Dezeen Magazine

House of Holly Osmanthus by Takashi Okuno

10 buildings with courtyard living spaces

Nothing blends indoor and outdoor space like a courtyard. This week's roundup of images from Pinterest celebrates some of the best examples, from a Japanese house built around a family's beloved tree, to the open-air courtyard of an apartment block in one of LA's densest neighbourhoods.


courtyards takashi okuno hiiragis house japan japanese house

Hiiragi's House, Japan, by Takashi Okuno

Japanese architect Takashi Okuno's latest project, Hiiragi's House, was designed to sit on a plot of land containing a tree which had been nurtured there by several generations of the owner's family. The central courtyard enables this tree to be seen from every room.

Find out more about Hiiragi's House ›


courtyards mia design studio drawers house vietnam

The Drawers House, Vietnam, by MIA Design Studio

Plant-lined courtyards with hanging greenery open up this family home in Vietnam, which consists of three single-storey segments. Designed by MIA Design Studio, the courtyards provide outdoor space without compromising the family's privacy.

Find out more about The Drawers House ›


courtyards mw works modern seattle lakeside

Laurelhurst Residence, USA, by MW Works

American studio MW Works knocked down walls in this 1960s Seattle home to create a more open layout. A garden courtyard became the focal point of the home, being visible from the living room and other rooms in the house.

Find out more about Laurelhurst Residence ›


courtyards casa campestre 107 house dcpp mexico city

Casa Campestre 107, Mexico, by DCPP

This T-shaped house in Mexico City incorporates two courtyards – one at the front and one at the rear of the residence. Designed by architecture studio DCPP, each of the downstairs rooms open up onto the paved stone courtyards.

Find out more about Casa Campestre 107 ›


courtyards bak gordon traditional lisbon apartments

Lisbon home, Portugal, by Bak Gorgon Arquitectos

Occupied by different generations of the same family, this house in Lisbon was converted by Bak Gordon Arquitectos into two apartments, split by a secluded shared courtyard.

Find out more about the Lisbon home ›


courtyards amin taha architects london bayswater house

Caroline Place property, UK, by Amin Taha Architects

London studio Amin Taha Architects transformed this 1950s terraced house in Bayswater when it added in a courtyard garden. Lightwells through to the central courtyard below allow light to travel down to the underground spaces.

Find out more about the Caroline Place property ›


courtyards drmm maggies centre architecture courtyard oldham

Maggie's Oldham Centre, UK, by dRMM

A courtyard with undulating glass walls descends from the base of the stilted wooden structure of this Maggie's Centre for cancer care, designed by London studio dRMM. The courtyard garden is accessible by a wood and steel staircase.

Find out more about Maggie's Oldham Centre ›


courtyards loha mariposa1038 housing block curvilinear courtyard koreatown los-angeles

Mariposa1038, USA, by Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects

In one of the USA's densest neighbourhoods, Los Angeles' Koreatown, Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects created this curvilinear courtyard within a multi-storey apartment building. The open-air, landscaped courtyard features an integrated bench, which doubles as a rainwater-collection system.

Find out more about Mariposa1038 ›


courtyard realrich sjarief architecture house studio jakarta indonesia

The Guild, Indonesia, by RAW Architecture

Indonesian architect Realrich Sjarief created this geometric house in Jakarta, featuring circular and arch-shaped windows, around a rectangular central courtyard. The building houses the studio of Sjarief's firm, RAW Architecture, and a library featuring works about architecture.

Find out more about The Guild ›