Manoj Patel Design Studio

Vertical Courtyard House

VERTICAL COURTYARD HOUSE

Manoj Patel Design Studio

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

PHOTOGRAPHS
Umang Shah

YEAR
2020

DESIGN TEAM
Manoj Patel, Shivani Tamboli, Aishwarya Gupte, Urvesh, Rajeshwari

AREA
287 m²

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Manoj Patel Design Studio

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
Vadodara, India

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

The residential dwelling is locality in the physical basis of village community of Vadodara; Gujarat, India. The residence is planned by exploring the interaction between surrounding houses, dense greenery and the village lifestyle.

The owner of the house has a nuclear family consisting the couple and their children. They are accustomed to live a simple and quite life based on their village community.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

While approaching this project, the main challenge was to incorporate an existing bank structure on the ground and create a house which feels close to nature.

Evolving the thought process, for this west facing house, we decided to take in the diffused light and create a volumetric mass.

Here the study of climate plays an important role in planning in an organized layout with multiple voids in the form of terraces and double height spaces.

The absence of openings on west façade provides a large surface area for cladding.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

Vernacular material- clay roof tiles was identified to clad which is low cost and has longevity.

The pattern is explored through various arrangements and craftsmanship that depicts the toran graphics at 45 degree angles.

The proportions of clay roof tile strips casts shadow on the surface based on sun’s movement in Indian context. The screening keeps the interior spaces cool and yet stands out of the local fabric.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

To differentiate the existing ground structure and the entry gateway of the dwelling, a huge pergola framed structure with adjacent recessed green wall is created in bold dark colors to emphasis the massing. The sun’s harsh rays get cut due to the pergolas and keep the parking space shaded.

When entering the main structure on the first floor, is double height foyer partly covered with vertical fins to protect from west glazing and to have a visual connectivity across the road.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

The door shows a different concept of merging jali effect with safety measure as new see through screen. Play of bold palette emphasis the intricate beauty of the door.

The house has primary functions of living, kitchen, dining and bedrooms on the first and second floor respectively.

To bring in the traditional art and craft of village as contemporary outcome, the living room is transformed into double height space in plain palette contrasting to the colorful patterned fabrics and rug.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

The proportions of openings bring in the required light and ventilation, preventing the harsh sun.

As an alternate to monotonous kitchen interiors, here to depict the theme based, a contrasting color palette of brown is used distinctively with white shade.

The dining space is arranged around an inner double height courtyard in the middle of the house, creating an airy, peaceful and quiet space separate from the outside space.

The crafted backdrop mural becomes the focus for the space and forms an introvert dinning, helping to connect the family with the nature and themselves.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

There are many layers of double height spaces, voids even designed for the master bedrooms on the first and second floor.

To have privacy and visual connectivity with the dining space vertical slits have been designed on one of the bedroom walls.

The connected punctured huge balcony creates air corridors for the internal as well as external space.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

Keeping with the interior theme, backdrop has been carved from minimum wooden panels which make it appear large.

The staircase sets its own identity in the double height space through the semi open railing element designed to combined adjoining tv wall unit and an above over hung passage in play of contrasting yellow and grey. This creates an illusion of whole mass popping out of the inward looking subtle colored mass.

The master bedroom on the upper floor has large balcony acting as a barrier and canopy for the first floor below. This acts an interactive link making it look voluminous connected frame mass. The beauty of the backdrop gets enhanced in pink graphics and texture of wooden laminates with the play of shadow.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

Styling for kid’s room, color palette is perceived in vibrant combination of pink and violet with interactive visual experience. The study table has been designed adjacent to an opening to get diffused light and close to nature feel due to dense vegetations around.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah
Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah

Through this project, we incorporated simple methods to create architectural spaces, use of common local material to clad and color palette of pop out shades which enhance the beauty of mass. From every position outside the house, one can see different large openings for ample of airflow and natural lighting into the spaces, to create a warm feel.

Vertical Courtyard House
© Umang Shah


Vertical Courtyard House
Ground Floor Plan
Vertical Courtyard House
First Floor Plan


Vertical Courtyard House
Second Floor Plan

Vertical Courtyard House
Clay Process


Vertical Courtyard House
Section 01
Vertical Courtyard House
Section 02
Vertical Courtyard House
Section 03

Manoj Patel Design Studio
T +91 99243 76644
Manoj Patel Design Studio
Gunatit Park, B-71, behind the maa party plot, near Bhim Lake, Atladara, Vadodara, Gujarat 390012, India