bkshopr_IHB
New member
Courtyard started in Ancient China for many practical reasons. Ancient Chinese cities were laid in perfectly square or rectangular shape similar to Woodbury but 10 times larger. Surrounded by several story high defensible perimeter walls with four towering guarded portal gates faced the primary compass directions. Although livelihood behind the wall was private due to overpopulation the private court yards were created for safety against petty crime.
Every home had a front entrance off a nice pedestrian street and a back door off an alley for utility purposes. All streets were parallel to alleys ran from east to west. The orientation of every home faces north and south to take advantage of the best solar angle and optimum ventilation direction. Air movement always occur when there are temperature difference between 2 places like the cooler air under breezeway or a large tree promotes a movement of air. The south facing opening is much hotter than the no sun facing north opening so the movement of air is always there. This is the reason why Asian homebuyers look for North- South orientation houses.
Homes were built against 2 masonry wall that sat right on the side property lines without any setbacks. In a way most Chinese court yard house are all attached to one another sharing common side walls. 4 separate individual box-like structures were built around a central courtyard. All rooms must exit on to the courtyard to access another room. The separation was much safer because of fire that often occurred in Kitchen. All structures have windows on at least on three sides and for safety reason north and south facing structures with no window openings except for doors opening onto the street and alley. There was no glass and wrought iron technology so rice paper windows were not secured at and their orientation off the private atrium courtyard afforded privacy and safety.
The European trade along the Silk Road from Europe through the Middle East across inner Asia Minor reached the coastal China. Marco Polo and many artisans were inspired by more than just the noodle. They incorporated the idea of courtyard into their Moorish villas. The Islamic architectural influence was derived from the Chinese and worked its way to India and across to North Africa and finally the Moors captured Spain. The birth of a Spanish courtyard changed the course of architecture forever. Without earthquake European history of architecture is much richer with everlasting monuments out of stones while the Chinese faced with seismic activities their wooden structure lasted only 800 years.
I first introduced the idea of an atrium courtyard to Taylor Woodrow in the Parazul project in 1997 and numerous projects also adopted a similar philosophy. Cambria in North park also has an atrium courtyard. Watermark at Crystal cove as well as Shady Canyon Villas explored different courtyard variations as well. I worked with builders a lot did marketing and brain stormed new ideas.
Before the introduction of courtyard floor plans were all configured the same way. There were only a small handful of floor plans. All rooms were configured along the perimeter for light and ventilation while the stairs, bath, and laundry were always at the middle house. Garages were all across the front.
Most courtyards are too small to accommodate both landscape and hardscape. Without landscape the courtyard is very sterile and uninviting. Hosing is a lot more difficult when there is just a tiny drain instead of a large drainage planter. Avoid using outdoor furniture with fabric and cushions that tend to accumulate dust. Teak furniture with slats is better because dust falls off the crevice with a simple sweep and hosing would be so much easier than wiping.
Courtyard houses allow rooms at interior locations and still afford light and ventilations. In many cases courtyard allows cross ventilation for most rooms. One can leave all the windows and doors open all the time without safety concern. It is extremely private unlike a backyard with 5 possible nosy neighbors looking down. Another benefit is for aesthetic which is to keep the roof span short and thus results a smaller and attractive roof rather than a big roof of a giant box McMansion.
Every home had a front entrance off a nice pedestrian street and a back door off an alley for utility purposes. All streets were parallel to alleys ran from east to west. The orientation of every home faces north and south to take advantage of the best solar angle and optimum ventilation direction. Air movement always occur when there are temperature difference between 2 places like the cooler air under breezeway or a large tree promotes a movement of air. The south facing opening is much hotter than the no sun facing north opening so the movement of air is always there. This is the reason why Asian homebuyers look for North- South orientation houses.
Homes were built against 2 masonry wall that sat right on the side property lines without any setbacks. In a way most Chinese court yard house are all attached to one another sharing common side walls. 4 separate individual box-like structures were built around a central courtyard. All rooms must exit on to the courtyard to access another room. The separation was much safer because of fire that often occurred in Kitchen. All structures have windows on at least on three sides and for safety reason north and south facing structures with no window openings except for doors opening onto the street and alley. There was no glass and wrought iron technology so rice paper windows were not secured at and their orientation off the private atrium courtyard afforded privacy and safety.
The European trade along the Silk Road from Europe through the Middle East across inner Asia Minor reached the coastal China. Marco Polo and many artisans were inspired by more than just the noodle. They incorporated the idea of courtyard into their Moorish villas. The Islamic architectural influence was derived from the Chinese and worked its way to India and across to North Africa and finally the Moors captured Spain. The birth of a Spanish courtyard changed the course of architecture forever. Without earthquake European history of architecture is much richer with everlasting monuments out of stones while the Chinese faced with seismic activities their wooden structure lasted only 800 years.
I first introduced the idea of an atrium courtyard to Taylor Woodrow in the Parazul project in 1997 and numerous projects also adopted a similar philosophy. Cambria in North park also has an atrium courtyard. Watermark at Crystal cove as well as Shady Canyon Villas explored different courtyard variations as well. I worked with builders a lot did marketing and brain stormed new ideas.
Before the introduction of courtyard floor plans were all configured the same way. There were only a small handful of floor plans. All rooms were configured along the perimeter for light and ventilation while the stairs, bath, and laundry were always at the middle house. Garages were all across the front.
Most courtyards are too small to accommodate both landscape and hardscape. Without landscape the courtyard is very sterile and uninviting. Hosing is a lot more difficult when there is just a tiny drain instead of a large drainage planter. Avoid using outdoor furniture with fabric and cushions that tend to accumulate dust. Teak furniture with slats is better because dust falls off the crevice with a simple sweep and hosing would be so much easier than wiping.
Courtyard houses allow rooms at interior locations and still afford light and ventilations. In many cases courtyard allows cross ventilation for most rooms. One can leave all the windows and doors open all the time without safety concern. It is extremely private unlike a backyard with 5 possible nosy neighbors looking down. Another benefit is for aesthetic which is to keep the roof span short and thus results a smaller and attractive roof rather than a big roof of a giant box McMansion.
