The courtyard story

Sonali Aggarwal

Kya hai sukoon? Ghar ke aangan ki mitti mein pehli baarish ki boond.” This recent tweet by actor Ayushmann Khurrana sums up the value of a courtyard. The courtyard, aangan (in Hindi) or vedaah, as it is known in Punjab, has been an intrinsic part of our culture. From grand palaces to havelis to the humblest of abodes, the open-to-sky courtyard has had a place right in the heart of things.

The courtyard was never lonely. From routine chores to extended family meetings to celebrations and festivities, the courtyard has been a hub of activity all year around. Women carried out household chores in and around the courtyard, absorbed in animated gossip, the men with big moustaches lay sprawled across the charpoys and little kids needed no activity other than climbing atop their snoring dadus (grandfathers) and taus (uncles), tweaking their moustaches and giggling endlessly. In the hot summer months, the courtyard was a perfect setting for lazy passive activity too. So popular was the courtyard that the youth of the house had tough time sneaking out undetected! That was then, and the setting, rural.

The changing face

With urbanisation, lifestyles underwent a change and people became more outgoing. Joint family structures were shaken, family time took a backseat and the need for collective spaces reduced. The central courtyard got divided into two — the front and the rear yards of a house.

The front yard, though envied for having bagged a more prestigious position, was sad at heart. Its cheeks hurt from keeping an ever-smiling face, for it was the formal and ornamental ‘face of the house’. And the rear yard, relegated to the purpose of a mere service yard, was hugely envious. However, the courtyard smiled sportingly, because though partitioned, it did still exist!

With gradual environmental degradation and global warming, a need was felt to close up from, rather than open up to natural elements. Technology took over and more and more activities started happening indoors. With space at a premium, the new generation eyed the open courtyards greedily. Like an indulgent grandfather, the courtyard allowed itself to be squeezed further and hovered patiently in the periphery, as a shaded balcony or a protective verandah. Though it had lost both its spaciousness and importance at the heart of things, the courtyard was confident that the innocent young generation will soon see the light of the day.

A place for everyone

The nature connect: The benefits of the daily dose of sunlight and natural ventilation are not unknown. A simple cup of tea at the start of a day, or at the end of an exhausting one, can do wonders in a natural refreshing environment. The best part is that one can enjoy whatever joys different seasons usher in without stepping out from one’s house.

A meaningful space: A sensibly sized courtyard can act as a great ‘connector’ bringing families together. A courtyard large enough to ensure privacy among rooms around it and so placed as to ensure interaction through movement across it can prove to be a win-win situation. Supplemented with some comfortable seating area, it can be an ideal spot for reading, reflection, meditation and cozy chats. It can be a place to unwind, entertain guests and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

The many avatars

A central courtyard has the advantage of providing an outdoor space without compromising on a family’s privacy.

• Terrace gardens are more likely to happen in urban settings where space is at a premium and dwelling units are many. Yet, they can serve the same purpose as a courtyard — that of providing an accessible external breathing space.
• A rooftop deck with planters and seating, offering sweeping views of the city, can prove to be a great stressbuster in trying times.
• Balconies and verandahs, those lovely little outdoor spaces, full of hanging plants and more, can serve to bring the weather into a house equally well.
• Certain innovative and contemporary versions of a courtyard like a family lounge adjunct with a side courtyard or even an atrium with a skylight for light and ventilation, have also been doing the rounds.

Making memories

In times of restricted movement and sojourns into lush green mountains or to refreshing seas seeming quite far off, a courtyard becomes more valuable than ever. Realising the importance of a ‘courtyard-like space’ in the present urban environment, a wave of sensitive designers have been working silently on ways to keep it alive in its ‘spirit’. From a central open green to just a serene landscaped corner tucked under a staircase, the spirit of the courtyard can be brought in, into any house, into any space.

In words of master architect BV Doshi:

“Celebrate life.
Celebrate a habitat.
Make spaces that change with changing weather and changing moods.
A space that makes memories for its inhabitants.”

The Cordoba Courtyards

The courtyard has been a favourite — be it in India, or anywhere in the world.

• The Spanish courtyard houses of Cordoba are famous for their pure white walls, fountains, flowers and even wells in some cases, lending freshness and comfort in hot and dry climate.
• Be it the central courtyard of a single residence or a casa de vecinos, wherein neighbours looked onto a common courtyard or even a patio closer to the entrance, these spaces served the purpose akin to an oasis, replete with greenery and water-food for both body and soul.
• The houses around these courtyards took utmost care for their upkeep, and till date, every year in May, the city celebrates its traditional and unique Cordoba Patio Festival, wherein owners decorate their ornate iron grills and balconies with plants and flowers.