The Court Yard House
Courtyard living has evolved independently in many parts of the world, from the foothills of the Himalayas to North Africa, Spain, Cuba, Mexico and the Phillipines. Perhaps the best known examples of this architecture are the ubiquitous courtyard houses of Bali. In each location, qualities of life embracing celebration and art have thrived.
Entering the courtyard gate, a resident or guest is soothingly greeted by a water feature and landscaping in a welcoming forecourt that leads to a covered entry walkway, passing by landscaped courtyards and covered terraces off the dining/living pavillion on one side and bedroom pavilions on the other.
Each courtyard house has three or four functional pavilions. The living/dining pavilion that also contains the kitchen is essentially an open ended pavilion between two blade walls that open at either one or both ends onto covered terraces via bi-fold doors providing the option of an entirely open space from terrace to terrace.
The master bedroom pavilion is a space that flow from either a dip pool or landscaped courtyard terrace through to the ensuite, and at choice can be opened through french doors, allowing an entirely free flow of spaces. The spa bathroom is open on both sides to landscaping which is as much apart of the bathroom as the bath or the shower.
The unwalled side of the courtyard opens onto the remnant tropical vegetation or regenerated parkland and water features. The open side of the courtyard house shares its interaction with the natural landscape and provides a perfect setting for the dip pool and the poolside daybed pavilion.
