Okuzeka
Architecture vocabulary · Space, Form and Composition

Courtyard

Meaning in architecture, with examples

/ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/nounCore term

In architecture, courtyard means: An open-air space surrounded fully or partly by walls or buildings, used to bring light, air and privacy into the heart of a building.

In Turkish: avlu, iç avlu

How it is used

A long tradition in hot climates, from Anatolian and Mediterranean houses to madrasas and caravanserais, and still popular in modern housing. Buildings are 'organised around' or 'arranged around' a courtyard.

Example sentences

  1. The rooms are arranged around a shaded courtyard with a fountain.

  2. The new school uses three courtyards to bring daylight into the classrooms.

Common collocations

  • central courtyard
  • courtyard house
  • arranged around a courtyard
  • internal courtyard
  • atriumA large open space inside a building that rises through several floors, usually under a glass roof, and is often used as an entrance hall or meeting area.
  • vernacular architectureTraditional buildings made by local people with local materials and knowledge, shaped by climate, culture and everyday needs rather than by professional architects.
  • public spaceSpace that is open and accessible to everyone, such as streets, squares, parks, waterfronts and the public areas of civic buildings.
  • cross ventilationNatural ventilation in which fresh air enters through openings on one side of a space and leaves through openings on the opposite side.

More terms: Space, Form and Composition

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: