Spatial Occupations within A Courtyard: A Case of ‘Traditional Bada Typology’ in Historic City of Gwalior

Abstract

Courtyard typology is extensively in practice from traditional times notably in India, being rich in various aspects and implications exhibiting various activities. Beside the present congestion of solid monotonous development pattern of the city, courtyards due to its inward form, creates a placid environment as a void inside the built form which proves to be better place to perform various day to day activities. Currently, with the still growing population, the historic area of Dana Oli, which is a vibrant lane in Gwalior city Madhya Pradesh, dominates architectural character of courtyard house, typically called ‘Bada’, can be count on about 100–150 year old typology. Among this, Johari’s Bada deliver a unique character of central type courtyard were all activities happen to focus inside. Users approach and conception to the courtyard changed with the course of time, gave the space multiple implications like social, cultural/traditional and religious to it, making the space activity specific and user reliant. Also, in such composite climatic region of Gwalior, central courtyard has justified its capability to balance and control the micro- climate within the framework. This paper presents the study of user activities and implications of courtyard in case of Johari’s Bada, in Dana Oli region of Gwalior which developed during 19th century. This paper also draws the concept of user space relationship over the entire day, as in the present context also, how these spaces and users are interrelated. Through activity mapping this research has marked the dependency of users, their activities and different implications in and around the courtyard.