Everyone has a soft spot for greenery, whether it is a small plant on the study desk or a thriving kitchen garden. Indian homes have always valued this connection to nature, as demonstrated by the extensive presence of indoor courtyards in traditional homes. These modern Indian homes elevate that impulse to have a visual connection to greenery by integrating not just indoor courtyards but also trees, outdoor decks, and pavilions into the very foundations of their designs. A Traditional Courtyard Home In Hampi Shama Pawar’s first trip to Hampi was a gift from her father. What the painter didn’t know then was that she had walked into a dreamland that would, eventually, not let her walk away. Four years later, in 1995, Pawar and her artist husband Adam Shapiro moved permanently into the fortified village of Anegundi to build their home in Hampi. Pawar’s home and workspace too are deeply anchored to this ethos of comm­unity. In the tradition of village dwellings in southern India, her four ­bedroom house has a central courtyard that’s open to the sky. Surrounded by lemon orchards, the house is a testament to the practice and impact of craft traditions as well as nature’s abundance, which sustains the output. Pawar’s abiding love for trees is almost a tangible substance in her living space. Mats loaded with harvests of sesame, gon­gura flowers, and vaijanti seeds are laid out to dry in the sun. Brass vessels and glass bottles filled with lush leaves, reeds, stalks of wild berries, grass, bougainvillea twigs, and fragrant flowers adorn various corners. Outside, tall trees of sandalwood, bakul , frangipani and bauhinia susurrate with many others, drawing a steady traffic of bees, butterflies and birds all day. Far removed from the urbane under­ standing of development, Anegundi is a village that has survived and thrived on the tenets of sustainability. For Pawar, Anegundi is also the most precious gift she has ever received in her life from the person she loved the most—her father. It’s not surprising then that it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Original text by Rajashree Balaram, edited for context. A Bengaluru Home Designed Around Trees An ochre-hued Bengaluru home catches your attention in Karishma Hills. At first glance, it is the colour that creates a striking visual, but as you take a closer look, it is the hanging greens that complete the picture. Designed by Avinash Ankalge, Harshith Nayak, and Manthan Batwal of A Threshold, this home stands tall on an 1,800-square-foot plot adjoining the Turahalli Forest. With neighbouring houses on the east and south, this abode is accessed from a west-facing road that ends in a cul-de-sac. “The homeowners wanted us to build around the existing trees in a bid to preserve them whilst ensuring they have ample space and all functional requirements are met. Its design concept therefore revolves around integrating the trees into the living spaces while visually extending the house into the surrounding greenery,” shares founding partner Ankalge. Despite the compact plot size, the design of this Bengaluru home has prioritised preserving the trees that have become an integral part of the residents’ daily life, with all views oriented towards them. “This also makes the house feel larger than its narrow plot size. We like to believe the trees are now an extension of the family, each given its own ‘outdoor room’ in the form of a veranda. The homeowners greatly appreciate the house’s close connection to nature, particularly the presence of three mature trees, two teak, and one casuarina, as they existed before this home,” adds Ankalge. The lush, well-planned landscaping and the subtle nuances give the home a laid back ambiance, disconnected from the urban environment of Bengaluru. In essence, the greenery engages in a constant dialogue with the house, becoming an inseparable part of this residence. Original text by Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy, edited for context. An Expansive Alibag Home Designed by Azmin Kaka, principal designer, Azmin Kaka Interiors, for her family, this 9,000-square-foot home took shape gradually, guided by instinct and sharpened by intent. Spread across 1.8 acres, the property reveals itself slowly. A gate crafted from salvaged teak opens onto a winding driveway that meanders through orchards and flowering gardens planted entirely with local species. Mango, coconut, chikoo, lemon, custard apple, guava, and avocado trees sit alongside hibiscus, lilies, bougainvillea, Rangoon creepers, and night jasmine, all chosen to remain rooted in Alibag’s ecology. From the very beginning, the designer was clear that the landscape had to feel of its place, and that not a single existing tree would be cut during construction.

Two centenarian anchors define life outdoors. A banyan tree, over a hundred years old, shelters what the family calls the Buddha Deck, while a mango tree stands proudly over the front lawn. Inside, this Alibag home is organised as a series of connected volumes rather than a single enclosed mass. The outdoor deck forms a gentle threshold between interior and garden. Overlooking the pool, it becomes a favoured gathering space as evening sets in, the air scented with jasmine. The living and dining pavilion sits as a distinct unit, linked to the rest of the house by a pool and open courtyard, allowing light, air, and reflection to move freely through the plan. The idea, inspired directly by Alibag’s raw coastline and natural beauty, was to bring the outdoors indoors through material, texture, and spatial flow rather than overt gesture. Original text by Nadezna Siganporia, edited for context. An Ahmedabad Home Replete With Courtyards Tucked into a verdant landscape on the outskirts of the city, this weekend home in Ahmedabad— a project by Rushi Shah and Vidisha Shah— centres the beauty of the abundant trees that encircle it. The project was made for the second generation of the Porecha family, who had a decidedly modern aesthetic in mind for their home. Nature is the main character of this home, with every architectural element serving to highlight the trees that enclose the site. It starts with the placement of the home, which is a considerable distance away from the main gate, allowing for a scenic stroll through the landscape. The home also invites nature indoors through its use of courtyards — a staple of Indian architecture. There are a total of five courtyards in the home, each serving as a transitional space between different sections of the home. The first courtyard is encountered at the entrance, with the exposed concrete walls serving as a backdrop to the Champa tree growing within. The second courtyard is placed between the entertainment room and the living room, and features red gravel flooring. The third courtyard, located near the dining room, also features gravel, minimal plants, and a large boulder for seating. The fourth courtyard is placed between the two bedrooms, “We wanted to create a cottage-like experience for the family, this courtyard allows us to differentiate between the two bedrooms without the need for a common wall.” The fifth and final courtyard is a tranquil spot located at the back of the home, complete with a small waterfall that spills into a pool adorned by lily pads. Original text by Khushi Sheth, edited for context. A Thrissur Home That Invites Nature Indoors What happens when a client wants privacy and the outdoors in equal measure? In the case of architects Manuraj C. R. And E. R. Amal Suresh of Thrissur-based i2a Architects Studio, it meant conceiving an inward-looking floor plan, complete with courtyards, trees, and hopefully, a perennial breeze. "The goal was for this Thrissur bungalow to be private, not exposed to the street or to the houses on all three sides, and for the views of the landscape to be maximised. The architecture had to fit into nature, not the other way around," says Manuraj of creating a sanctuary far removed from the urban hubbub. The home evolves in linear planes and volumes, its rationalist features cutting a sharp contrast to the surrounding natural environment. The colour palette is equally dichotomous, with the Agra red stone exterior and ivory interior serving as warm-cool counterpoints to one another. Greenery weaves its way through this room and that, reaching its fullest potential in the courtyard where it culminates into a verdant pocket garden. “By keeping the built form and nature on an even plane, we were able to establish a profound connection between the inhabitants and their surroundings,” shares Manuraj. “The interplay of form, colour and landscape evokes a sense of awe and appreciation for the beauty of nature in design." With the man-made and the natural holding a mirror to each other, there’s no doubt this Thrissur bungalow honours people and place in equal spirit. Original text by Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, edited for context. Also read: This 200-year-old Shekhawati haveli was restored without a single machine or chemical