Carved Haveli Facade

Carved Haveli Facade is an original illustration set in Jaipur Region, India. It lies in the subtropics, where the climate is hot semi-arid steppe.

Projecting stone window boxes with carved brackets repeat across a warm pink sandstone facade divided into narrow vertical bays. Fine perforated screens cover the upper openings. A deep shaded lane runs below, and the whole front is worked stone rather than plaster.

Why is the whole facade a perforated stone screen?

The perforated screen does three jobs at once: it cuts glare, lets hot air move through, and lets women of the household see the street without being seen. That last function tells you as much about the society as the first two do about the climate. Building an entire facade from carved sandstone requires soft, workable stone nearby — and a hot dry region where it will not weather away.

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