Enhancing Residential Quality with the Utilisation of Interior Courtyards

Providing interior courtyards in residential projects in both urban and more natural environments has many advantages. Interior courtyards are a key element in enhancing the quality of a home's interior space in a variety of ways. Whether from central cloisters, side courtyards, or through perforated slabs and the addition of skylights, these types of courtyards play an important role in creating a harmonious living environment by offering benefits ranging from regulating interior temperature conditions to enhancing social interaction among residents and feeling closer to nature. 

Interior courtyards are able to increase the intensity of daylighting into the dwelling which not only improves the perception of the interior space but also has a positive effect on the health of the occupants by reducing the need for artificial lighting and the consumption of electrical energy to be much more efficient. On the other hand, these interior courtyards significantly ventilate the home's natural ventilation, facilitating cross-air circulation that naturally refreshes the interior and keeps the indoor temperature stable, creating a healthier environment. 

There is a great opportunity to incorporate vegetation into everyday life at home in addition to adding aesthetic value and contributing to emotional well-being. Biophilic design is proven to reduce stress by incorporating natural elements that strengthen the connection between the interior and exterior so that homeowners can enjoy a more balanced and harmonious environment. Here is a selection of 10 residential projects that incorporate interior courtyards where vegetation has been key in optimising natural lighting and ventilation and fostering a closer connection with nature: 

Sabino 10 House / Editorial

Sabino 10 House / Editorial (cr: Ariadna Polo)

QUADROS House / Gruta.Arquitetos

QUADROS House / Gruta.Arquitetos (cr: Daniel Santo)

Courtyard House by the Water / Studio DesignSeed

Courtyard House by the Water / Studio DesignSeed (cr: The Space Tracing Company)

Naples Street House / Edition Office

Naples Street House / Edition Office (cr: Tasha Tylee)

Singapore Residence / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

Singapore Residence / Neri&Hu Design and Research Office (cr: Fabian Ong)

NoFe House / Equipo de Arquitectura

NoFe House / Equipo de Arquitectura (cr: Federico Cairoli)

TicTacToe House / VDV ARQ

TicTacToe House / VDV ARQ (cr: Federico Cairoli)

Brick Cave / H&P Architects

Brick Cave / H&P Architects (cr: Nguyen Tien Thanh)

V House / COTAPAREDES Arquitectos 

V House / COTAPAREDES Arquitectos (cr: César Béjar)

The Longcave 2 House / 23o5Studio

The Longcave 2 House / 23o5Studio (cr: Hiroyuki Oki )