- Project: The Courtyard House
- Architect: MODO Designs
- Location: India, Rancharda
- Year: 2022
- Area: 962 m2
- Photography: Umang Shah
Set on a 45,000 sq ft site on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, The Courtyard House by MODO Designs reimagines the timeless typology of the haveli with a contemporary, extroverted spirit. Designed for a family who values openness, natural light, and semi-outdoor living, this residence merges traditional inspiration with modern minimalism.
Site & Client Vision
The client’s brief called for a four-bedroom home with a study, entertainment spaces, and expansive areas for living and gathering. However, unlike conventional residential programs, the owners—primarily the father and son—requested an open, transparent house that blurs boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
This demand led to a plan built around a sequence of courtyards: an entry court, central court, dining court, shower court, and pool court. Each courtyard invites air, greenery, and light deep into the home, ensuring constant interaction with natural elements.
Layout & Spatial Organization
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Ground Floor: Anchored by the central courtyard, an interpretation of Ahmedabad’s traditional haveli, yet rendered with a modern twist. This level includes the living room, study, kitchen, dining area, the owner’s bedroom, guest bedroom, and the father’s bedroom—all connected by open courts.
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Upper Floor: A lighter massing houses the entertainment zone and the daughter’s bedroom, designed for occasional visits. Terraces overlooking the garden extend the social space outdoors, with sit-outs that capture breezes and sunset views.
The home’s form is recessed and layered, allowing for permeability. Courts and verandahs dissolve the sense of enclosure, making this house an extroverted, open system of living spaces.
Courtyards as Living Elements
The courtyards aren’t ornamental—they are functional lungs of the house.
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The central court and pool court feature operable roofs, enabling flexible use across seasons.
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The peripheral courts are lushly planted, cooling interiors while framing serene views.
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The pool court creates a resort-like ambiance, connecting leisure with landscape.
This arrangement not only maximizes natural ventilation and daylight but also brings a shifting play of shadow and reflection throughout the day.
Materials & Atmosphere
MODO Designs curated a warm, tactile palette that balances rustic character with contemporary refinement:
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Flooring: Roughened black Marquina marble in most spaces; lava stone in the central court.
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Walls: Rough wood-patterned concrete, lime coating, and wood paneling for depth and texture.
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Wood: Reclaimed timber is used extensively for furniture, paneling, and finishes—an environmentally conscious choice that also adds patina.
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Furniture: A hybrid mix of Western contemporary pieces and customized Indian modern designs brings both global sensibility and local craft to the interiors.
The result is an atmosphere that is dark, cozy, and mystical, complementing the open courts and lush greenery.
Lifestyle & Living Experience
The Courtyard House is designed for fluid transitions between indoors and outdoors.
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Living spaces open into verandahs and courts rather than corridors.
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Bedrooms maintain privacy while enjoying framed garden views.
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Entertainment spaces on the upper floor connect directly to terraces, enabling social gatherings under open skies.
The house becomes a living organism, adapting to seasons with operable roofs, cross-ventilation, and shaded sit-outs.
Architectural Significance
MODO Designs’ Courtyard House exemplifies:
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Contemporary interpretation of tradition – inspired by havelis, yet extroverted rather than inward.
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Sustainable luxury – reclaimed wood, operable roofs, and passive cooling strategies reduce environmental impact.
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Spatial poetry – courtyards serve as social anchors, while verandahs and terraces extend living into the landscape.
It stands as a benchmark for modern Indian residential architecture, merging cultural heritage with contemporary lifestyles.
