Prakash Mankar

Designed by Parallax Design Studio, The Courtyard House is an elegant home without artificial air conditioning but with ample sunlight and sea breeze.

If sublimity had to have a built form, it would in all likelihood look exactly like The Courtyard House, located in Alibaug, Maharashtra. The house manages to elevate the charm of its primary visual inspiration - the traditional courtyard system of home design, but with a tempering of modern forms. The intelligent and subtle mix of materials, colours and forms seem to seek to obscure boundaries between home and retreat.

The rectangular, open-to-sky courtyard has a polished black tile central patch that shimmers in sunlight, with custom detailing of colourful fish patterns on every tile.

A stout, short tree sits pretty at one end of the patch, while on the other end is an attractive chain pipe connected to an upper drainage spout; the minor metallic waterfall here looks surprisingly at home. The rectangular verandah, propped up by metal columns, establishes multiple spots of seating around the court.

The rectangular living pavilion and the L-shaped sleeping pavilion are slightly skewed in plan, creating a dramatic pause at the entrance, with the views of the garden and hills slowly unfolding beyond.

The colour palette inside is dominated by tranquil polished wood that includes tall rectangular window and door frames evening out any possibilities of rough edges. Bursts of colour have been stationed around carefully. The furniture pieces sport slick finishing but display the style of yore - all long arm-rests, crossed legs, and fabric upholstered or woven furniture.

The house’s roof is composed of a triad - the topmost slope is affixed with terracotta Mangalore tiles; then come the wooden louvers; and finally, a roof overhang most noticeable over the courtyard. The layout also establishes the sustainable tenor of this artificial air-conditioning-less home.

The panels let out heated air and bring in fresh air through the openings below, keeping the house significantly cooler throughout the day. White lime plaster further aids the process of maintaining energy efficiency. The east-west inclination of the face of the house means entry of abundant sea breeze. The east-facing private sections get the added perk of uninhibited views of the Alibaug hills and a shield from too much direct natural light.