Semi-courtyard

This design draws inspiration from traditional Chinese courtyard architecture, aiming to explore the impact of spatial scales on semi-private and semi-open areas within a building. By categorizing architectural spaces within a courtyard, I investigate the binary relationship between private and open spaces and analyze how courtyard architecture influences their interaction. In the proposed architectural scheme, I focus on the intermediate state between private and public spaces. By splitting, juxtaposing, and slicing these two spatial types within the courtyard, a new typology of courtyard space emerges. Here, semi-private and semi-open spaces are allowed to flow freely around the courtyard, creating a dynamic spatial relationship that adapts to varying scales. At a natural scale, the roof aligns with the contours of the surrounding mountains, grounding the architecture in its environment. The courtyard itself serves as a shared communal space for three residential units, fostering a sense of connection and collective living. At the human scale, walls are carefully designed to vary in thickness. Exterior walls thin as they transition inward, ensuring both continuity of the external façade and a rich variety of interior spatial arrangements. Thick walls suggest privacy and enclosure, while thin walls or slender columns imply permeability and openness, signaling a public character. Through this approach, the original dichotomy of public and private spaces transforms into a continuous spectrum, smoothly transitioning from private to public. The resulting semi-private and semi-open spaces become more dynamic and abundant, encouraging spontaneous human activities and fostering meaningful social interactions.