Courtyards are unroofed spaces within a home, partially or completely surrounded by walls. They have been a part of homes for centuries. Read to see how they function in traditional and modern homes.

What comes to your mind when you think of courtyards? For me, it would be a traditional Indian house with a central void encompassing a landscape, sometimes surrounded by corridors and columns at regular intervals, and rooms beyond. Typically, a courtyard can be located anywhere in a house, provided it is open to the sky.

History of courtyard architecture

One of the earliest remnants of courtyards has been found in the excavations of the Neolithic Yarmukian site at Sha’ar HaGolan, Syria, dating back to 7000–6000 BCE. Although the proportions, design, purpose and even the term for courtyards has come to vary across civilisations, the fundamental principle has remained the same. In the Middle East, courtyards were built for privacy and climatic purposes. A courtyard provided an open-air space that was protected from outside eyes, be they neighbours or passers-by. The planning of the house consisted of ‘summer rooms’ located in the southern section of the courtyard, so they opened northwards into the central open hub of the household while the “winter rooms” were located in the northern section and therefore faced south.

In the East Asian culture (especially Chinese), several houses were located around a central courtyard, and these houses were generally shared by extended families or relatives. The houses even had multiple courtyards, wherein guests would be received at the outermost courtyard and the internal ones were reserved for family and friends. In the Roman civilisation, courtyards were called atriums. Conventionally, one-storey homes were built adjacent to each other, along a street. The windows took in light and ventilation from the street-facing facade and the atrium.

Indian architecture has witnessed courtyards in homes since the Indus Valley Civilisation. A house with a courtyard is traditionally called a haveli in North India, wada in Maharashtra, nalukettu in Kerala, and rajbari in West Bengal. A typical haveli incorporated atleast two courtyards – an outer one for men, serving as an extended entrance, and an inner one, being the women’s domain. Some havelis even had up to three to four courtyards. Wadas, similar to havelis had more than one courtyard. Mostly consisting of multiple courtyards, the first one was used for social gatherings that would lead to rooms reserved for guests. The second courtyard was used as office space and the third was used privately by the ladies which had the kitchen and store room, and their own living areas, even a delivery room for childbirths.

An open courtyard located in the centre of a nalukettu served as a focal point of interaction between the members of a family. The courtyard was also used for household activities and festivities, and was surrounded by tall pillars and rooms with sloping roofs. In the rajbaris of Bengal, the courtyards that were situated inside the structure were used to organise functions and festivals, such as Durga Puja.

Traditionally, the courtyard has been a space that was the principal focus of the house, an area for the concentration of light and ventilation, and a private retreat. A factor that cannot be ignored is the climatic benefit that courtyards offer. Let’s understand the aspects of this architectural feature.

The climatic role of courtyards

The night scenario: The air inside the courtyard is hotter compared to the cool air outside. Due to a phenomenon called the stack effect, the warm air inside rises (because it is lighter) and, in a process of convection, makes space for the outside cool air to fill the courtyard in its place, entering the outside windows of the surrounding rooms, flowing through them to get into the courtyard, enabling the rooms to experience a cool breeze.

The morning scenario: Since the courtyard is now slightly cooler, the outside temperature is hotter as compared to the inside. Due to convection, the courtyard air flows out through the rooms, and cross-ventilation between areas is established. With the outdoor temperature rising, the thickness of the walls prevents heat to penetrate through them.

The afternoon scenario: In late afternoon, the courtyard floor and the interior of the house become warmer, allowing for convection and heat exchange with the cooler exterior air.

Spaces adjacent to the courtyard can be completely or at least partially naturally lit without the need for artificial lighting. Redirecting natural sunlight indoors and maintaining airflow throughout the day reduces the pressures of active measures like air-conditioners and coolers and increases the overall sustainability and functioning of the house, making it more passive.

Modern homes with courtyards have landscaping, natural elements and even features such as pergolas to make them an attractive semi-open area. A private retreat within the house, courtyards work well to maintain the microclimate of a space. With space constraints, land costs, and the majority of the population residing in apartments, many architects substitute the character of a courtyard to a balcony, verandah or even a patio. Although not located in the centre of the house, these spaces act as interactive and congregative areas and are a step closer to nature and fresh air.

Socio-cultural impact

A transition between the public and private spaces, and functioning as the central core of a house, the courtyard creates an adaptive environment that can fit many purposes. A space usually used for family gatherings (even marriages in the olden days); it brought the entire Indian home together. Most of the rooms pointed towards the courtyard, which usually became the heart of the house by being a place where everyone gathered; a living area of sorts. While modern houses with courtyards might not have the same characteristics, the functional and social attributes have found new interpretations.

Vastu value

According to vastu, the Brahmasthan is the centre of a structure, from which vastu directions can be determined. This makes the central courtyard, which serves that role, an extremely calm and cosmically connected point of the house, which should be clutterfree and not have obstructions around it up to a circumference of 1 to 1.5 metres. This is because, as per vastu, blocking the main energy entering the house generates negative energies; it should be spotless. Locating the courtyard in the centre makes it the holiest and most powerful zone of the house. Being the principal focus of the house, the courtyard is a symbol of the concentration of light, wind and sound, as well as a religious spot for prayers.