Inside India’s Courtyards: The Low-Tech Cooling System That Still Works

If you grew up in an old Indian town, you probably remember the feeling. Stepping barefoot into your grandmother’s haveli on a scorching afternoon. The clang of the metal latch, the sudden drop in temperature, the earthy scent of wet stone, and that hush of cool air brushing past as you entered the courtyard. It felt like magic.

It wasn’t. It was brilliant design.

Long before the word ‘sustainability’ filled design journals, India’s traditional homes had already perfected the art of living in harmony with their environment. Built centuries ago across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal and beyond, havelis were grand mansions rooted in both climate and culture. At their core was an architectural feature that did more than look beautiful — the courtyard.

Why courtyards worked: A natural cooling system

Indian havelis were built in hot, often arid regions where temperature control was essential. Courtyards were the answer. Here’s how they worked:

• It cooled itself, naturally: The central courtyard absorbed sunlight during the day and released heat into the open sky at night, drawing cooler air into the surrounding rooms — a simple system of thermal regulation.
• Air moved freely through the house: Rooms on all four sides opened into the courtyard, creating constant cross-ventilation without fans or machines.
• Trees and plants made it even cooler: Many courtyards had tulsi plants, trees, or fountains. These green features released moisture into the air — a process known as evapotranspiration, which contributed to the cooling effect.
• Walls that worked with the weather: Havelis used lime-plastered walls, thick stone or brick, high ceilings, and small windows to keep interiors cool. Even jharokhas (enclosed balconies) helped channel air while blocking direct sun.

The result? A home where you didn’t need to reach for a switch. The courtyard took care of the heat. The air felt easier to breathe, the floors cooler to sit on, and life carried on without a single fan running.

More than design: The courtyard as a way of life

The courtyard was the heart of the home. It soaked up laughter, hosted slow afternoons, carried the smell of pickles drying in the sun, and held the comfort of familiar voices echoing off sun-warmed walls.

• Families gathered here for meals, music, storytelling or afternoon naps.
• Women used it for embroidery, aachar-making, or simply to sit under the sun in private.
• Children played, elders rested, and every corner echoed with everyday rhythm.

In many havelis, multiple courtyards served different purposes: a mardana for men and guests, a zenana for women, reflecting both social customs and architectural adaptability.

What modern homes can learn

Today, our cities are getting hotter. Air conditioners hum through the day. Green cover is vanishing. And in the rush for vertical expansion, we’ve lost connection with passive design.

But the wisdom of courtyard architecture is slowly returning. Here's how:

• Architectural revivals: Eco-conscious architects across Bengaluru, Auroville, and Rajasthan are designing homes with shaded atria, central courtyards, and open wells of light.
• Public buildings: Institutions and resorts in hot regions are embracing courtyard plans to reduce energy use.
• Laurie Baker’s legacy: The legendary architect championed cost-effective, climate-sensitive design. His influence lives on in newer generations who are finding ways to bring courtyards into compact urban spaces.

Even small adaptations can help: placing windows for cross-ventilation, adding green spaces on balconies, and using local materials.

Simple ways to bring haveli wisdom into your home

If you're wondering how to start, here are a few easy ways to bring some of that haveli wisdom into your own space:

• Use light-coloured limewash or natural plaster to reflect heat.
• Place houseplants or vertical greens where light filters in.
• Create shaded balconies or semi-open spaces for airflow.
• Choose breathable materials like clay tiles, stone, or reclaimed wood.
• Think about how rooms catch the breeze, and leave space for it to flow.

You’ll even find these ideas in restored havelis and eco-conscious homestays across Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, where conservation architects are reviving traditional methods. Some are turning centuries-old homes into museums, while others are building new spaces with old logic — shaded courtyards, breezy verandahs, and materials that cool the house without consuming energy.

Cooling with courtyards: A family’s everyday life in Gujarat

This idea is already in practice. In Gujarat’s Bharuch city, architect Samira Rathod designed what is now known as the 'Cool House' — a home that remains under 35°C inside even when it’s 45°C outside, without using a single air conditioner.

Built for a family of three generations, the house features courtyards with trees, jali structures, water bodies, 18-inch-thick lime-plastered walls, and 63 windows designed to maximise airflow. The home is deliberately introverted, opening inward instead of outward, with channels for wind to pass through and cool the structure naturally.

“I had a passive energy design in mind for the house,” says Samira. “Even if the wind is slightly warm, the air passes through a water body that we created on the south side and cools down. This air, in turn, cools the entire house.”

The homeowner adds, “We have a few trees in the house, which make the introverted design work wonderfully. The house remains so breezy and cool even in peak summers... If you come and sit in the courtyard, you won’t need a fan.”

This real-life example shows that adapting haveli principles isn't limited to heritage buildings or expensive eco-resorts. It can work — and is working — in modern homes today, blending traditional cooling with thoughtful, contemporary design.

Lessons the haveli still holds

The beauty of the haveli courtyard lies not just in its architecture but in its philosophy: comfort without consumption. It’s a model that responded to both climate and community.

In an era of longer heatwaves and shrinking resources, it reminds us that the most sustainable innovations are often the ones that existed long before us.

While sprawling courtyards may not be possible in every modern home, their principles still apply. Think:

• Natural light and ventilation
• Use of regional materials
• Indoor greenery and shaded spaces
• Building orientation that respects sun and wind patterns

The haveli whispers history. And in that whisper, you’ll find a way to build again — thoughtfully, simply, and in tune with the sun.

In a world chasing high-tech fixes for climate control, perhaps it’s time to look back at the low-tech genius of lime walls, shaded verandahs, and a courtyard that quietly kept it all cool.

Edited by Khushi Arora