In the heart of every home, the Angan stands as a sacred court. It is a personal yet public space that witnesses the playful childhoods, festive celebrations, gatherings, and even tranquility for one. This project makes an honest attempt to reintroduce the idea of a court in the design, amalgamating it with modern needs, embodying the essence of courtyard architecture.
Editor’s Note: “Breathing through the courtyard, Angan is rooted in heritage narrating stories in stillness. Exposed brick and metal fins echo the warmth of old wadas amidst open spaces, inviting for conversations. It is a house where nature unfolds organically, time slows, space connects, and architecture nurtures the acts of everyday life.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
This Courtyard Architecture Reintroduces the Sacred Court in Modern Homes | Studio Hu’mane
The client spent their early days in the old city of Pune. The process started with taking references from the core city, the site being located nearby. The Mutha River divides two distinct fabrics: the old, dense fabric and the new, scattered development. Despite its density, the old fabric has developed organically and therefore lacks defined boundaries. Narrow lanes, chowks, and courtyards blur these lines, fostering engagement.
In contrast, the new development that emphasizes planning has resulted in gated communities and various forms of compartmentalization. Moreover, the site sits within a gated community, inspiring a deeper exploration of de-compartmentalization. However, drawing references from the old fabric and embracing the idea of a courtyard, the design integrates this traditional element found in old wadas.
Furthermore, the design gives architectural language to the idea of de-compartmentalization through a courtyard, reflecting traditional old wadas, which also align with the client’s brief. The angan, or the courtyard here, controls the compartments (programs) by balancing privacy. Moreover, it brings in transparency, and multifunctionality.
The form development started evolving with two blocks that connected through the service core and formed a courtyard. The design of the central courtyard becomes the focal point of the structure where the idea of inside-outside connectivity is formed. This connectivity in design is not only overlooked outside but also inside the house. The angan (courtyard) acts as the exterior facade for the private spaces inside.
The warm material palette draws inspiration from the language of traditional wadas, therefore the use of exposed bricks, wood, and gray metals. This warm language is balanced with green landscapes and hardscapes in the interior and at the peripheries.
The overall structure appears as a lightbox, especially because of the well-lit courtyard. The use of transparent partitions like louvers, screens, and fins keeps the interior visually connected, bringing in natural light and ventilation as well. The ground floor houses parking and utility, with the first floor opening up at the courtyard with public and semi-private programs around, the private bedrooms taking up the second floor, and opening up in the same courtyard.
The facade was developed with the concept of Jharokha, (a traditional bay window), an architectural element with intricate design that is primarily climate responsive and also fosters connectivity. An attempt to reimagine this element in a modern and minimal way, it evolved from wooden louvers to finally into minimal metal fins that complement the brick facade.
Fact File
Designed by: Studio Hu’mane
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: THE ANGAN (COURTYARD) HOUSE
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Year Built: 2024
Principal Architect: Ar. Sunil Hu’mane
Photograph Courtesy: Rahul Shah
Façade aluminium fins: Hunter Douglas Architectural
Sanitaryware: GROHE, TOTO
Brick Facade: Jay Jalaram Bricks
Source: Archello
Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio Hu’mane
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