The Courtyard House situated in Hyderabad, India, is a modern home designed in 2020 by Urban Narratives.

Description
The Courtyard House is nestled within a peaceful suburb in Kukatpally, located in the northwestern part of Hyderabad, Telangana. The project site is east-facing and measures 52 x 65 ft in a well-known residential neighbourhood. The client requirements stated that the family wanted to have easy access to each other at all times. Furthermore, as the family is composed of three generations, the design had to accommodate the playfulness of children, the rigour of the middle-aged and the grace of retirement into a single-family unit.
Residential units surround the site on three sides and restrict the viewpoints, creating obstacles to lighting, ventilation and hindering indoor air quality. Another challenge was to make the house Vastu compliant, which also set specific guidelines for the zoning. Considering these requirements and restrictions, the designers realised that if they could not surround the house with nature, they could surround nature with the house – giving rise to the courtyard house. Learning from the ancient Chettinad Architecture in Madras, it became evident that integrating a courtyard was one of the most efficient methods for obtaining views, ventilation, and light while also connecting the residing family with nature. Introducing the courtyard house also helped create a balance between the built and un...