courtyard

A courtyard is an open-air space enclosed by buildings on most or all sides, typically located at the heart of a house, block, or complex. It functions as an outdoor room that provides daylight, ventilation, and a private area for activities such as sitting, dining, and gardening.

Architecturally, courtyards are bounded by walls and may be covered in part by pergolas or roofs. Edge treatments such as colonnades, arcades, fountains, and planted borders help regulate heat, shade, and acoustics. The courtyard often serves to bring natural light and air to interior rooms through adjacent openings.

Courtyards vary by historical and cultural tradition. They appear in Roman houses as atria, in Islamic architecture as sahns, in Chinese architecture as siheyuan, and in European and Latin American buildings as patios or cloistered courtyards. They can function as private domestic spaces, religious precincts, or ceremonial centers.

In modern architecture, courtyards persist as light wells or garden courts in apartment buildings, offices, and schools. They are often designed to improve energy efficiency by providing natural ventilation and cooling, with water features, shade, and vegetation that create a comfortable microclimate for occupants.

Overall, a courtyard represents an adaptable spatial type that balances enclosure and openness, private life and social interaction, while linking interior spaces to outdoor life.