Courtyard House

Situated on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, the single-story residence is organized on a nine-box Palladian grid, the plan prioritizes climate responsiveness and sustainable building practices. The structural logic relies heavily on passive mechanisms: thick, lime-plastered walls provide essential thermal mass, while concrete use is heavily minimized in favor of a lightweight steel and wood flitch beam roof system. At the core, the central courtyard acts as a thermal engine, driving continuous cross-ventilation to passively cool the interior volumes.

Carefully positioned along the cardinal axes, the orientation deliberately orchestrates the daily movement of light. The eastern entrance captures direct morning sunlight, establishing a clear visual and spatial axis that extends westward directly across the central courtyard. Tightly nested within the existing tree canopy, the structure leverages its immediate context for natural exterior shading. As the sun shifts, dappled light filters through the dense foliage, interacting constantly with the tactile surfaces of lime plaster and wood, firmly anchoring the architecture within its natural surroundings.