Courtyard:Nine

Project Narrative

The main objective in designing this single-family residence was the democratization of natural light.

The homeowners, who occasionally struggled with seasonal affective disorder, also held a deep passion for gardening. They made a bold decision to move away from their longstanding Tudor-style home and acquired a lot in a neighboring area. Their self-described “audacious” goal was to create a modern home filled with abundant natural light. While they valued their privacy, their chosen site presented a challenge: the desired southern exposure conflicted with the need for privacy from the street, which ran along the southern edge of the property. Additionally, the home needed to be adaptable for hosting philanthropic events, yet comfortable for their everyday life as a couple.

To reconcile these conflicting requirements, the architects developed a courtyard concept designed to embrace the sky and allow light to permeate every space from within. This design also facilitates a seamless transition from the house to the garden when necessary.

The exterior of the house provides a shield from the street and neighboring properties, which includes a school playfield and parking lot. Careful consideration is given to the views and natural light available along the building's perimeter. Internally, the house opens into a central sixty-feet-square garden courtyard. Each room has direct access to this garden, ensuring that every space is bathed in natural light. Private and service areas are thoughtfully enclosed within protective volumes. These organized volumes also create wall space for displaying a substantial collection of art and books, visible from both inside and outside the home.

While the courtyard garden draws inspiration from Japanese Zen gardens, its design incorporates elements of cloistered architecture, with the traditional arcade 'captured' and enclosed to facilitate circulation and create a continuous gallery. An entry spline extends high above the great room, allowing coveted southern light to penetrate deep into the interior.

In addition to providing access to nature and light, the courtyard concept promotes an engaging interplay of views through multiple spaces simultaneously. This adds depth and layering to the house's experience. Throughout the day, evening, and seasons, reflections and ever-changing shadows animate the space. Refracted light creates mesmerizing mirrored reflections, resembling a habitable kaleidoscope held within a precise and expressive structural grid.

Surrounded by various yards, gardens, and courtyards, the central courtyard serves as the anchor of this light-filled home. At any given moment, it provides an opportunity to experience the entire house all at once.

                                           

Project Details -

Submission Category

Building Architecture- Small Scale (<10,000 sf)

Date of Completion

September, 2020