main
entrance from the courtyard for privacy reasons. It creates a continuity between both green spaces
(Front and Backyard). The bedrooms are located on the upper floor and they overlook the courtyard.

Image 3: Plan

Image 4: Section
The house was built as a replica to the owner’s former house in Old Delhi, but with a larger
courtyard and in a modern style villa. The courtyard incorporates a small pond and greens to make
the space more interactive and climatically viable. The Ramanathan family is socially very active
and have guest parties every fortnight, it is then when this courtyard is used to serve as an extended
open space to the living room and accommodate for food and barbeques.

The original role of the courtyard as a thermal modifier inside the house is questionable in this
design. Due to the large span of the courtyard, the enclosing buildings do not shade the space
during the harsh summers; leaving it exposed to the sun and making it an uncomfortable space
throughout the afternoons in the months from April-October. However, due to the pond present in
the premises, it functions as a climate modifier by cooling and humidifying the air before it reaches
the surrounding spaces. Therefore making the evenings are cooler and less humid. The winters
make this a comfortable space to relax and enjoy the warm sun while the children play sports like
cricket and basketball.

Emphasis has been focused on the visual relationship between the different spaces/rooms around
the courtyard in order to give a sense of spatial connectivity and openness. In this way, the
collective family can move from one space to another according to climate or other circumstances,
with the benefits of contemporary amenities and the advantages of the traditional courtyard way of
life.

Image 3: Image of the pond behind the greens

I

mage 4: Courtyard B

Case Study 2: B-99 House

Location:Gurgaon,Haryana |Area: 350m2|Architect: DADA Partners|Owner: Mr.Sumit Arora

Main design idea for this sub- urban house was to serve as an archetype of fusion between
traditional and modern architecture. The house is organized around a central courtyard that acts as
the ‘Brahmastan’ (sacred centre) and allows for indoor spaces to engage and enjoy the diurnal as
well as seasonal rituals of sun and wind. [17] The architects have used this idea and organized the
functions around the central courtyard on both floors (ground and first). The house incorporates
hierarchy of zones with formal living spaces in front and private areas at the back. The courtyard
that forms centre of the house faces south and is overlooked by living and bedroom areas on the
ground and first floor respectively. On the ground and first floors, rooms at front and rear are
connected by ‘bridge-like’ spaces that run along the courtyard.
Image 5: View of the Courtyard
Illustration 5: Plan

Courtyard A: Ground Floor | Courtyard B: Basement

The architects have had a vision green, and have built a sustainable home, creating interconnected
courtyards which are favourable to natural ventilation and result in cooler areas. Except for these
courtyard, there are also a series of smaller courts/ voids scattered on all levels bringing in light and
ventilation to the spaces and serving as lungs of the house while simultaneously providing views
out from every room.[18]

Image 6: View from the living into the Courtyard (Ground Floor)
Image 7: View into the Courtyard below (First Floor)

The courtyard is covered during the harsh summers and so, allows diffused light to enter and keeps
it relatively cooler than the outside. The winters offer a comfortable space to sit and enjoy the warm
sun. As the courtyard is well connected to all the living spaces on the ground and first floor, it
successfully serves its purpose of illumination and ventilation. Further, the courtyard is landscaped
with a champa tree and soft grass pavements, which give it an element of nature and makes the
space more inviting and comfortable.

From the functional point of view, the courtyard of the B-99 House is utilized on all three levels.
First, it functions as the reception area for the studio in the basement, with waterfalls and the
abundant source of natural light. Second, the courtyard on the ground floor acts as an extended
outdoor living space and the focal point for the house when viewed from the first floor. And third, it
acts as a transition/open space for circulation on the first floor.

In this project, the architect has attempted to integrate the concept of the courtyard typology into a
Western-oriented design where the spaces are arranged in an open and free plan layout. Such a
house organization will be perceived by some people as an ideal model for the combination of the
‘indian’ and the ‘western’. Indian for preserving the concept of a courtyard where as western for
adopting the open plan approach and modern building materials such as steel and glass. To
conclude, the residence is an example to show how courtyards can be used in contemporary
homes giving it a character different from the traditional courtyards discussed above, yet serving
the social and climatic purposes.
Illustration 6: Vertical flow of Courtyards in the Residence[19]

While the above studies embrace the courtyard typology in contemporary homes – spaces
designed around and opening into the courtyard; some designs incorporate landscaped courtyards
to enhance aesthetics within homes. Such courtyards are enclosed in glass boxes so that they do
not disturb the indoor air-conditioned micro- climate.

Image 8: Residence in Mohali- Charged Voids

Image 9: Rishikesh House by Rajiv Saini and Associates
 Image 10: Twin Courtyard House -Charged Voids

The above images show courtyards that are enclosed in glass boxes. The proportions of these
courtyards make it difficult for family activities – social, cultural or religious. The courtyards
incorporated in these residences serve as landscaped light wells and question of the definition of
courtyards as discussed in the previous chapters.

5.Conclusion

Although some designs attempt to re-interpret the courtyard principle in housing using backyards
and gardens, the results are often unsatisfactory for many reasons. The exterior space created is
pushed to either the corner or rear of the house plot and does not constitute the centre of the plan.
Moreover, its poor spatial quality and inefficient relationship to other spaces makes it a deserted
and a useless space for the inhabitants. Hence, it lacks the courtyard characteristics of the
traditional house and is neither a functional nor a symbolic space. Certain contemporary houses
offer an extension to the living or bedroom which is semi covered and landscaped with trees and
water bodies. Here, this space does not have genuine courtyard characteristics because there is no
sense of enclosure. Its character is that of a modern garden rather than that of a traditional
courtyard.5. Conclusion

Creating a new Contemporary Typology

Unfortunately those responsible for construction in India have abandoned the courtyard dwelling in
favour of the typical North American suburban scheme that is characterized by a free-standing
house located in the centre of the building plot. This chapter addresses how the courtyard can be
considered within a broader theoretical framework that locates the role of tradition in relation to
contemporary building understanding today.

The courtyard house remains an appropriate built form, not only for the climatic conditions of hot-
arid regions but also for Indian Culture. It could still fulfil the requirements of contemporary
lifestyles, if redefined and considered in the light of technological and socio-economic changes.
The reproduction of traditional models, however, has failed to convince most clients. One needs to
stop idealising the past, accept the reality of today and seek to build a better future. Thus the way
they solve local problems can also contribute to the wider architectural and social discourse in
India. What is required is a contemporary revival of the courtyard typology based upon a fusion of
past and present values.

The courtyard, by its enclosure, has two principal roles—to create a microclimate and to provide a
private outdoor space exclusive to the residents. However, air-conditioning undermines the first
and modernizing values of the second. Reviving the principles of the traditional house for
contemporary life should involve more than reusing the same spatial configuration or repeating the
same architectural elements and decoration. Enclosure, as achieved in the traditional house,
presents a paradoxical situation: certainly privacy and microclimate are well concretized; however,
a sensation of being ‘closed up’ is present. Furthermore, the inner envelope of the courtyard, which
is usually handled with a certain inflexibility, deprives the house of its spatial diversity and richness.
Architects could usefully redefine aspects of the courtyard, such as the degree of enclosure, spatial
configuration, façade proportions, architectural details, materials and so on, in order to modernize
the typology. Instead of simple symmetry and the closed form, the traditional house courtyard
could become a dynamic, asymmetrical balance of interacting walls and spaces.

Landscaping could play a major role in improving the aesthetic and spatial quality of the courtyard.
Greenery and water do not just enhance the microclimate created by the courtyard but also create
healthier and more enjoyable environments. Thus the courtyard could fulfil its real function as a
family space in contact with nature: an exterior living room, since the weather is conducive to
exterior life. These qualities are achievable only by a symbiotic composition of architectural, artistic
and landscaping elements.[20] Vegetation and water, if manipulated in a modern way, could
enliven the space and make it more dynamic while still meeting the contemporary needs of Indian
families.

Emphasis should be focused on the visual relationship between the different spaces around the
courtyard in order to give the sense of spatial connectivity and openness. In this way, the collective
family could move from one space to another according to climate or other circumstances, with the
benefits of contemporary amenities and the advantages of the traditional courtyard way of life.

It is recognized that apartments in high-rise structures, large houses and other types will continue
to be built, and there is no single solution for housing form or policy. However, a major thrust should
be focused on a residential neighbourhood approach which recognizes the merit of the courtyard
concept at both the building and urban design level. This means a low-rise, high-density
neighbourhoods with off-street parking and houses designed to fully utilize the climate for warming
in winter and cooling in summer.

It is difficult, though possible, to insert the traditional features of the courtyard house, such as the
compact courtyard and garden, in a multi-level apartment structure. Features such as automobile
parking, solar orientation, ventilation, environmental quality and human health, in general present
difficulties for the high-rise apartment typology. The apartment structure is also energy intensive
and generally dependent upon air-conditioning. These features must be considered in the long-
term development policies for any region for a time when energy will no longer be cheap. An energy
efficient urban infrastructure should be put in place now, rather than burden the future society with
a costly energy inefficient habitat infrastructure.[21]

A review of current patterns of contemporary housing shows three types in and around cities in the
Indian region: 1) apartment houses; 2) informal settlements; 3) traditional houses for extended
families, generally of a modified courtyard house type. These trends appear to be prevalent in
provincial areas and larger cities to different degrees. However, as the typology proves to be useful
and appreciated, certain measures must be taken to revive it in the present construction
framework. To summarize the above stated points, such measures can be taken to revive the
courtyard typology in contemporary times,

• develop housing types which respond to local residential needs

• evolve urban concepts that suit modern needs but incorporate courtyard housing as the
primary element

• define a set of generic design principles and indicators to guide developers (public and
private)

• re-engage modern development with the traditions of Indian architecture and urban form

• The courtyard plays a vital compositional and amenity role for each dwelling. It provides
residents with the opportunity to enjoy a private open space with green elements for a
period of more than 6 months per year in any Indian city.

• The role of the courtyard is not limited to decorative and recreational purposes: it is
essential to the supply of lighting and ventilation of the house, thereby reducing energy
consumption over non-courtyard typologies.

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