Courtyard House
A single-family house organised around a shaded inner court.
Reference image. Not ar.qi designs work.
Overview
Overview
This sample study shows how a family house might be planned around a central courtyard, so that every main room opens to light, air and a view of planting rather than to the street.
The brief imagined a household of three generations who wanted shared spaces generous enough for gatherings and private rooms quiet enough for rest.
Design concept
Design concept
The plan is a simple ring of rooms around an open court. Living, dining and kitchen occupy the ground floor and face each other across the court, so the family is always within sight of one another.
Deep roof overhangs and a limited palette of plaster, timber and stone keep the house calm and reduce heat gain, which matters in a tropical climate as much as appearance does.
Gallery photographs are reference images, not ar.qi designs work.
Challenges and solutions
Working within the brief.
- 01
A narrow lot with neighbours close on both sides.
Turning the house inward around a court gives privacy without closing the walls, and lets cross-ventilation work even on a tight site.
- 02
Different daily rhythms across three generations.
Bedrooms are split into two wings with their own bathrooms, while the kitchen and dining room sit at the centre as the shared heart of the house.
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