Hi Adrain, Again thanks for showing interest in my post. I have highlighted my plot on a piece of paper. There are two parts marked as L and R. As I told u earlier i am making on half of the plot size available to me. Either I can make on L or I can make it on R. There are no such restrictions on material to be used but in India we don't used wood to make outer walls. General practice here is to use bricks and cement. I am adding to photographs one is a piece of paper highlighting my part of plot and the other is the google map pic. I cuing highlight in tht but I have marked it with red my side of plot. If u can compare both the pics u might be able to figure out the whole idea of the place. As far as the servant room is concerned it is a small room with kitchen and sedate bathroom attacked to the room. It's generally very small and have no access to the main house. To give u an example the servant room may be of the size 10 feet by 15 feet which includes a small kitchen and bathroom including the room too. Shaleen

With the monsoon rains I cannot imagine much will protect you from the buckets of water! I have found a solution that is a permanent structure where you can twist open and close louvers so you can allow sunshine in, but lock it to block out rain. It also seems to have incorporated gutters - I am sure something like this can be found in India (or imported from China?) http://www.louvretecusa.com/ProductRange/Opening-Roof-Systems.html

Yogender Sharma To make a grass cover, the first thing you will need to ensure if whether the structure of the half basement is capable to holding a green roof. The next would be to waterproof the top again, keeping in mind the soil and the constant contact with water. Once these things are done, you need to locate were it is you want the lawn and ensure you have access to a drainage within or at best near it the area. You will then require the services of a horticulturist to help you set up the lawn. In terms of cost, it really depends on quite a few factors Existing condition of the structure Location Quality of Horticulturist Type of Green Cover etc....

Hi, Having a courtyard is always a great idea keeping in mind the location and scale of the courtyard should compliment the overall environment of the house. I am doing one such project where my client wants a courtyard with least maintenance issues. So instead an inner courtyard I place it along one side of the building so that it is surrounded from three sides while open from the one side. This ways it serves like a courtyard cum lawn which is easy to take care.