Crafting Personal Space for Women in Indian Homes: A Woman Architect’s Perspective
Where is Her Corner? Rethinking Women’s Personal Space in Indian Homes
By an Indian Woman Architect
Growing up in the heart of India’s rich cultural landscape, I often wondered why the kitchen was the only space designed with a woman in mind—yet even that rarely felt like her own. As a woman architect, I’ve come to see how deeply architecture influences the rhythm of daily life, especially for women. Our homes are more than walls and windows—they’re silent narrators of tradition, expectations, and personal identity.
In most Indian homes, togetherness is celebrated. Joint families, open courtyards, and multi-purpose verandas—these spaces beautifully nurture community but often overlook one key ingredient: a woman’s personal space. This blog is a journey through how architecture, when designed intentionally, can create spaces of autonomy, reflection, and purpose for women—whether she’s working from home, caring for others, or simply trying to find a moment of her own.
The Unspoken Architecture of Tradition
In Indian households, especially those built around multigenerational living, the spatial hierarchy often pushes women into roles defined by utility. The kitchen, pooja room, or washing area becomes her territory—spaces meant for service, not solitude. While these reflect our cultural values, they rarely offer room for expression, creativity, or rest.
Take the Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen (2021). The protagonist—a new bride—spends her days in a dim, cramped kitchen, reduced to a routine of cooking and cleaning. Her talent for dance, her joy, and her identity—all gradually vanish into the steam and smoke. The space she inhabits isn't just physically limiting—it mentally and emotionally erodes her.
The Psychology of Space: More Than Just Walls
Personal space isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Psychologist Robert Sommer famously argued that privacy and control over one’s environment improve self-worth and reduce stress. For women, especially in Indian homes where roles are deeply embedded in tradition, this kind of spatial autonomy is rare—but powerful.
Add to that the growing reality of remote work. Many women today are navigating jobs, children, and household duties—often from the same cramped room. The absence of a defined, distraction-free workspace directly impacts focus, creativity, and emotional balance.
Small Flats, Big Challenges; Large Homes, Missed Opportunities
Whether it’s a compact 2BHK in Pune or a sprawling ancestral house in the countryside, the challenge remains the same: where is her space?
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Urban Flats (500–800 sq. ft.): Limited square footage often means bedrooms are shared, kitchens are functional but joyless, and balconies double as drying zones. For women working from home or seeking a quiet corner, options are scarce. This lack of personal space adds to mental fatigue and emotional burnout (Knight Frank India, 2023).
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Larger Homes: While there’s more space, traditional layouts often keep it communal. Kitchens grow bigger, not more comfortable. Courtyards are open to everyone but not designed for retreat or reflection. Still, these homes hold potential. With a little imagination, a spare alcove or unused veranda can become a haven for rest, prayer, or productivity.
Designing for Her: Thoughtful, Empowering Solutions
As architects, we can rewrite this story. The answer isn’t to abandon tradition but to reinterpret it—with empathy and awareness. Here are a few ways we can build homes that nourish the spirit of women:
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Foldable Work Nooks: A collapsible desk by the window. A bookshelf doubling as a room divider. These small interventions can create powerful moments of control and focus in tight spaces.
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Multifunctional Pooja Corners: Imagine a sacred space with layered lighting, a bench, and soft textures—one that invites prayer in the morning and reading in the evening.
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Human-Centric Kitchens: Ergonomic layouts, generous natural light, ventilation, and even a window seat nearby can change how a woman feels about the space she spends hours in.
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Balcony Sanctuaries: No longer just for laundry—balconies can be turned into micro-retreats with plants, rugs, and privacy screens, offering a breath of fresh air both literally and figuratively.
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Light, Air, and Energy: Jaali-inspired partitions, inner courtyards, or skylights not only elevate aesthetic value but also promote mental clarity and calm (Gifford, 2019).
Visualizing a Reimagined Indian Home
Picture this:A modest 2BHK flat with layered intent. The kitchen spills into a balcony herb garden. A pooja room moonlights as a quiet meditation alcove. A sliding panel in the bedroom conceals a compact home office. The architecture doesn’t shout; it listens. It adapts. It holds space for her.
Why It Matters 
When women have access to meaningful, personalized space, their entire relationship with the home changes. She is no longer just a caretaker or provider—she becomes a co-creator of joy, ambition, and legacy.
The Great Indian Kitchen closes with the protagonist walking away from her limiting domestic space—back into herself. That’s the kind of agency we must design for. Not in grand statements, but in thoughtful, everyday choices that echo across generations.
Final Thoughts: Designing with the Heart
As an Indian woman and architect, I urge my peers to look beyond blueprints and checklists. Let’s design homes that feel like home for every member, especially for the woman who keeps its soul alive. Let’s ask, “Where is her corner?”—and then let’s build it.
References:
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The Great Indian Kitchen (2021), Dir. Jeo Baby. IMDb.
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Sommer, R. (1969). Personal Space: The Behavioural Basis of Design. PsycNET.
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Knight Frank India. (2023). India Residential Market Report.
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Evans, G. W. (2018). Environmental Stress and Urban Housing. Environmental Psychology Journal.
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Clark, C., & Glick, P. (2020). Housing Design and Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment.
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Gifford, R. (2019). The Psychology of Light and Ventilation in Homes. Building and Environment Journal.
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Sharma, A. (2021). Vastu Shastra and Spatial Harmony. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering.
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