The jaali, reconsidered for modern homes

Walk through the Qutb Shahi tombs on a winter afternoon and you will see what a jaali does best: it turns hard sunlight into a pattern on the floor. For centuries, carved screens in stone and timber kept Deccan homes cool, private and full of soft, moving light.

In today's apartments, the same idea solves very modern problems.

Dividing without closing

Open-plan living is lovely until the dining table is visible from the front door. A jaali partition separates the two while keeping light and air moving. It also works between a living room and a pooja space, or to screen a study corner.

Filtering the west sun

West-facing balconies in Hyderabad can be unbearable after 3pm. A jaali in front of the glass — in aluminium, GRC or timber — cuts the heat while keeping the view.

Choosing a material

• Stone (sandstone, Tandur): heavy and beautiful, best in villas where the structure can take it.
• Timber (teak, sheesham): warm, easily customised, ideal for interiors.
• Metal (brass, powder-coated MS or aluminium): slim, precise and good for exteriors.
• GRC and CNC-cut MDF: affordable and flexible, but choose a good finish.

Drawing the pattern

The pattern matters more than it seems. Small, dense patterns give privacy; large, open ones give light. We usually draw screens at full scale and test them against the actual sun path of the room before anything is cut.

A well-placed jaali can become the one thing people remember about your home.