Melburnian architecture firm Studio Edwards‘ insertion of two internal courtyard gardens into the existing fabric of a small and narrow urban house might at first seem counterintuitive. With limited indoor space, does it make sense to give up more to the garden?
Oh yes. Designed to distribute daylight and ventilation evenly through the difficult-to-reach areas of a long and narrow (13 by 75 feet) former worker’s cottage in Fitzroy, Melbourne, the two garden courtyards pull off a difficult feat. Large glass doors create better air circulation and rooms with a view. The effect is to make indoor spaces seem more connected and bigger than they are. Clever and ingenious? We think so.
Photographs by Fraser Marsden courtesy of Studio Edwards.
Above: Large full height glass doors open into the first courtyard.
Above: The bedroom doors open straight onto the courtyard garden.
Above: With borrowed light and space from the garden courtyard, a bedroom and hall feel bigger.
Above: Concrete floors complete the raw and unfinished aesthetic.
Above: Access to the bedroom beyond is either through the naturally lit hall or the courtyard.
Above: A raw, unfinished aesthetic runs throughout the house, underlining the continuity of the spaces.
Above: Light is drawn into the living room through a window to the first courtyard. The open bookcases are reminiscent of wood framing.
Above: The raw aesthetic continues.
Above: A through-view from the back of the house to the front is open, airy, and light-filled.
Above: A three-dimensional model illustrates the series of the spaces and the relationships between interior and exterior spaces.
Intrigued by the power of a courtyard to transform a house? For more of our favorite courtyard gardens, see Garden Visit: Andrea Cochran’s Courtyard Vignettes.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation