Courtyard Houses (Page 2)

By -


A Well-designed Courtyard building con only be Understood by moving around and through it and by experiencing the modulation and feel of the spaces.

A well-defined courtyard in the Indian sub-continent is an integral part of our living; it is private and enclosed. In the public realm courtyards accommodate a multitude of activities including religious activities.

Courtyard house architecture reflected the style and culture of its time. It manifested itself in degrees varying from solidity to extreme Ornamentation. Courtyards are invariably square or rectangular. Circulation space is well ordered by corridors and galleries and subtly controls the privacy of the dwelling.

The entry to a courtyard might be through a right-angled entrance, thus preventing direct view except through a small-screened aperture. It might have eaves and screens along its sides to protect the verandah. The private, open to sky courtyard was always a constant recurring theme for both the poor and the rich. Distinctions were marked in reception room for visitors around a courtyard and those of family intimacy around another courtyard. With this, there was a separation by Order of sex and age. The courtyard was the symbolic heart of the home, where everyone assembled at different times of the day. It had uncertain practicality in an air-conditioned house.

A well-designed courtyard building can only be understood by moving around and through it and by experiencing the modulation and feel of the spaces. One moves through from the outside into Verandahs, then rooms, passages, courtyards. The view from these spaces into others, views back through rooms into inner rooms, view through to the landscape, from a shaded inner space to the celebration of light in a courtyard.
(Continues...)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 5)

By -
Image
When disputes between Nakarattars arose due to private misunderstanding, Nakaravitutis along with temples and Saivite monastries (matams), provided venues for extraordinary meetings of the Community to resolve disputes. These meetings Were held under the jurisdiction of a respected elder or elders in the Concerned Community and were called Panchayats - on the pan (Indian model) - although disputes were typically mediated or arbitrated by a single person. Besides Nagarathars from different places get together attemple festivities making their affiliation to the temples and the bonding to their Pangalis stronger. These Nagarathar pilgrims stay in the Viduthis by paying any minimal amount feasible to them, as Mahamai. The Viduthis hold an Undiyal (Hundi- money Collection box), in which the pilgrims deposit their Mahamais which is used for the running of the Viduthi. Spatial vocabulary of Nagaraviduthis in Chettinad: In the traditional context of Chettinadu, the edifice of Vidut...
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 6)

By -
Image
The third zone is the service zone in the form of courtyard for cooking and Serving food. The toilets also are located here. Sometimes there are exclusive bhojana halls to serve food. The Central axis is how ever maintained and the planning is Symmetrical. Some Viduthis are divided into two, three or four divisions, paralleling each with their own central axis about which it is planned. These axes run parallel to each other starting at their respective entrance with well detailed main door flanked between the colonnaded thinnais on either side. The Illupakkudi Viduthi has two divisions, one for administrative functionalities and other for performing rituals. The soorakudi Viduthi and Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Nagarathar Viduthi has exclusive bhojana halls. The Mathur Viduthi is the biggest of all. It has two divisions with a common wall between them. Both the halves are accessed from the main road. The western half, with more elaborate entrance is further divided into three...
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 7)

By -
Image
The Vituti was directed by a board of trustees and employed a manager and staff to provide services for travelling Nakarattars. These services included, in addition to provision of lodging and meals, provision of mailing facilities, making travel arrangements, Clearing baggage at local customshouses, and arranging for absentee prayers at local temples. In short, vitutis were extremely useful in the mobile world of the Nakarattar. Vitutis were normally financed primarily by large gifts or endowments (kattalais) and operating costs were also subscribed through endowment. In addition, every guest paid what amounted to a nominal rent (called makinai, like the Nakarattar religious tithe) fixed by the manager of each Vituti and subject to revision according to need. Thus, many of the redistributive functions were performed by the endowment of temples and temple festivals were performed by the endowment of the closely associated nakaravituti. This housed a shrine dedicated to Lord Dhanday...
Read more