MG EXPERIENCE LUXURY
MG EXPERIENCE LUXURY
While not all courtyards are as elaborate as this San Diego property’s, such exterior spaces come in all shapes and sizes, and historically, they’ve harmonized with myriad architectural styles across the globe. Courtyards can be found everywhere, from China to India to Africa and Latin America, with more contemporary iterations surfacing in the U.S., notably in places with temperate climates, such as California and Texas. The courtyard purportedly dates to 6,000 B.C. in the Middle East’s Jordan Valley. Thousands of years after its original version debuted, the timeless element remains a relevant architectural feature, most often reflecting the climate and culture of the locale and the lifestyle of a home’s residents. TRANSITION, PRIVACY, AND OUTDOOR LIVING “A courtyard is a designed barrier between you and every- thing else,” says Los Angeles architectural designer Jae Omar. “I think of courtyards as a transitional space, break- ing the energy between the external environment and one’s home. In climates like Southern California, these spaces can be seamlessly integrated into the entry area.” Todd Blitzer, founding principal and managing partner of Mirador Group, an architecture firm in Houston, refers to courtyards as secure portals separating personal lives from the public. However, these exterior rooms can be adaptable. “The enclosed courtyard entrance can provide additional outdoor space for entertaining purposes, a private courtyard for a home office where people can look out and interact, and a secure place for young children to wander,” Blitzer says.
Opposite page: Designer Jae Omar created a floating courtyard with sculpture as the focal point for a minimalist home in Beverly Hills, California. Bottom left: A Houston home by Mirador Group had limited room for a backyard, so the courtyard presents functional exterior living space. Above: At a La Jolla, California, property, KAA Design Group imagined a courtyard with a lounge area, pizza oven, and other creature comforts often found inside.
Scott Specht of Specht Novak Architects in Austin, Texas, says courtyards are ideal for homes in cities and dense suburban settings. But beyond allowing privacy, a courtyard “can be a well-designed room, just one that is light- and nature-filled instead of completely enclosed.” These oft-intimate areas give an opportunity to reap the benefits of an exterior space that showcases furnish- ings and accessories similar to what’s inside a house. “Courtyards serve as an extension of the home,” adds Lauren Wills Grover of Wills Design Associates in Houston. “When designing, I picture them as outdoor living rooms adorned with lush greenery, providing a refreshing escape from the confines of indoor spaces.” While courts’ origins lie in traditional architecture, these enclosed transition spaces can elevate contempo- rary showpieces, enhance in-town row houses, and even highlight impressive views. URBAN COURTS In Houston, a courtyard by Mirador Group shields a home from the chaotic city, creating “a sense of entrance, passage, and place.” Blitzer says “contrasting white soffits and a composite wood-look plank bring softness and
Reimagining the Courtyard
Even today, the ancient architectural feature is practical, offering transition, privacy, and a place to entertain
BY TRACY KALER
I n an expansive courtyard at Tree House, a warm contemporary home in La Jolla, California, a telescoping canopy provides shelter from the sun and rain, and an outdoor kitchen is outfitted with a
architect at KAA Design Group, the Los Angeles–based architecture firm responsible for this state-of-the- art courtyard. McGowan says the space’s primary function is to inspire interaction.
court and a rectangular fire pit with bench seating. “It is an exterior experience appointed with creature comforts more typically found indoors,” says Michael McGowan, senior landscape
lounge area, dining space, and pizza oven. The adjacent pavilion houses a full bar and recreation room, and wood scrims slide to reveal a home theater. Other bespoke amenities include a regulation-size bocce
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