A concrete staircase with a granite surface is suspended inside the atrium of this house in Porto Alegre, Brazil, which is divided into two parts connected by a bridge (+ slideshow). More about Casa 2V by BR3 Arquitetos features a bridge, a courtyard and a granite-topped staircase
The faceted metal surfaces of this addition to a dairy farmer's house in the Japanese city of Sodegaura fold around a courtyard that connects it with the original building (+ slideshow). More about Architects Teehouse adds an angular steel-clad home to a Japanese dairy farm
This addition to a house in Kudamatsu, Japan, features an oversized pitched roof and a covered courtyard surrounded by arched openings (+ slideshow). More about Japanese house extension by Container Design is arranged around a covered courtyard
DepA has transformed an 18th-century palace in Pinhel, Portugal into a cultural centre and added a mirrored glass box in its central courtyard to house a ticket office (+ slideshow). More about Renovated Baroque museum in Portugal features a mirror-clad ticket office
This top-heavy white house in Kanagawa, Japan, was designed by Apollo Architects & Associates for a keen surfer and his family (+ slideshow). More about Wave is a surfer's house with a protruding windowless facade and a secret courtyard
The townhouses that make up this residential development in Winnipeg, Canada, are arranged around a communal car park that has been concealed beneath an elevated courtyard (+ slideshow). More about Community courtyard conceals a car park for Winnipeg housing by 5468796 Architecture
Triangular facets give a folded appearance to the bare concrete facade of this house in Argentina by local architect Nicolás Campodonico (+ movie). More about Faceted concrete T-shape facade fronts courtyard house in Santa Fe
Small square openings are scattered across the facade of this after-school clubhouse in Cannes, France, offering glimpses of the activities taking place within its courtyard playground (+ slideshow). More about Heams & Michel Architectes creates an after-school club around a courtyard in Cannes
An entranceway lined with planks of red-brown wood punctures the concrete facade of this family home arranged around a courtyard in Brazil (+ slideshow). More about Red wood corridor forms entrance to concrete home in Brazil by Studio Guilherme Torres
Wooden ceiling beams extend beyond the walls of this boxy black house in Japan by Apollo Architects & Associates, creating a canopy above a secluded entrance courtyard (+ slideshow). More about Trellis canopy shades courtyard of Pergola house by Apollo Architects
Small-scale fittings, blackboards walls and round toilet cubicles are incorporated into this kindergarten in Japan, designed by architecture studios Hibino Sekkei and Youji no Shiro around a garden playground (+ slideshow). More about Light-filled classrooms surround a courtyard garden at DS Nursery in Japan
The homes of three families are contained behind the smooth stone facade of this building in Kuwait by local architecture studio Massive Order. More about Box House in Kuwait contains a trio of apartments with private courtyards
Eight glass-walled gardens offer views of greenery to the occupants of this minimally furnished house in Cuernavaca, Mexico, by architecture firm Goko (+ slideshow). More about Goko's House of Eight Gardens frames a variety of open-air courtyards
A perforated brick wall encloses a series of internal courtyards and gardens at the latest Maggie's Centre for cancer care, designed by Edinburgh office Reiach and Hall Architects (+ slideshow). More about Reiach and Hall adds walled gardens to Maggie's Centre Lanarkshire
The brick exterior of this Sydney house by Matthew Gribben Architecture belies its light-filled interior, which features five secluded courtyards arranged around the perimeter (+ slideshow). More about Perforated brick walls filter light into Matthew Gribben's Five Courts House
Atelier Data has extended a 1980s home in the Algarve, Portugal, with whitewashed concrete structures and fenced-in courtyards (+ slideshow). More about Atelier Data adds concrete volumes and internal courtyards to Algarve house
A horseshoe-shaped courtyard with a matching first floor terrace forms the heart of this remodelled and extended house in Kuala Lumpur, designed by local architect Eleena Jamil (+ slideshow). More about Eleena Jamil's Vermani House features raw concrete, a courtyard and a slide
The zigzagging profile of this courtyard bar in Liverpool, England, mimics the gabled roofline of the warehouses that provide its backdrop (+ slideshow). More about Constellations Bar by H Miller Bros is a courtyard canopy made up of triangles and zigzags
This house in Spain by Swiss architect Gus Wüstemann features a largely windowless exterior, but an internal courtyard surrounded by perforated walls ensures that light permeates the building all year round (+ slideshow). More about Perforated walls bring light into the heart of Gus Wüstemann's Los Limoneros house
Tilting and folding timber screens cover sections of this house by Buenos Aires studio VDV ARQ, to provide privacy and shade for the occupants without blocking light and views (+ slideshow). More about Timber screens bring fresh air into Pedro House without compromising privacy