Seven Courtyards

Project Description

The House of Seven Courtyards

Set on a generous site, the single-story house uses the scale of the property as the foundation of its architectural concept. Rather than concentrating the program into a compact volume, we developed a complex spatial structure in which seven distinct courtyards create different ways of living.

Each courtyard has its own function and atmosphere. The entrance courtyard welcomes residents and guests with a carefully positioned tree that becomes a natural focal point along the approach to the main entrance.

An inner courtyard connected to the home office creates a more intimate setting for entertaining guests. The route into this space passes across a shallow reflecting pool and through a Japanese-inspired garden with a bonsai, turning movement through the house into a sequence of changing spatial experiences.

A fully private courtyard is located alongside the master bedroom, with an open-air bathroom directly connected to it. Shielded from outside views, it creates a quiet retreat closely integrated with the landscape.

A separate courtyard serves the fitness and wellness area, which includes a gym, sauna, and private soaking tubs. Here, exercise and relaxation can naturally extend outdoors.

The main courtyard, centered around a large swimming pool, is designed for a more social atmosphere. It provides a setting for gatherings, relaxation, and parties. Another courtyard is positioned beside the tennis court, offering a place to sit with friends, watch the game, and extend the sporting experience beyond the court itself. A guest house nearby provides accommodation for visitors.

This complex spatial structure also defines the external appearance of the building. The house stretches across the site as an elongated horizontal composition, with strong horizontal lines visually tying the different volumes together and emphasizing the relationship between the architecture and the scale of the landscape.

Despite its spatial complexity and premium character, the project was designed with construction efficiency in mind. The engineering systems and architectural solutions were carefully considered to keep the building relatively straightforward to construct, while the overall composition allows for rational and cost-effective building methods.

The result is an interesting contrast: spatially, the house is rich and complex, offering numerous private and social scenarios, while architecturally it remains rational and efficient to build.

The House of Seven Courtyards is an example of how a sense of luxury can be created not through excess, but through the quality of space. Its primary value lies in the diversity of experiences, privacy, and the continuous relationship between the house and its surroundings, while a straightforward architectural logic keeps the project efficient to realize.