Charmaine Chan
“At a time when we are observing self-isolation and social distancing, courtyards come into their own. If nothing else they help alleviate cabin fever because courtyards allow you to go out without going out.
Many of the houses featured in my book, Courtyard Living: Contemporary Houses of the Asia-Pacific (Thames & Hudson), allow residents to turn their backs on the world, which, in a sense, is what we’re being asked to do, physically. Others enable different generations to live together, but separately – an ideal set-up for extended families that prefer to live under the same roof but still require privacy within the home. Several blur the boundaries between inside and out and a few offer prospect and refuge – turning inwards while being able to observe the world are reasons I love such courtyards.
Fundamentally, courtyard homes offer good ventilation and lighting, which are essential for wellness. As someone said to me recently, Courtyard Living weaves in the new normal: outdoor rooms are indispensable during a pandemic.”
Charmaine Chan, South China Morning Post Design Editor and author of Courtyard Living : Contemporary Houses of the Asia-Pacific (Thames & Hudson).
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