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— PHOTOS: MURALI KUMAR K.

AESTHETIC: Most screen walls are of concrete with earthy cladding, and the choices are aplenty.

Let us take a look at what the professional has to say in this article regarding the aesthetic divider that has specific uses and is considered a niche concept that generally is appreciated by an eye with artistic sensibilities.

Screen walls have evolved to become outdoor constructions now, says Raghuraman, although on several occasions, they are being used within the building too. One of the early architectural examples of indoor screen walls can be seen in Mughal architecture. The intricate filigree walls that separated the woman’s wing or zenana from the rest of the house can be seen as the forerunner of the screen wall.

Although they are attractive, they are basically utilitarian. Unless a wall is required to either demarcate an area or shield the view, it is just not placed there, as obviously a wall is an impediment, but to make it steer away from being a plain-Jane divider, it is decorated with cladding, or a different material is used where it doesn’t pose to be a mere hold-up barrier or an area partition. For example, in an informal area as in a garden, the architect, both to notify areas of activity and protect privacy, places a screen wall.

When used in the precincts of a swimming pool, it denies access or restricts access to that zone from the rest of the garden when the pool opens out from the house. Similarly, it is used to enclose private lawns, especially those extending from the bedrooms.

Screen walls are popular in party lawns, explains Raghuraman. “If you are in a lawn party and see some attractive screen walls thrown around its periphery, you can almost be certain that they are shielding something from your view. There may be rest rooms, the service area of the kitchen, plumbing and motor rooms of the pool and the like. They can be used as entrances to demarcated zones.”

Most screen walls are concrete or semi-concrete structures, with cladding on the walls with earthy stones and tiles being a common feature now. Medium or high shrubbery is an option in outdoor spaces.

These are also known as hedges and could be present both as boundaries to the property or within the green area, as popular in Spain. Versions of such hedge-planting wall screen can be seen at the Botanical Garden in Ooty.

Indoor screen walls are now much in vogue, says Raghuraman, especially in terrace gardens or open-to-sky gardens or quadrangles within the house. Screen walls can be free standing or can be attached to the house or any other structure such as the pergola, he says. They can be made from almost any material ranging from timber and glass to terracotta and natural stone blocks.

Form, colour, decorative panels and complimentary planting are some areas on which one could work on for making the screens look innovative.

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