3 Courtyard Designs
Draw inspiration from this trio of beautiful courtyards hidden across the South.
Tulsa: Forecourt with Masonry Arch
Most people think of courtyards as being in the back of a house, but actually they can be on the side or the front. This great
space in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a forecourt―that is, it’s in the front and serves as the entry to the house. I love this because
it truly integrates the space into the home.
This great masonry arch and doorway are essentially the front door of the house, with the courtyard being the foyer to the
home. The use of a door rather than a gate also elevates the space stylistically. If your house fronts a busy street, this
solves two issues: First, the courtyard puts a bit more space between the street and the house, allowing it to sit farther
back from the noise. Second, it makes your usable living space seem so much larger and will actually encourage you to use
the space more.
