REVIVING HERITAGE

Taking traditional techniques and turning them on their head is this nine-bedroom home in Rajasthan that houses four generations

- SANJAY PURI

Situated in the arid desert region of Nokhain Rajasthan, the Narsighar house imbibes the traditional planning principles of the regional architecture prevalent since centuries in Rajasthan. The home based on the clients' needs to accommodate four generations has nine bedrooms with multifunctional living spaces, sheltered courtyards and patios all around.

Most of the houses and palaces built in this region since centuries had courtyards for passive cooling, thick stone walls to combat the excessive heat and stone jali screens to mitigate heat gain. The Narsighar house is punctuated with a series of courtyards and built in the local sandstone available in the immediate vicinity. Each of the living spaces open into sheltered outdoor spaces screened with perforated stone panels. These screens in addition to reducing heat gain, also protect the inner spaces from the sandstorms that are prevalent in the region.