Filled with a wealth of fabulous pictures showcasing the aesthetic beauty of several Indian courtyards and gardens, the latest book- Courtyard Houses of India- penned by Yatin Pandya and published by Mapin Publishing- is a ground-breaking publication. The book has already bagged two coveted awards for research, namely the Indian institute of architects award and the Archi Award For Excellence. SURFACES REPORTER congratulates Ar.Yatin Pandya for the fabulous work!. Here are more details about the book, its pricing and availability:
Vertica Dvivedi, Editor-in-Chief, Surfaces Reporter With Yatin Pandya, Founding Principal, FOOTPRINTS E.A.R.T.H.
Courtyard Architecture has been around for as long as people have been building homes. In traditional Indian houses, the courtyard or a home garden used to be a heart of the house that brought light and ventilation inside, and thus create a truss between the indoors and the outdoors. It also served as a place for private gatherings or a transitional space in the home.
The latest volume by Yatin Pandya documents traditional courtyard dwelling types across India within diverse climatic, cultural as well as geographic zones such as East (Bihar, West Bengal), West (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra), North (Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, and Kashmir), and South (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa), and Central (Madhya Pradesh).
Jahangir Palace, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh / Img Source: Wikipedia
It documents, analyses, and infers the attributes and manifestations of traditional courtyard houses and examines the diverse interpretations of those as applied in contemporary homes.
The Book Synopsis
Indian architecture is not an object in space; it integrates space within the object, where the built and the unbuilt become counterpoints to vitalize each other. The alchemy of the two sustains the space and the life within. The void within the built—the courtyard—lies at the genesis of the urban dwelling form in India across geography and time.
In ancient Indian sciences, the courtyard assumes the central position as Brahmasthana, the nucleus of the living environment. It provided an open-to-sky outdoor space while being away from the public eye and thus suited an introverted lifestyle. In this book, the author traces the metaphysical, mythical, socio-cultural, environmental and spatial roles of the courtyard in the domestic architecture of India—from early civilization and Vedic times to Islamic and colonial influences.
Courtyard in City Palace, Rajasthan | Image Source: Flickr
A large Hard bound book (10.5 inches by 10.5 inches) contains 470 pages and is filled with 352 photographs, 333 drawings, and 18 maps. With the help of several stunning photographs and representative drawings, the book endeavours to 'understand the presence and resolution, continued use and adaptation as well as the diverse interpretations and abstractions of the courtyard.'
The book is definitely a rich resource for architects and interior designers alike who seek different ways to incorporate an alluring courtyard or a home garden within a house. The book facilitates distinguishing the spatial elements constituting the court and understanding the arts, the crafts, and the elements integral to the court.
Architect professor, Dick Van Ga Meren of Delft University, Netherlands, has penned the book's foreword.
Where to Buy:
The final bulk copies of the book are now available. It can be sourced from bookshops or digital platforms. The retail price of the publication is Rs 4500. However, against the printed price of 4500 Rs, after about 33% discount, one can get it at Rs 3000+ postage (approx. 500Rs) from Yatin's office or his address (Milan bungalow, Sargam Flat Lane, Ishvarbhuvan To Stadium Road, Near Girivar Society, Navjivan Post, Ahmedabad 380014. In ordering ten or more copies, one can get it at a minimum price of Rs 2700.
About the Author
Yatin Pandya is a practising architect with his firm FOOTPRINTS E.A.R.T.H. He is the author of several books, including Concepts of Space in Traditional Indian Architecture (Mapin) and Elements of Spacemaking (Mapin), for which he won the IIA Award for Excellence in Architecture in the Research category in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
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