Through the ages one of the most vibrant and eventful places of the traditional houses have been their courtyards. They provided a place to celebrate, share joys and sorrows and offered respite from their daily lives. These centres of leisure were often the stage of action and drama of the house. A courtyard would thus be a space of many stories. It made a house, a home to its people.
The courtyards have been prevalent across the world and vary in design according to the physical and climatic conditions of the region. The courtyards are semi open spaces and hence they were a transition space that connected the interior of the house to the outside. They have been prevalent in the Middle East, Northern Africa, Italian peninsula, Indian subcontinent etc. They have been around since ages. They have even been found in the Neolithic dwellings. Courtyards have been used to regulate the temperature inside the buildings.
It took different forms with different cultures and regions. In ancient Chinese civilisations a courtyard would usually be surrounded by houses of different people. The atrium houses of ancient Italy featured a small courtyard surrounded by rooms to provide a private outdoor space.However after the fall of the Roman empire, the courtyards developed to serve as the main entrances to the buildings which would also serve as meeting points for the guests. Traditionally they have also served as private outdoor spaces for women especially in the patriarchal societies.
In India the courtyards have been quite prevalent across the country. In Kerala, the traditional Nalukettu houses have a Nadumuttom, a central courtyard. It is an open space for light and ventilation and would often house a tulasi plant, giving it a spiritual element. Manduva Logili Homes of Andhra Pradesh also housed a courtyard for regulating the temperature of the space. The elaborate Chettinad mansions of Tamil Nadu had four courtyards, each with a separate function.
Irrespective of the region the courtyards not only added an aesthetic element to the house but also had cultural and functional significance. It provided a private open space especially for the children and women of the house. Courtyards also could be used as an extension of other rooms such as the kitchen, living room and also sometimes as avenues for celebrations. They provided a common bonding space for the family to unwind and share their day.They also regulated temperature throughout the year, providing ventilation and light for the entire house. The courtyards were usually made of locally available materials such as traditional tiles, local woods for pillars etc. However affluent families also used expensive materials such as marbles, imported wood, painted tiles, elaborate furniture and beautiful fountains to elevate the essence of the space.
However due to modern space constraints, it can be difficult to have large courtyards like before, but their key elements can be adopted to build more sustainable houses. We can incorporate high ceilings, locally available material and traditional tiles and wood to build smaller semi open spaces. They are not just aesthetic but functional as well. Adopting traditional building practices can also help us to keep our traditions and heritage alive. Courtyards can serve as quiet reminders to our heritage and offer solutions to modern problems.
References
- Abass, F., Ismail, L. H., & Solla, M. (2016). A review of courtyard house: history evolution forms, and functions. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11(4), 2557-2563.
- Das, N. (2006). Courtyards houses of Kolkata: Bioclimatic, typological and socio-cultural study. Kansas State University.
- Roof and Floor (2017). The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/real-estate/the-manduva-logili-homes-of-andhra-pradesh/article19682124.ece
- Roof and Floor (2016). The Hindu. https://roofandfloor.thehindu.com/raf/real-estate-blog/dream-homes-nalukettu-houses-quaintly-kerala
- Roof and Floor (2016). The Hindu. https://roofandfloor.thehindu.com/raf/real-estate-blog/traditional-heritage-houses-of-kolkata
- Roof and Floor (2015). The Hindu. https://roofandfloor.thehindu.com/raf/real-estate-blog/dream-homes-the-mansions-of-the-chettiars
- https://www.thehindu.com/real-estate/the-manduva-logili-homes-of-andhra-pradesh/article19682124.ece
- https://sarathavilas.com/mansion/
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/love-those-inner-courtyards-found-in-a-haveli–351773420866487435/
- https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/italian-home-entrance-courtyard.html?sortBy=relevant
