Remember the interior courtyard? What a luxury they used to be, and how
nostalgic the memory of them still is! Having a piece of the sky and share of
the rain inside your home was a luxury, indeed.
Today, of course, the sprawling courtyard flanked by rooms is a thing of the
past. Or is it?
Surprise. According to Dameem Ansari, principal architect, Ansari
Associates Architects and Interior Designers, city-based customers are now
asking for interior courtyards.
“Interior courtyards are fast gaining popularity as one of the popular ‘green
options,’ allowing you to get as much natural light as possible inside the
house. An interior courtyard is an enchanting combination of openness as
well as privacy,” he said.
There are two popular types of interior courtyards — one that is at the centre
of the house and another an inner garden in the side setback of the house.
“The interior courtyard comes in the middle and is surrounded by the rooms
which open towards it. The inner garden is an extension of the house. It
comes in the sides of the room with the other side covered by an exterior
wall. Inner garden will be easily accessible from the rooms,” he said.
Typically, interior courtyards can be accommodated in houses sized 3,500
sq ft and above. An 8×8 ft or 10x10ft space can be set apart for the courtyard.
The inner garden can occupy the entire length of one room or two rooms
and have a minimum width of three feet
“You can have an interior courtyard in premium apartments which are on the
top floor of the building. Duplex flats on the top floor also can enjoy the luxury
of a common courtyard,” said Ansari.
One can either go for a dry landscaping with pebbles and stones or design
the courtyard as a garden. Plants which grow in shade are largely preferred
for the garden. According to Ansari, some of the owners wish to cover the
top of the courtyard with polycarbonate sheets so as to let the light in while
restricting the rain.
“The main challenge in open courtyard is managing the water and moisture.
Mosquito menace is a problem, too. Proper drainage facility is a must for an
open courtyard,” he said.
Those with a traditional bend of mind would like to have a stone structure for
the basil plant in the middle of the courtyard and mural paintings on the side
walls.
Landscaping can cost Rs one lakh to Rs three lakh and the polycarbonate
sheets cost Rs 300 to Rs 400 per sq ft.
While daily watering of plants has to be done by the owners themselves,
there are specialised agencies that take up other regular maintenance work
in the courtyards.
By Sangeetha.G,
Based on Interview of Mr. Dameem Ansari Published in Financial Chronicles.
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