Paati-veedu in the Tamil language means grandmother’s home. The client wanted a traditional courtyard house after having lived in a multilevel home with limited light, ventilation, and disjointed spaces. The site is on a 40×60 ft (2400 sq. ft.) property with the north side facing the street.

Editor’s Note: “Rooted in nostalgia yet modern in spirit, this home reflects the essence of a traditional Tamil courtyard house. Blending old-world charm with contemporary sensibilities, it reimagines spaces with natural light, ventilation, and social warmth, creating a sanctuary that feels open yet intimate—a seamless blend of heritage and modernity.” ~Simran Khare

This House With a Traditional Courtyard Fuses Nostalgia with Modernism | Art & Architecture

Our brief required a humble, traditionally inspired, and secure home with natural light and ventilation, along with visual and physical connections between family spaces.

Airy and Light

We designed a home that is open, secure and feels private. Trying not to impose the presence of this building, the horizontal grill lines on the façade alongside the extended floor slabs make the house appear floating and speak airy and light.

Inspired by traditional courtyard house from the region, we consolidated nostalgia with modernism. The Thinnai (in Tamil verandah looking to the street) was intentionally made to look inward to the courtyard for privacy and to function as a social space exclusively for the family.

Spatial Planning

Locally sourced kiln bricks were used for a screen wall that separates the parking lot and courtyard. A weave pattern was devised to let in the northeastern sunlight whilst providing privacy and security from the street.

The spaces were designed for their visiting grandchildren to socialise and bring in elements of nature physically or abstractly.

In Paati-veedu, we used abstract representations of the five elements. The brick arrangement on the east courtyard wall forms a rising sun to depict fire. Meanwhile, the blue oxide staircase symbolises water, and the red accents represent the earth. Open, flowing spaces with visual connections between the indoors and outdoors express space and air. 

Colonial Staircase

We restored four newel from a colonial-era staircase. Additionally, we also connected them to resemble twin columns, placing them on rubble rocks uncovered during excavation.

They work as handy support while climbing steps and deceive as a Chettinad column supporting the beam of the verandah’s clay-tiled sloping roof.

We piled rocks in the open corners to protect the exposed black I-section columns from corrosion caused by surface water runoff. This arrangement gives the illusion that the rocks support the living room and dining passage floors when viewed from outside.

Visual Connection Between Spaces

From the inside, the courtyard is visible through the aluminium sliding glass windows in the kitchen, dining, and passage areas. The experience of natural light and shadow, its contrast, not only helps the courtyard serve air circulation and good views, but it also establishes a visual connection between spaces.

The Living room ceiling is left exposed, with north and east walls full-height glass sliding windows highlighting no visible roof beams. Moreover, they also contrast and balance with no opening south and west walls that shield from the afternoon sun.

With different levels of ceilings distinguishing the spaces, the filler slab ceiling using terracotta pots in the passage and stairwell breaks the monotony of space and cools the low-height ceiling.

The design intends blending natural elements with practical and economical ideologies that tastefully resonates within a space called home.

Fact File

Designed by: Art & Architecture

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: Paati-Veedu

Location: Chennai

Year Built: 2023

Duration of the project: 9 Months

Project Size: 1806 Sq.ft

Project Cost: 65 Lakhs

Principal Architect: Chamraj Suresh Babu

Team Design Credits: Mukilan & Bagavathi Sree

Photograph Courtesy: Kaptured Studios

Products / Materials / Vendors: Finishes – Exposed concrete / Wallcovering / Cladding – Brick Construction Materials – Zuari Cement , ARS steel / Lighting – Havells / Sanitaryware – Parryware Windows – Jindal / Flooring – KAG tiles / Kitchen – Vijayam Creative Design Studio / Paint – Asian Paints Hardware – Ebco

Consultants for the Project: Civil – Vitham constructions Pvt. Ltd. / MEP & HVAC Consultants – Vitham constructions Pvt. Ltd. / Structure Engineers – Kannimar Consultants / Project Managers – Karthikeyan

Firm’s Website Link: Art & Architecture

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