Designing Homes with Natural Light and Airflow
I view a home as a living organism that needs to breathe. By using skylights, courtyards, and traditional jali screens, I invite nature inside while keeping your interiors cool and comfortable.
This skylight at the Gopal Residence is a centerpiece of the design. The suspended blue and white discs interact with the sunlight, creating a celestial effect while bathing the double-height space in a soft, diffused glow.
A terracotta jali screen is brought to life by the sun. This feature, seen here in the Shashidhar Residence, provides privacy and ventilation while casting intricate, moving patterns across the floor and walls.
At the Manjunath Residence, the ceiling combines filler slabs with skylights. This not only reduces the weight of the concrete structure but also allows pockets of natural light to filter down, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow.
A view looking up at the skylight in the Raghavendra Residence. The terracotta jali creates a beautiful geometric pattern against the sky, filtering the harsh sun and casting artistic shadows on the bright yellow wall below.
The dramatic shadows cast by the skylight jali create a living piece of art on the walls. This image captures how the home's atmosphere changes throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky.
The entire staircase at the Raghavendra Residence is designed as a light well. The open, floating steps and the large skylight above ensure that natural light penetrates deep into the heart of this compact home.
This video shows the dynamic play of light from the skylight at the Raghavendra Residence. The shadows move and shift, making the space feel alive and connected to the time of day.
The interplay of light and shadow created by a terracotta jali screen. This architectural element is a modern interpretation of a traditional feature, providing both beauty and function.
Another perspective of the jali screen, showing how it creates a sense of enclosure while still allowing light and air to pass through. The patterns on the wall are a beautiful side effect of this functional design.
A minimalist composition of light, shadow, and texture. The clean lines of the window frame cast sharp shadows on the floor, contrasting with the warm, earthy tones of the terracotta wall.
About Signature Elements: The Play of Light & Air
It is not just about cutting a hole in the roof to let light in; it is about managing heat and privacy simultaneously. When we install a skylight or a terracotta jali, I calculate the sun path for your specific site to ensure the space remains cool and shaded during the hot afternoon while flooding with soft, indirect light during the morning hours.
Architecture is an exercise in managing nature, not fighting it. In my designs, elements like skylights and jali screens act as tools for passive climate control.
The Mechanics of Light
When we introduce a skylight, the goal is to create a soft, diffused glow that minimizes the need for artificial lighting during the day. We use toughened glass and carefully positioned grids to prevent harsh glare. In projects like the Raghavendra Residence, these openings function as light wells, pulling daylight into the heart of a compact home that would otherwise feel dark and enclosed.
Breathing Walls
I often use terracotta jali screens. These are not merely decorative. They serve a dual purpose: they break the intensity of the sun, casting beautiful, shifting shadow patterns on your floors and walls, and they facilitate cross-ventilation. By allowing air to flow through these perforated walls, we create a passive cooling system that reduces your reliance on air conditioning.
My Approach to Ventilation
- Site-Specific Orientation: I analyze how wind and sun move across your plot before finalizing any opening.
- Courtyard Effect: Where space permits, internal courtyards act as thermal chimneys, pulling cool air in and venting hot air out.
- Material Selection: We pair these openings with materials like lime plaster or exposed brick that breathe, preventing the trapped humidity often found in modern concrete boxes.
Building this way takes more thought, but it results in a home that feels comfortable throughout the changing seasons.
Kham Design
I am Chetan from Kham Design. I believe architecture should work with nature, not against it, which is why I focus on passive design strategies to keep your home naturally lit and ventilated throughout the year.
Let's find the right design strategy for you.
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