Return Of The Courtyard Homes in India | AD India (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of courtyard houses in India? ›

The first courtyard houses, according to historical evidence, appeared to have originated in India probably around 6500-6000 BC. When we meticulously assess different cultures, we can understand that the courtyard buildings were an integral part of the Chinese, Japanese, Spanish societies.

Courtyards are a fundamental entity of Indian architecture, evolving from the need for access to sunlight and ventilation indoors. The feature soon took on a social character as the heart of the home where activities would range from morning chores to evening relaxation.

Importance of courtyards in Indian architecture

Natural ventilation and light: courtyards serve as natural ventilators, channelling cool air into living spaces while illuminating interiors with abundant natural light, reducing reliance on artificial sources.

Create edges that are somewhere between indoors and outdoors. You want it to feel comfortable to linger at the edges of the courtyard. Ensure that at least one edge of the courtyard is a covered outdoor space, like a verandah or porch, that you would naturally pass through or spend time in.

An inner courtyard can quickly become an obstacle to natural light and plunge a living space into darkness. The disadvantages of a courtyard can be the height of the walls which block the sun's rays if it is surrounded by buildings.

The courtyard house makes its first appearance c. 6400–6000 BC (calibrated), in the Neolithic Yarmukian site at Sha'ar HaGolan, in the central Jordan Valley, on the northern bank of the Yarmouk River, giving the site a special significance in architectural history.

There are many types of Native American homes, and the type of home built by a group was decided by their culture and lifestyle. The different types of Native American homes include teepee, wigwam, longhouse, chickee, igloo, and cliff dwelling, among others.

The traditional type of house, havelis, boasts of beautiful courtyards and intricately designed jharokhas, patterned floors, and carved pillars. Havelis are made of sandstone, marble, wood, plaster, or granite.

Taj Mahal. If someone only knows one building in India, it will be the Taj Mahal – a structure so revered that it was named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a global contest in 2007. The building was built as a mausoleum by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

A courtyard house is a type of house—often a large house—where the main part of the building is disposed around a central courtyard.

What effect does a courtyard house have? ›

In the courtyard plants and fountains are used to cool the air through evaporations. In hot humid regions courtyard plans are good for encouraging through ventilation. In northern climates the courtyard archetype is used to allow sunlight to penetrate into the house.

The benefits a courtyard provide include increasing natural ventilation and daylight in the middle of a house. They are also great for introducing an outdoor area to the interior of your home.

The green hues, reminiscent of forest scenes, will create an added connection to nature, while the darker tone will give a feeling of depth to the space, perfect for those smaller courtyards or balconies. As contrary as it sounds, more is more when it comes to smaller outdoor spaces.

That said, courtyard homes aren't inexpensive to build. The form of the home must be carved up into an L- or C-shape. That means you will have more perimeter walls to finish and insulate, and exterior materials are more expensive than sheetrock used indoors.

A variety of architectural terms describe courtyard variations, including peristyle, cloister, and garth. As with pedestrian malls, plazas, atria, and roof gardens, the creation of courtyards can extend the functional landscape into the built environment.

A courtyard house is a type of house—often a large house—where the main part of the building is disposed around a central courtyard.

This courtyard of a modern house in Harappa town, has an upper level in front of the house that is plastered and has a small entryway that can be blocked to keep out animals. Drinking water is kept in earthenware pots on a wooden stand.