Burrowed in Mansanpally village, 40 kilometres from Hyderabad, Courtyard House by 23 Degrees Design Shift (23DDS) reinterprets the traditional Manduva typology to meet the spatial and climatic demands of contemporary rural living. Retaining and focusing on fundamental principles, the design prioritises natural ventilation, spatial fluidity and a nuanced relationship between private and communal spaces.
Responding to a simple brief to expand a single-bedroom farmhouse into a multi-generational home, the architects introduced six bedrooms alongside a fully functional kitchen, dining area and extensive shared living spaces. The intervention builds upon the vernacular logic of the courtyard — an archetypal feature in Indian dwellings — while adjusting its configuration to improve thermal comfort and maximise privacy. Rather than a single enclosed void, the design distributes four detached volumes around a central courtyard, generating cross-ventilation from each direction. This approach mitigates heat build-up, supports passive cooling and fosters a permeable connection between indoors and outdoors.
Suggested: A private holiday home designed by Neogenesis+Studi0261
Upon entry, the residence is choreographed through a narrow passage set within a mango orchard, leading to a series of semi-open verandas that frame the vestibule. Within, the courtyard serves as the organisational nucleus, delineating zones of interaction and retreat, private and semi-private. Each bedroom opens onto a rear veranda, safeguarding privacy by limiting direct sightlines into the courtyard. Recessed door placements subtly define thresholds without disrupting the centrality of the courtyard, while a suspended wooden deck over a water feature extends the floor plan and assists in temperature modulation.
The roof, though segmented, is unified under a continuous wooden canopy, paying homage to rural structures and accentuating a commitment to traditional building methods while maintaining ecological sensitivity. The extended eaves, made of the wooden canopy, offer climatic respite, shading the semi-open verandas and moderating interior temperatures. The use of large glass panels and operable doors heightens the feeling of openness.
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