OLD MEETS NEW

Want tradition served with a twist? In this home in Bangalore, not only is the humble Indian courtyard elevated, but it celebrates the best of two worlds.

- NINADA KASHYAP AND KOMAL MITTAL

Rooted in India yet obscurely contemporary, the Courtyard House in Uttarahalli, Bangalore, is a welcome respite from the concrete forms of the urban jungle. The home is designed around one of the most essential elements of conventional Indian homes—the courtyard. Situated away from the city’s hustle and bustle, this 3,788 sq ft, three-bedroom home is an outcome of the owner’s recollection of their grandparents’ home. The desire to imbue the cultural heritage of courtyards in a modern landscape commenced the odyssey of this space.

The house is accessed through a driveway on both sides. Acknowledging the auspiciousness of Tulsi, the plant is placed in the middle of an open to sky court. This leads to the main entrance and lends the house an organic feel.

The courtyard not only elevates the traditional aesthetics but also helps in heating and cooling the house by allowing natural ventilation in the summer and retaining solar heat in the winter. Plants and trees have been planted in the garden surrounding the periphery of the house to maintain privacy.