From Past to Present : Traditional elements that inspire Contemporary Interiors
Usage of local materials, sloping roofs and pristine shades are simple elements that can impart traditionality to any contemporary house design delhi
India is a country that has always welcomed cultures, from all around the world, with open arms. Hence today, we have a cosmopolitan melange of traditions, which we often tend to use and utilise in our own ways. Thus, today we sought to suggest some elements from India’s glorious past, that are relevant even today and can aid to convert your contemporary house design delhi, to a testament of beauty, grace and charm. Hope you enjoy a trip down memory lane!
When you finally decide to build your dream house, the most difficult decision that you have to make is about the style and the outlook of the house. Most homeowners want to include a few traditional elements which trace its way back to familial ancestry or impart an authentic ethnic feel to the house. Even if you do not want a typical traditional house, adding a few traditional elements to your contemporary interiors will make your home look unique and also ‘amp up’ its aesthetic appeal with a grace of the yesteryears. So just to give you an idea about how you can infuse the tradition within a contemporary house design, here are some elements you can choose from that have lasted through generations, and yet reflect their utility and beauty each time it is incorporated.
The communicative courtyard
Traditionally in India, courtyards have been a very important part of the house where the family gathered to talk, eat and have a good time. Additionally, courtyards have been known to cool down your house without paying extra electricity bills. Practically speaking, owing to India’s tropical climate, courtyards have proven to be very helpful for cross ventilation and eliminate any sense of claustrophobia that might exist.
In the contemporary house design delhi, today the courtyard can be used in multiple ways
Source : https://www.mododesigns.co.in/project-detail/the-house-of-courtyards/
All across our country, examples including the Pol houses of Gujarat, the Wada residences of Maharashtra, And the Nalukettu buildings of karela have one common element which is the courtyards. If you are opting for a standalone home, in the midst of a metropolis or in the calm outskirts, a courtyard can surely be that intimate space where your family can enjoy a relaxing summer breeze, or the warmth of the winter sun.
Keep it simple or keep it authentic, it all depends on the type of delhi house design you are going for
Source:https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-studio-context-architects-creates-a-light-filled-house-around-a-courtyard-in-chennai
Like the original courtyards? Plant a huge Banyan or Peepal, for some extra shade and seating. For a more trendy look, you can go for dispersed greens with a wooden flooring and a little water feature.
Perforated Windows or Jaalis
Talking about the traditional Indian windows, the jaali patterns cannot be ignored. A Jali is a screen of intricately carved cut-outs in a wall or a window used in Indian architecture for thousands of years. These jaalis help to filter light and breeze to the interiors and who can ignore the play of shadows it creates! If you are a resident of a hot microclimate that experiences dry warm winds during summer, opt for a jaali window and you will be amazed at the comfort it can bring about. To eliminate any dust that might also flow in, install a set of glass windows behind the jaali, and use it as per convenience and need.
Jaali is a great element that combines both utility and aesthetics, in any contemporary house design delhi
Source : https://www.punchat.in/punchat-projects/the-iha-residence-by-wallmakers
The use and application of these kinds of Jaali windows have evolved over time but it is still relevant and it is still loved by people around the world to give a traditional look to their contemporary house.
Social and familial intimacy with a Verandah
The veranda is an intermediate space between the indoors and outdoors. This area was usually used to welcome the guests and give them a place to sit. The idea for the Veranda must have emerged from the Hindu code of conduct which tells you to be hospitable to anyone that comes to your door.
We have spoken about numerous ways in which you can reinvent the verandah in your contemporary house design delhi
Source : https://www.archdaily.com/894857/the-verandah-house-modo-design/5b02e629f197cc16150002d0-the-verandah-house-modo-design-photo
Use traditional tiles on the floor of the verandah or use marble. If you have enough space you can add a Jhoola or a swing at the corner and settings opposite to it so that you and your guests can sit and have a good talk over a cup of tea. While traditionally, verandas were covered with pitched roofs, you can easily choose a more avante garde option like a pergola or a glass roof. To top it off, don’t forget to accessorise it with charming decor pieces and a few hints of green.
High ceiling for comfort and grandeur
To beat the Indian heat, designers and architects of the era have been known to incorporate as many cooling elements in their architecture as possible. High ceilings were one of them. High ceilings not only help to ease the cross ventilation but also keep the interior temperatures low. Even in temple architecture, you can see that high ceilings are a very dominating feature. The Royals and nobles used to make high ceiling palaces with tiny windows on top which acted as ventilators and also brought in a lot of light till sunset.
With the advancement of the false ceiling creativity, you can easily opt for a higher ceiling level and then adorn with styles that enunciate a ‘contemporary house design’. If opulence is the theme you are going for in your home, a high ceiling with a classy chandelier, is the perfect fit for you!
The beauty of Ornate pillars
Nothing can be a more prominent representation of Indian architecture than the ornate pillars. From the temples of Madurai to Ajanta caves…you can see a wide variety of carvings in all of these places. These carvings usually depict any particular God or goddess or story from mythology but these carvings can also be simple like the flora or fauna of the region.
Pillars have the potential of adding an iconic factor to any contemporary house design delhi
Source:https://thearchitectsdiary.com/a-house-between-two-treesfusion-of-indian-and-balinese-architecture-techno-architects/
Therefore, why not give a twist to the simple pillars and columns? Turn your usual pillars into a work of art, with the help of experienced craftsmen who can either carve intricate patterns on cladding materials including wood or stone. Who needs antiques in a scenario, when you have accentuating verticals to describe your connection to the heritage and legacy of our forefathers.
Statement Arches
India has been home to people of different religions and ethnicities. The Afghans, the Mughals, the Portuguese, the British and so many other communities have called India their home for a lot of centuries. And these different groups of people have built so many structures in India which have contributed to the rich heritage that we have today. So talking about the archers we have the British arches which use sharper lines made with interesting brickwork.
Get creative and use a traditional arch, in your delhi house design
Source : https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/jaipur-house-imbued-with-the-vibrancy-of-the-city/
Or if you want to go further into the history, we have Mughal arches which use intricate detailing on stone carvings. Rewind further behind, and you will have the temple architecture of the South whose stone carvings are one of a kind and you cannot even imagine how they made it without modern technology!
With a plethora of inspiration, choose any kind and blend it with your own little magic. Imagine going through an arched doorway, adorned with a pop red? Quite a bold yet statement-worth design choice..won’t you say?
Arches themselves are such interesting as facets of design, you can choose to keep it simple for your delhi house design
Source:https://www.archdaily.com/961039/arches-in-interior-design-26-projects-that-reimagine-the-classical-shape
The world is slowly turning into a concrete jungle and it is sadder because all the ‘trees’ in this jungle have begun to look the same. There is a lack of variety, uniqueness, and traditions. If you have the luxury of building your home, then give it a thought about how you can help preserve our rich heritage and preserve bits of it for future generations. As per your preference, choose one element, or a handful; but it will surely remind you of the glorious golden days of India!
Chaukor Studio
Chaukor Studio is a leading architecture and interior design firm in Delhi.
With more than a decade of experience, Architects and Interior Designers working at the firm expertise in House Design and Office Interior Design.