ANALYSIS BUILT FORMS OF COURTYARDS IN ARIYALUR CONTEXT TAMILNADU, INDIA.

Abstract

The first courtyard houses across worldwide reference according to the historical evidence provided, appears to be originated probably around 6500-6000 BC, the best evidence will be the earliest village from Mehergarh. Paul Oliver wrote in his book Dwellings: “The House Across the World” says that, “Courtyard houses have an ancient history: examples have been excavated at Kahun, in Egypt, are believed to be 5000 years old, while the Chaldean City of Ur, dating from 2000 BC, was also houses of this form”.  But the precise evolutionary path is still remains undetermined. The courtyard’s configuration will be always varying according to the typology of the spaces around the courtyard. The courtyards always tend to show different characteristic features along with varied cultural, economic, social, psychological aspects of the society, location and also climate. This research paper proceeds understating the role of the courtyard in providing comfort levels in terms of ventilation, lighting, thermal comfort and also indoor air temperature. The objective of this study is to understand the courtyards in terms of sustainability by analyzing the historic evolution of the courtyard forms, elements through site specific studies, with the typical example of 75 years old house in Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu.