Courtyards as places of Spatial Conflict
Arka Ghosh
Sushant University, arkagh89@gmail.com
Abstract - In an enclosed space may it be social, cultural,
political or emotional when one entity invades or engulfs
other a conflict arises between the two forces. This
affects the forces as well as the space. This is called
spatial conflict. War, racial violence, climate change,
deforestation, extraction, migration all affect physical
habitable space and arise spatial conflict. In this study
we will examine the interaction of spaces and its
inhabitants and the source of conflict to understand the
contemporary implication of the conflict on the space
and its content. These conflicts affect the interior
architecture of the space. So study of interior
architecture is important to analyse spatial conflict. In
this study I will explore the spatial conflict in and
around Courtyard and its unbuilt space and edges
connecting lifestyle, family, memories, occupation as
parameter of the study. The courtyard houses of
Kolkata and Barasat will be taken into consideration of
the present study. Different families occupying and using
the same courtyard may lead to spatial conflict of
physical, visual and emotional areas. And this conflict
changes the urban courtyard spaces and its spill over
and nearest liminal space.
Index Terms - Delineated Space, Emotional, Extraction,
Migration, Habitable, Spatial Conflict, Interior Architecture,
Courtyard.
Introduction:
“If your ceiling should fall down, then you have lost a room,
but gained a courtyard. Think of it that way.” -Alexander
McCall Smith
A courtyard is basically a space, open to the sky, surrounded
on all four sides by buildings. Being a central place of the
house this enclosed space is a source of all sorts of positive
energy and vibes. This common space is the source of all
interaction and activities of a family or community dwelling
in the buildings encircling the courtyard. Traditional
courtyards usually designed to serve the community values
namely social, cultural and religious values. These values
have changed over the time from community values to that
of greater individualization.
Courtyards are places of great social interactions, social
functions, interactive involvement of the families involved.
It is basically the heart of the household. Courtyards creates
the scope of cultural mixing of inhabitants. Courtyards are
also religiously very active. Pujas end household festivals
may take place here. Peoples from different religious
community may use a courtyard differently as their own
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religious belief. Courtyards enjoys natural light and
ventilation and are affected by climatic changes. Courtyards
encourage instructiveness, create psychological and physical
comfort zone for the inhabitants of the household.
In modern times the courtyard is divided into multiple
stakeholders/tenants using the same space leading to the
conflict of physical, visual, cultural & emotional
boundaries. Courtyards which was a symbol of congregation
changed into a place of confrontation & divide. The value of
courtyard in earlier past and its contemporary & future
values are need to be assessed.
Spatial conflict is a concept that talks about When in a
delineated space, one force may it be socio-cultural,
political or emotional tries to encroach or to invade another
similar force, a conflict arises between those two forces
which affects the space and the forces themselves The
moments of crisis & emergent realities of conflict in the
world are already catching up with us with great intensity &
diversity. Unrest changes the physical habitable space and
thus contributes to spatial conflict. Spatial conflict manifests
itself in everyday living due to the changes of physical,
cultural, emotional & visual boundaries.
These also change our viewpoint of architectural
organization, order & design thinking. These change also
structurally reconfigure our living environments. All these
conflicts arise from and affects the interior architecture of a
space, so the study of interior architecture is very important
in analyzing the spatial conflict. For this study I will explore
the spatial conflict in and around Courtyard & and its
unbuilt space & edges connecting lifestyle, family,
memories, occupation as the parameter of the study. These
parameters define the support structure of a family, it’s
inhabitants, usage of micro and macro spaces and imprints
on spatial boundaries. Spatial conflict rises form the
courtyard, its built & unbuilt edges and slowly infecting the
urban context. And these types of crisis that changed the
urban courtyard spaces its spillover and nearest liminal
spaces over the decades.
Typology of Courtyards in Barasat (Kolkata & its
Vicinity) & Urban Context:
Area of research & limitations:
Spatial, organizational & functional of conflicts in an
enclosed residential space i.e. Indian courtyard in the
background of changing socio-political, cultural &
experiential values of contemporary India has been studied.
The study needs understanding and exploration of concept
of Indian courtyard houses and conflicted spaces, spatial,
organizational and functional aspects of courtyard spaces as
well as socio-political, cultural and experiential values,
memories and experiences attached to conflicted courtyard
spaces.
All the conflicts transcend from micro to macro
environment contaminating the context ever so slowly until
it eventually spreads out into the urban/peri-urban spaces,
changing their earlier perceived natures.
Spatial conflict is a concept that talks about When in a
delineated space, one force may it be socio-cultural,
political or emotional tries to encroach or to invade another
similar force, a conflict arises between those two forces
which affects the space and the forces themselves The
moments of crisis & emergent realities of conflict in the
world are already catching up with us with great intensity &
diversity. Unrest changes the physical habitable space and
thus contributes to spatial conflict. Spatial conflict manifests
itself in everyday living due to the changes of physical,
cultural, emotional & visual boundaries.
These also change our viewpoint of architectural
organization, order & design thinking. These change also
structurally reconfigure our living environments. All these
conflicts arise from and affects the interior architecture of a
space, so the study of interior architecture is very important
in analyzing the spatial conflict.
For the case study the parameters studied are the spatial
conflict in and around Courtyard & and its unbuilt space &
edges connecting lifestyle, family, memories, occupation.
These parameters define the support structure of a family,
its inhabitants, usage of micro and macro spaces and
imprints on spatial boundaries. Spatial conflict rises form
the courtyard, its built & unbuilt edges and slowly infecting
the urban context. And these types of crisis that changed the
urban courtyard spaces its spillover and nearest liminal
spaces over the decades.
. •
Courtyard houses of area of research (Barasat) basically
comprised of a central open space surrounded by built
structures. Its open space is a center of attraction of the
dwellers. The courtyard is used for different activities and
conflicts may arise also as a consequence.
The courtyard maybe a private one where the insiders take
part in action or it may be a public one as the front area of
temples, memorials etc.
It can act as a liminal space of the built structure
surrounding it.
One built structure in front is occupied by the landlord and
other structures surrounding the courtyard are occupied by
tenants. Thus, courtyard becomes a place of intense social
mixing in different phases of day and night.
They gather together, arrange events and take part in
different activities.
• The courtyard maybe a private one where the
insiders take part in action or it may be a
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public one as the front area of temples,
memorials etc.
• The courtyard acts as a liminal space of the
built structure surrounding it.
• One built structure in front is occupied by the
landlord and other structures surrounding the
courtyard are occupied by tenants. Thus,
courtyard becomes a place of intense social
mixing in different phases of day and night.
• These inside, outside & threshold spaces usage
over lapse generally results on conflicts.
• These conflicts transcend interior, threshold
and exterior spaces to the context of these
courtyard spaces.
• When conflict affects a urban space
surrounding conflicted space it creates changes
in access ways, approach area and nearby
sites.
As understood the gaps in research are in the research of
conflicted spaces the idea of Interior or micro spaces are not
explored that much, mainly in international research
conflicted spaces in sync with religion are explored, also in
area of study unprotected heritage courtyard spaces of
Kolkata/ Barasat i.e. smaller historic towns in around
Kolkata was not explored much in recent research.
Methodology:
• Local Residential courtyard houses, history,
evolution, context.
• Timeline, user experience, functions.
• Studying & making architectural drawings &
identifying primary, secondary & tertiary spaces of
a courtyard & its spill-over into urban fabric.
Liminal entities & cause of conflict & seclusion of
space.
• Architectural elements of courtyard to consider as
elements of spatial conflict imprint:
1. Skin
2. Surface
3. Structural system
4. Services
5. Partitions
6. Flooring
7. Liminal spaces- Adjacent entry points, Roads
8. Contextual Buildings.
 9. Conflict changing the spatial organization,
parameter & usage.
Spatial Conflict:
These inside, outside & threshold spaces usage over lapse
generally results on conflicts.
These conflicts transcend interior, threshold and exterior
spaces to the context of these courtyard spaces.When
conflict affects an urban space surrounding conflicted space
it creates changes in access ways, approach area and nearby
sites.
The parameters for methodology include local history,
evolution, context, timeline, user experience, functions of
the Residential courtyard houses.
On the basis of these study architectural drawings are to be
made identifying primary, secondary and tertiary spaces of a
courtyard and its spill-over into urban fabric, liminal entities
& cause of conflict & seclusion of space.
Architectural elements of courtyard as elements of spatial
conflict imprint are Skin, Surface, Structural system,
Services, Partitions, Flooring, Liminal spaces- Adjacent
entry points, Roads, Contextual Buildings and Conflict
changing the spatial organization, parameter & usage.
Two Types of Conflicts are considered. One is conflict
based on systems which includes Developed System,
Highly-Developed System, Under- Developed System,
Controlled System and Uncontrolled System
The other conflict is Social Strata Based System. This is
considered as :
1) Between Weaker Class & Middle Class
2) Between Middle Class & Higher Class
3) Between Higher Class & Elite
4) Between Elite & Weaker Class
Parameters of Conflict are Socio-Cultural, Socio-Political,
Spatial, Ideological, Territorial, Adaptive change oriented,
Action oriented and De-evolution oriented.
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Parameters of Conflict in Spatiality of Courtyard are
Visibility, Privacy, Allocation of amenities, Shade,
Separation of Circulation, Separation of entry spaces.
Spaces affected of Conflict in Courtyard are of two types.
One is Volumetric and the other is Organizational.
Volumetric spaces includes Functional Area, Floor plates,
Open space and Double Heights.
Organizational spaces includes Vertical Circulation,
Horizontal circulation, Access ways, Corridors and
Staircase.
Conflict in a closed space like a courtyard may arise in
different ways. It involves different stakeholders like the
owner and the tenants.
o As the same entrance is used by the owner
and the tenants different sorts of conflict
may arise between the owner and tenants
and between the tenants themselves.
o The tenants and owner may try to use the
courtyard at the same time of the day
differently thus precipitating conflicts
between them.
o During festivities and occasions social
conflicts may arise between the
stakeholders.
o conflict related to political ideology may
breakout between the stake holders.
o As joint families are now broken into
small units there values and adjustive
nature has been changed. Their interests
of using the courtyard has changed.
They are not compromising between themselves thus
increasing the chance of conflict. In the advent of increasing
socio-political tension the scenario and nature of conflicts
have changed. In past people were more accommodative
and selfless. Thus they can adjust between themselves and
chance of conflict was less but with rising tension the
chance of having spatial conflict has increased. Thus,
courtyards are also being met with more chances of spatial
conflicts.
Courtyard Houses of Barasat:

In this study two types of courtyard houses are being

explored. Type 1 is a single courtyard surrounded by
buildings with a common entrance. In the second type there
are two seperate courtyards, one private and another open to
public with a temple inside. The second courtyard is private
with an entrance and surrounding house. These give rise to
interesting spaces with full of activities and chances of
spatial conflict.

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 Inferences from Case Study-1:
In first case there is actually to courtyards . In the front one
there is a temple of Goddess Durga. Regular pujas and
festival occur there. This being and outside courtyard both
the tenants and outsiders gather here. This may arise conflict
between the stakeholders. The second courtyard inside is
basically a private courtyard enjoyed by the tenants only.
The socio-political conflicts can arise here between the
tenants and the owner himself as no outsider is allowed
here.

Inferences from Case Study-2:

The second case is a single courtyard surrounded by
buildings and with a common entrance. Here conflicts can
arise between the stakeholders related to common entrance

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and occupation of the courtyard at the same time by the
tenants. Here owner's involvement is less. Conclusion:
Contextual Conflict Understanding:
The courtyards under discussion are mainly G+2 or G+3
buildings. But the surrounding structures are changing. Tall
high-rises are being built. Therefore there is disturbance of
skyline of the area. The old courtyard houses are getting
missmatch among the newer buildings. This also creates
contextual conflict in the area.

Conclusion:
Conflict in a closed space like a courtyard may arise in
different ways. It involves different stakeholders like the
owner and the tenants.
1. As the same entrance is used by the owner and the
tenants different sorts of conflict may arise
between the owner and tenants and between the
tenants themselves.
2. The tenants and owner may try to use the courtyard
at the same time of the day differently thus
precipitating conflicts between them.
3. During festivities and occasions social conflicts
may arise between the stakeholders.
4. conflict related to political ideology may breakout
between the stake holders.
5. As joint families are now broken into small units
there values and adjustive nature has been changed.
Their interests of using the courtyard has changed.
They are not compromising between themselves thus
increasing the chance of conflict. In the advent of increasing
socio-political tension the scenario and nature of conflicts
have changed. In past people were more accommodative
and selfless. Thus they can adjust between themselves and
chance of conflict was less but with rising tension the
chance of having spatial conflict has increased. Thus,
courtyards are also being met with more chances of spatial
conflicts.

References:

Kamalika, B. (2008). Seeking the lost layers,an enquiry into

the traditional dwellings of the urban elite in North Calcutta.
Ahmedabad. Gujarat
Shuchi, M. (2016, January 9). Understanding the Change in
Character Of Courtyards. https://shuchimishra.wordpress.
com/2016/01/09/understanding-the-change-in-character-
ofcourtyards/
Saptarishi, M. (2014, May 1) Houses of Traditional
Kolkata : understanding adaptability in context of urban
transformations. https://issuu.com/saptarshi.mitra/docs/ hou
ses_of_traditional_kolkata__under
: Garg, Arushi. (2020). Evolution of courtyards of Kolkata.
10.13140/RG.2.2.20388.22407.