Courtyard Planning in Indian Context

Presented by :- Piyusha Deshpande- Siddhi Pande

Guided by:Ar. J. Deshmukh Ar. D. Dabre

What is courtyard and it’s role in building ?

Courtyards in India and their functions

Nattukottai, South India

Haveli, Rajasthan

Vada, Maharashtra

Importance in Vastushastra

• Sri Chakra is the Yantra of the Cosmos.• Courtyard represents the four corners of the Universe.• Brahmasthan is the main centre of any plot. •Plot should be fixed for open space. •Construction in the centre of plot means blocking the main energy.

History of courtyard• 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.• Traced back to 6500-6000 BC. incorporating from Mehergarh (Kacchi Plain of Present Pakistan).• Acting as the focal point of the settlement.• The settlement consisted of an irregular scatter of mud brick houses arranged around a central open to sky space.

Religious Implications

Hindu Religion

IslamicReligion

Climatic Implications

Phase:1 Phase:2 Phase:3

Social and Cultural Implications

• Heart of the house, where different activities could take place during different parts of the day.

• 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.

• More than one courtyard can be observed.• 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 • the inner court is more constrained to the family and is usually

an outdoor space enjoyed by the female members of the house.

British Influence

British Bungalow

Reasons for disappearance of

courtyard• People prefer their house to express their status and, as a medium of relation with others.

• the individualization of rooms . • Construction has moved from horizontal development (plotted neighbourhoods)

to vertical development (high rise apartments) houses.• New ways of construction and technology ensure safety• The need for privacy for women and children.• Climate was moderate and adjustable• Joint families: Need for a large common space for interaction and family activities• Nuclear families: Living room/Bedroom become the new space for family

interaction• Less inclination on religious activities• Abundant number of parks and play grounds for children in high rises and

neighbourhood homes.

Open spaces instead of courtyards

Case Study-1

Plan

Section

Case Study-2

Plan

Conclusion• Some designs attempt to re-interpret the courtyard principle in

housing using backyards and gardens. • The exterior space created is pushed to either the corner or rear of

the house plot.• 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.

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