innergården

Innergården, or inner courtyard, is an enclosed or semi-enclosed outdoor space located within a city block, surrounded by residential or mixed-use buildings. It serves as a shared outdoor area for residents and as a lightwell and climate surface for the interior rooms that face it. Access is usually from stairwells or corridors, and the space may be gated or otherwise semi-private, depending on ownership arrangements. Common features include lawns or beds, trees, seating, and sometimes play areas, laundry facilities, or small storage sheds. The courtyard often acts as a social center, offering a secure, quiet alternative to street life and fostering neighborly interaction while preserving privacy from the public realm.

Historically, innergården arose in dense urban fabric where ground-level space was scarce. In many Nordic and central European cities, blocks were designed around one or more internal courtyards during the 17th through 20th centuries. Design variations range from fully enclosed, high-walled courts to open, semi-enclosed spaces with colonnades or arches. In modern housing, innergårdar are frequently owned and maintained by housing associations or developers, with rules controlling access, landscaping, and permissible alterations.

In contemporary planning, innergården are valued for daylight access to inner-facing rooms, wind protection, and the provision of a pleasant microclimate. They also offer practical benefits such as space for urban gardening and informal recreation, while reinforcing social ties within the block. While the term is most associated with Sweden and other Nordic countries, similar courtyard concepts appear worldwide under different names.