Architects Revive the Courtyard for Cooler Homes
Passive-cooling principles from Mughal and Dravidian architecture are cutting home cooling energy by 30-45%.
In Indian architecture, the courtyard — a central open space around which rooms are arranged — was never merely decorative. It was a climate technology. The chowk of Mughal havelis, the nadumuttam of Kerala's nalukettu homes and the wada of Maharashtra each used thermodynamics to stay comfortable without mechanical cooling.
A vertical thermal draft, central vegetation and water, and self-shading geometry kept interiors cool — wisdom now being rediscovered as cooling becomes India's fastest-growing residential electricity demand.
Key Highlights
- Courtyards are a traditional passive-cooling technology.
- Contemporary courtyard homes run 5-8°C below outdoor temperatures in peak summer.
- IIT Kharagpur found 31-47% cooling-energy savings across climate zones.
- Glazed or slatted covers adapt courtyards to high-rainfall zones.
- A Maharashtra pilot tests the principle in social housing.
Courtyard Houses in Practice
The Mysuru practice Studio Shifra has built twelve courtyard homes over six years. Its thermal monitoring, published in Indian Architect and Builder, records indoor temperatures 5-8°C below outdoor ambient during Karnataka's April-May peak — without air conditioning. Residents report negligible cooling use for eight months a year.
Cooling-energy savings
| City / climate | Cooling energy saved |
|---|---|
| Kolkata (humid subtropical) | 31% |
| Hyderabad (semi-arid) | 47% |
| Peak indoor advantage | 5-8°C below outdoor |
Adapting an Old Idea
Traditional courtyards opened to the sky, which suits dry climates but admits rain in wet zones. Contemporary architects use partially glazed or slatted courtyard covers that keep airflow and light while managing monsoon rainfall — preserving thermal performance without the practical drawback.
Energy and Market Performance
IIT Kharagpur simulations for three courtyard homes found cooling-energy savings from 31 per cent in Kolkata to 47 per cent in Hyderabad versus standard box-plan houses — all through passive design. Industry long resisted courtyards over lost saleable floor area, but thermal, daylight and quality-of-life benefits command a premium in upper segments. Government housing agencies have been slower, though a Maharashtra pilot tests modified courtyards in multi-storey social housing — a passive complement to urban micro-forests in the growth-and-climate debate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were courtyards built traditionally?
As passive-cooling devices using thermal draft, shading and central vegetation.
How much cooler are courtyard homes?
Monitored homes ran 5-8°C below outdoor temperatures in peak summer.
What energy savings are possible?
IIT Kharagpur found 31-47% cooling-energy savings across climate zones.
How do courtyards work in rainy regions?
Partially glazed or slatted covers keep airflow while managing monsoon rain.
Why did the industry resist courtyards?
They occupy floor area that could otherwise be sold as enclosed rooms.
Sources
- IIT Kharagpur — thermal simulation analysis
- Indian Architect and Builder journal