Courtyards is an artful, informative exploration of courtyards, from their origins in early civilization to contemporary design concepts.

Architects and landscape architects will repeatedly turn to the detailed guidelines for reference, gain a greater sense of balance between building and garden, and cultivate optimal green space by using the practical planting tips.

More than one hundred photographs and drawings illustrate the concepts detailed in the text.

Contents

Part One: Courtyard Characteristics

1. Classifying Courtyards
   Entry Sequence
   Placement Within Building
   Orientation
   Formality and Symmetry
   Exposure
   Plants
   Open or Closed Facades
   Vertical Circulation

2. Courtyards and Cosmos
   Earth, Water, Air, and Fire
   Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral
   Below, On, and Above the Ground
   Cycles of Life and Death

3. Social Roles
   Community and Privacy
   Circulation
   Degrees of Formality
   Common Activities In and Around Courtyards
   Institutional Courtyards

4. Plants, the Spirit of the Courtyard
   Organic vs. Geometric
   Sensuality
   Ritual/Habitual
   Potted Plants
   Rooted Shrubs and Vines
   Trees

5. Courtyards, Climate, and Comfort
   Degrees of Control
   Taming the Climate
   Strategies for Winter Warmth
   Avoiding Heat Gain
   More Strategies for Summer Comfort
   Wind
   Thermal Mass
   Evaporative Cooling

6. Courtyards and Change
   Fill in One or More Arcades
   Divide the Courtyard
   Encroach on the Courtyard
   Add Another Floor
   Change the Function

Part Two: Some Particular Courtyards

7. Courtyards Observed: Mexico and Andalucma
   Daylight
   Sun and Shade
   Winter Sun
   Function

8. Variations in Proportions
   Three Andalusian Courtyards
   In Csrboda's Winter
   Two Colima Courtyards
   Colima in Summer

9. Variations in Shading
   Encarnacisn #12
   Osio #4, Front and Rear
   Comparing the Three Courtyards
   Spaces Around These Courtyards
   Winter and Summer Contrasts

10. Thermal Sailing
    Shading
    Water
    Night Ventilation of Thermal Mass

11. Changes Over Time
    Demolished or Disappeared
    Covered
    Partially Covered
    Open but Stripped
    Neglected
    Sustained
    Improved

Part Three: Courtyard Design

12. Planning and Design Guidelines
    City and Courtyard
    Cars and Courtyards
    Courtyards and Neighborhoods
    Courtyards and their Buildings
    Courtyards, Daylight, and Aspect Ratio
    Courtyards and Cooling
    Courtyards and Winter Sun
    Courtyards and Arcades

13. Design Examples
    Hot and Arid
    Hot and Humid
    A City Block of Courtyard Row Houses

Appendices

• Evaporation and Transpiration
• Rainwater Collection
• Some Courtyard Plants

Glossary
Index

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