Jan Cremers Peter Bonfig David Offtermatt

Compact Courtyard Housing

A Guide to an Urban Building Type
Fig. 1, Cover: Eight different concepts for compact courtyard houses in
schematic sectional drawings.

Legal Notice

Editor
Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart (HFT)
Schellingstraße 24, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany

Authors / Concept / Layout

Jan Cremers, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Architect
Peter Bonfig, Dr.-Ing. Architect
David Offtermatt, M.Sc. Climate engineer

Visualisation of compact courtyard houses

Peter Bonfig with Louise König

Translation German to English

Thomas Geist

Editing / Proofreading
Andrea Wiegelmann, Kerstin Forster

Print
Schöler Druck und Medien, Immenstadt

© 2021
Triest Verlag für Architektur, Design und Typografie, Zürich.
www.triest-verlag.ch, the authors and photographers.

ISBN 978-3-03863-052-4
Funded by the
Triest Verlag receives a grant for the years 2021 to 2024
from the Federal Office of Culture as part of the Swiss
publishers’ subsidies. (DFG – German Research Foundation) – CR 557/2-1
2
Content For your Understanding 4 Chapter V 74
Functionality of the Compact Courtyard House
Preface by Jacques Blumer 6 Outdoor Spaces, Courtyards and Microclimate 74
Ventilation 81
Chapter I 8 Illumination 84
Background and Research Project Acoustics 89
Background 8 Resource Efficiency 90
Interdisciplinary Basic Research 10 Building Construction 98

Chapter II 12 Chapter VI 114

Introduction to the Courtyard House Some Examples
History and Predecessors 12 Variant based on Concept C1 114
Potential of Courtyard Housing 14 Variant based on Concept C2 124
Why a New Type of Building? 15 Variants based on Concept C6 134
“Extroverted” versus “Introverted” 16
Chapter VII 144
Chapter III 18 The New Type compared to Typologies
Concept of the Compact Courtyard House with similar Building Heights
Features 18 Selection of Criteria for Comparison
Urban Density 20 Selection of Examples for Comparison
Inside – Outside 23 Tabular Overview
Courtyards in Variants 24 Evaluation
Quality and Ambiance 25
Chapter VIII 146
Chapter IV 28 Potential for Today and Tomorrow
Typology Background 146
Solution Strategies for Individual Questions 28 Special Situations 147
The Typology’s Organising Principle 30 New Neighbourhoods / Conversion of Existing 149
Eight Concepts (Basic Types) 31 Neighbourhoods
Case Distinctions for Variants in Ownership and Use 36 Guest Article by Gerd Kuhn 149
New Building Types in Variants 36 Global Dimension 152
Addition to Urban Districts 67
Guest Article by Steven A. Moore 71 Bibliographical References 154
Picture Credits 156
Acknowledgement 157

3
For your Understanding Based on the authors’ research project “Compact Courtyard
Housing for Sustainable High-Density Urbanity”, this publica-
tion presents a new type of courtyard house with very specific
characteristics and associated principles in many examples
and planning aids to an interested readership. Thanks to
Fig. 2: Isometric axonometry of a conceivable quarter by adding compact court- funding exclusively provided by the Deutsche Forschungs-
yard houses on plots of different sizes and proportions. The variants, which can
be combined without problems and in manifold ways on three closed sides /
gemeinschaft (DFG – German Research Foundation), it was
outer walls to form an urban complex with corresponding infrastructure and possible to investigate and develop this special form of
offerings, are part of a common strategy and typology. courtyard housing in an interdisciplinary manner.

The parameters and objectives for this task are clearly

focused, making a systematic approach possible in the first
place. As a result, the typology of compact courtyard houses,
published here for the first time, shows a great variety of case
studies that can respond to plots of land in different sizes
and proportions as well as to environmental and situational
requirements.

Each of these examples is based on one of eight basic

concepts, which are presented here in detail. The plots of
land required for this purpose take up only around 80 to 200
square metres, with the majority requiring only 100 to 150
square metres of land. On these plots, compact courtyard
houses with up to five storeys can be realised, combined with
a high degree of utilisation (the total gross floor area of the
interiors is 1.5 to 3 times the floor area).
One side of the buildings borders on public or semi-public
spaces (e.g. access roads), while on the other three sides
they are usually closed, with “retreat and contact domains”
on the residents’ so-called “private territory”. Furthermore,
they accommodate one to four units, with optional commer-
cial use on the ground floor (mixed use). Each unit provides
at least one courtyard as an outdoor space, which – shielded
from view – is as private as a bathroom.

4
The open layout of the floor plans with flowing interiors,
merging with the courtyards as a spatial continuum, at the Residential Houses
same time creates generous experiences that conventional
buildings do not usually achieve on such a small floor space.
Courtyard Houses
These many variants, however, should not conceal the fact
that the authors have created no more than a framework for
Compact
the organisation and functioning of compact courtyard houses Courtyard Houses
and their combination to urban quarters.
An innovative special form of courtyard house with defined common features
and objectives, typologically developed and investigated interdisciplinarily.
Only the real and concrete situation will facilitate urban and
architectural formulation and in-depth treatment. This is So far eight Concepts / Basic Types
where local authorities, property developers, investors, build-
ers, urban planners, architects, building promoters, construc-
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C ...
tion companies etc. are called upon to bring the compact
courtyard house to life, helping people to acquire an attractive
home in an urban environment. While this building project Based on the fundamental concepts/strategies, individual types (actual buildings) can be
derived in numerous variants on plots of different sizes and proportions.
will not have materialised by the time this book is published,
Variants
it is expected that the realisation, inhabitation and experience
of compact courtyard housing will eventually advance this
concept and establish it as a special type of building.

Even though systematic research has aimed for general

validity, a concrete framework of climatic conditions and Creation of Urban Structures
building laws had to be chosen, which is located in Stuttgart,
Germany.
Also, considering the subject matter’s complexity, no liability
of the authors can be derived from any of the contents
presented here.

The authors hope that this book will captivate and inspire our
readers and that the vision and hypothesis of the compact Compact courtyard houses as independent buildings on individual plots are combined to form high-density
courtyard house will soon become reality. urban quarters. As a rule, neighbouring buildings directly adjoin three closed sides of a building.
Infrastructural and other measures such as development, shared open spaces, energy supply, etc. can be
taken and optimised at neighbourhood level for the specific situation.
Jan Cremers, Peter Bonfig and David Offtermatt

Fig. 3: Schematic representation classifying the typology.

5
 Potential of Courtyard Housing

Courtyard houses in general have the following advantages:

– a high building density can be achieved even with a small

number of storeys. Economical use of land allows a more
effective use of the infrastructure while at the same time
offering a larger and better range of services (public
transport, neighbourhood offices, shopping facilities, child
care, etc.).
– courtyard houses only require minimum distance regula-
tions in front of external facades, and their perimeter walls
can or should be located directly next to or very close to
Fig. 15: The schematic representation and listing of the essential character-
istics of urban structures with compact courtyard houses shows the many the property boundaries or (semi-)public space.
advantages they offer to users and society. – the implementation of “compact” variants with high living
Urbane Strukturen Vorteile quality is possible on very small plots of land with less than
hoher Dichte mit
kompakten Hofhäusern
100 square metres.
Urban high-density structures with compact courtyard houses Advantages
– the high degree of enclosure towards the exterior makes
Fordie
Für theNutzer
users great individuality possible on the inside, which in turn
allows for a variety of interpretations of use. Different
––Sehr
Highly private
privates living
Wohnen standards are not visible to the outside, and a heteroge­
––Individuelles
Individual home on owned
Eigenheim land Grund
auf eigenem
––Hohe
HighFreiheitsgrade,
degrees of freedom, security
Sicherheit and recreational
und Erholungswert imvalue inside
Inneren neous population can coexist in a socially acceptable
––Unterschiedliche
Different types and sizes of courtyard
Hofhaustypen housesind
und -größen cankombinierbar
be combined manner with a low risk of conflict.
– as long as modifications are oriented towards the inside,
Für
Fordie Gesellschaft
society und die Gemeinden
and communities
neighbours are not affected by anything except the
––Geringeres Konfliktpotenzial
Less potential zwischenneighbours
for conflict between Nachbarn construction measures themselves, and subsequent adap-
––Heterogenität
HeterogeneityderofNutzungen und der Nutzer
uses and users tations, conversions, partial deconstruction, extensions and
––Besseres Infrastrukturangebot
Better infrastructure offering
––Baurechtlich vereinfachte Verhältnisse
subdivisions can be implemented without the neighbours’
Simplified conditions under building law
consent.
Für
Fordie
theUmwelt
environment – the requirements and space needed for supporting struc-
––Geringer
ture and fire protection measures are generally lower than
ReducedFlächenverbrauch
land use
––Reduktion
Reduced von
flowVerkehrsströmen
of traffic
is the case with high construction heights, thus ensuring
––Ressourceneffizient
Ressource efficient(hinsichtlich
(in terms ofEnergie
energy und
and Material)
material) better material efficiency.
– exterior areas offer protection from wind, sun, traffic, noise,
Für
Fordie Industrie
industry undeconomy
and the Wirtschaft
views, smells, dangers; and by introducing suitable sur­
– Technologische Innovation, neue Absatzmärkte für Produkte
– Technological innovation, new key markets for products faces, vegetation and possibly water elements it is possible
– Einsparungen von Baugrund können bessere Bautechnik ermöglichen to create an appropriate microclimate – from which the
– Reduced use of building land can enable better construction technology

14
 interior’s climatic conditioning also benefits. This is espe- Why a New Type of Building?
cially relevant in the context of increasing requirements
due to climate adaptation. While solar architecture influenced the shape of buildings Fig. 16: Bathhouse in Sauerland, Germany. Banz + Riecks Architekten, 1998.
– the introverted outdoor areas can be designed individually from the 1960s to 1990s, the ongoing sustainability debate Rooms for wellness and body care border on an inner courtyard shielded from
view. Paper-covered sliding elements provide protection from sun, glare and
and reduce any possible conflicts with neighbours. and the continuous adaptation of the legal framework (e.g. visibility.
– inner courtyards can be converted into buffer zones by the Energieeinsparverordnung – Energy Conservation Ordi-
further measures, e.g. glazed roofing, which can then be nance in Germany) ultimately did not lead to fundamentally
used temporarily or for extended periods during different new building types with urban planning patterns. Rather,
seasons – this can also contribute to energy savings technical developments in energy conservation have been
during cooler weather phases. reflected in the adaptation of building components, especially
– the private and introverted character of the courtyard the building envelope, and active building services. The
house provides a quiet and peaceful living environment achievements of glass technology in particular led to new
and promotes recreation and regeneration, offering a con- solutions for energy-conserving buildings.
trast to the often turbulent public spaces and workplaces
strongly affected by noise pollution. With the global trend of urbanisation, the debate around
sustainable density or urban consolidation of our cities and
Disadvantages are: especially suburbs has gained momentum. However, this has
not fundamentally challenged the predominant “extroverted”
– the complex and rather elaborate construction is usually type of building, which requires the exterior space between
reflected in higher construction costs, buildings for access, lighting, ventilation and also for outdoor
– less favourable SA:V ratio, areas. With greater density, however, this important buffer
– high degree of impervious surfaces, for the privacy of apartments and especially open spaces is
– complex handling of storm water and drainage of the inner increasingly shrinking, which is why many residents in the
courtyards, suburbs or on the outskirts of cities are opposed to further
– the units are less connected to the exterior than in conven- consolidation of their neighbourhoods.
tional buildings, The compact courtyard house as an “introverted”8 building
– high demands on the planning process, type pursues an opposite approach, in which a high urban
– high demands on the user during the planning phase density does not impair the quality of the apartments with
(spatial imagination required), their assigned outdoor spaces and existing privacy. Instead, it
– the homeowner cannot “experience” his house from the understands the addition of individual buildings in the context
outside as usual – accessibility and space for construction of their close dependence on the urban quarter with its own
processes are limited. structural rules.

The development of this type of building and the associated

urban structures can solve the dilemma described above and
create the conditions needed to find new structural answers
8
See the following section “‘Extroverted’ versus ‘Introverted’”. to the pressing questions in the sustainability debate.
15
 'Strategie Hof': Fallunterscheidungen (Vertikalschnitte)

Legende:
Key: The Typology’s Organising Principle
opak
opaque
transluzent
translucent The following objectives were pursued in the development
transparent
transparent of a typology with compact courtyard houses as versatile
addable building units:

– the smallest possible properties with simple ownership and

conversion conditions,
– clear vertical room separation at property boundaries,
usually through firewalls,
– a basic grid of 120 centimetres for+ 'Strategie
'Strategie Hof' orientation,
Oberlicht': Fallunterscheidungen (Vertikalschni

– for the time being, specific public urban spaces are not
considered.

A clear classification of plots of defined size and proportion

usw. – initially limited to flat terrain – formed the methodological
basis.

– size of the plots: about 80, 100, 120, 150, 200 m²,
– building plot proportions: 1:1, 2:3, 1:2, 1:3, 1:5.

In the next step, the resulting 5 × 5 case distinctions were

assigned to generally conceivable constellations for court- usw.

Fig. 35: Case distinctions of possible solutions for courtyard situations yards or outdoor spaces (Fig. 36).
(courtyard strategy). Schematic vertical sections.
The larger the plots, the more numerous but also more
Courtyards in contact with the ground are rather the exception; in most cases, complex the possibilities became. Under these chosen basic
courtyards are accessible flat roof constructions. conditions, two to five possibilities can be created for each
A courtyard only visible and accessible by the user becomes a valuable
category combining area and proportion, corresponding to
extension of the interior space. If the courtyard adjoins the public space, it can
be protected from view by opaque or translucent components. It can also be about 5 × 5 × 3, i.e. 75 variants or basic types. Further
opened (temporarily) if the user so desires. parameters were added in the next steps, including the
following:
Courtyards can fan out on one or more sides. By means of (possibly walkable)
skylights additional zenith light enters the interior spaces below via the court-
yard profile. These skylights can be transparent or translucent. – enclosure (two-sided, three-sided, four-sided),
– additional frontal courtyards facing the public or semi-
Courtyards can be efficiently protected temporarily or permanently against pre-
public space,
cipitation and solar radiation by horizontal or inclined surfaces (glazing, textile
sunshades, etc.); a microclimate can be created and surfaces of the building – further differentiation between integrated courtyards /
envelope that emit or absorb heat are drastically reduced. outdoor spaces / (roof) terraces,
30
Fläche Proportion Grundtypen
Fläche Proportion Grundtypen Fläche Proportion Grundtypen
Grundstück des Grundstücks, ca. definiert durch primären Hof Variablen:
Grundstück des Grundstücks, ca. definiert durch primären Hof Variablen: Grundstück des Grundstücks, ca. definiert durch primären Hof Variablen:
ca.
ca. ca.
Umschlossenheit: zweiseitig, dreiseitig, vierseitig
Umschlossenheit: zweiseitig, dreiseitig, vierseitig Umschlossenheit: zweiseitig, dreiseitig, vierseitig
vorgelagerte Höfe zum öffentlichen oder halböffentlichen Raum
vorgelagerte Höfe zum öffentlichen oder halböffentlichen Raum vorgelagerte Höfe zum öffentlichen oder halböffentlichen Raum
weitere integrierte Höfe / Außenräume / Terrassen
weitere integrierte Höfe / Außenräume / Terrassen weitere integrierte Höfe / Außenräume / Terrassen
Anzahl der Geschosse Anzahl der Geschosse
Anzahl der Geschosse
Nutzungseinheiten: Anzahl, Art und Verteilung Nutzungseinheiten: Anzahl, Art und Verteilung
Nutzungseinheiten: Anzahl, Art und Verteilung
Innere Organisation und Erschließung Innere Organisation und Erschließung
Innere Organisation und Erschließung
Form und Art der Dachflächen Form und Art der Dachflächen
Form und Art der Dachflächen

1:1 1:1 1:1

2:3 2:3 2:3

100 1:2 120 1:2 150 1:2

1:3 1:3 1:3

1:5 5 10 20 m 1:5 1:5

Fläche Proportion Grundtypen
Grundstück des Grundstücks, ca. definiert durch primären Hof Variablen:
ca.
Umschlossenheit: zweiseitig, dreiseitig, vierseitig
vorgelagerte Höfe zum öffentlichen oder halböffentlichen Raum
5 10 20 m weitere integrierte Höfe / Außenräume / Terrassen
Kompaktes Hofhaus Kompaktes Hofhaus Anzahl der Geschosse Kompaktes Hofhaus
Systematik zur Typologie, Vorschlag pb Systematik zur Typologie, Vorschlag pb Nutzungseinheiten: Anzahl, Art und Verteilung Systematik zur Typologie, Vorsc
06. Juni 2017

5
06. Juni 2017 Innere Organisation und Erschließung 06. Juni 2017

4 6
Form und Art der Dachflächen

– number of floors and units, different ways in which compact courtyard houses can be
1:1
– internal organisation and access, spatially organised, with the following aspects:
– optional additional external access, shared by several
building units, – access, vertical and horizontal, 2:3
– shape and type of roof surfaces. – layout of the main and secondary areas,
– arrangement and dimensioning of inner courtyards,
This methodological framework provided an overview of – building construction principles. 200 1:2

a great many possibilities as well as making it possible to

work out and differentiate between characteristic features Within a concept, the plot size as a parameter thus provides
1:3
of spatial organisation and development. These led to differ- for variety. It has been shown that compact courtyard
entiable building concepts while integrating and considering houses (e.g. concept C3) are already possible from plot
the results of interdisciplinary work and discussion, such as sizes of around 60 square metres and that most concepts 1:5
light engineering studies, aspects of fire protection and urban offer well-functioning and diverse solutions for plots of land
development criteria. between around 100 and 150 square metres. Kompaktes Hofhaus Kompaktes Hofhaus
Systematik zur Typologie, Vorschlag pb Systematik zur Typologie, Vorsch
06. Juni 2017 06. Juni 2017

Some concepts are more strongly bound to a certain plot size 7

Eight Concepts (Basic Types) and proportion than others. The focus has always been on the
ability to add and combine to create urban structures of high
After about one year of development work, a total of eight density and diversity, and on the quality of the interior and
basic concepts had been identified (Fig. 39), which can be exterior spaces. In addition to the basic characteristics, the
varied in innumerable ways and can thus react to complex following properties determine the performance profile of the
and various requirements. The concepts show fundamentally basic types and their many variants: Fig. 36: Schemes for systematics in the typology's development.

31
 EG
BUCH
Geschossfläche 128

Nutzflächen
- Gewerbe 92 Typ 140-K2-3-2-2,51 Typ K1

UG
BUCH
Geschossfläche 138

Nutzflächen
0-K2-3-2-2,62 - Abstellen 75
- Haustechnik 12
- Sonstiges 18

2. OG Dachaufsicht 1 5 10 m

Geschossfläche 100

Nutzflächen
- Innenraum 68
- Außenraum privat 19

:138 qm, 9,60 x 14,40 m

Section Geschossfläche 361 (ohne UG)
3 GRZ 1,0
2 (Wohnen + Gewerbe) GFZ 2,62 Aktivtechnik
0 Schnitt Schnitt
Nutzflächen A-A B-B
1Abstellen
. OG Dachterrasse
Fig. 69: Type 140-C2-3-2.51 in combination with a C1 variant and a terrain
:3 - 9,6x14,40 - 3G - GFZ 2,6 - Konzept 2 im UG 75
Innenraum Wohnen 156
Geschossfläche 11892 Geschossfläche 15
Gewerbe Kompakte Hofhäuser
Außenraum privat
Nutzflächen
- Innenraum 88
73
Außenraum privat 38
Typologie M 1:200 step, section, scale 1:500. The example shows on the left side reduced-traffic
- Außenraum privat 16
Seite 23 Stand 03. August 2017 pb
26. April 2019 access via a vegetated outdoor space shared by several residential owners in a
BUCH
16 neighbourhood, and on the right side the profile of a street space.
Typ 140-K2-3-2-2,62

Roof view / roof courtyard

EG 2 . OG Dachaufsicht
Fig. 70: Perspective sketch of type 140-C2-3-2-2.62.
1 5 10 m

Geschossfläche 128 Geschossfläche 100

Nutzflächen Nutzflächen
- Gewerbe 92 - Innenraum 68
- Außenraum privat 19
Typ 147-K2-4-4-3,2

Aktivtechnik

2nd UG 1. OG Dachterrasse

Geschossfläche 138 Geschossfläche 118 Geschossfläche 15

Nutzflächen Nutzflächen
- Abstellen 75 - Innenraum 88 Außenraum privat 38
- Haustechnik 12 - Außenraum privat 16
- Sonstiges 18

16
Kompakte Hofhäuser
Typologie M 1:200

Seite 32 26. April 2019 pb

1st EG

Geschossfläche 128

Fig. 68: Type 140-C2-3-2-2.62, floor plans and sections, scale 1:500. Nutzflächen Fig. 71: Type 147-C2-4-4-3.2, floor plan 1st floor, scale 1:500. The four-storey
- Gewerbe 92
138 qm, 9,60 x 14,40 m
3
Geschossfläche
GRZ
361 (ohne UG)
1,0
variant with commercial use on the ground floor and three storey flats of
2 (Wohnen + Gewerbe) GFZ 2,62
various sizes above shows an example of a lift system integration. See page
Type 140-C2-3-2-2.51 (Fig. 67) offers generous space, There is a visual connection between the three courtyards,
0 Schnitt Schnitt
Nutzflächen A-A B-B
3 - 9,6x14,40 - 3G - GFZ 2,6 - Konzept 2 Abstellen im UG 75 125 in Chapter VI.
especially when two residential levels are merged to create a meaning that adjacent types must be carefully coordinated to
Innenraum Wohnen 156
Gewerbe 92 Kompakte Hofhäuser
Außenraum privat 73
Typologie M 1:200

maisonette apartment with courtyards on three levels includ- UG avoid viewsSinto

eite 2neighbouring
3 courtyards, something that is
Stand 03. August 2017 pb
26. April 2019

ing a roof courtyard. In this example the ground floor is used possible with the same or different concepts. In fig. 69 the C2
Geschossfläche 138

Nutzflächen
- Abstellen 75

for a shop and storage rooms are located in the basement. variant is combined with a C1 variant.
- Haustechnik
- Sonstiges
12
18

In addition to a large living area with an open-plan kitchen,

the five-room apartment offers plenty of private areas for With type 140-C2-3-2-2.62, the roof courtyard opens up to
sleeping and working for four or more people, i.e. a domestic the public space and is shielded from the rear courtyards –
partnership or flat-sharing community. including the neighbours – by vegetation, for example.
Grundstück:138 qm, 9,60 x 14,40 m Geschossfläche 361 (ohne UG)
Geschosse: 3 GRZ 1,0
Nutzer:
Stellplätze:
2 (Wohnen + Gewerbe)
0
GFZ 2,62
Schnitt Schnitt
47
Nutzflächen A-A B-B
Typ 140 - 2:3 - 9,6x14,40 - 3G - GFZ 2,6 - Konzept 2 Abstellen im UG 75
Innenraum Wohnen 156
Gewerbe 92 Kompakte Hofhäuser
Außenraum privat 73
Typologie M 1:200
Stand 03. August 2017 pb
Seite 23 26. April 2019
 Factors Influencing Thermal Outdoor Comfort Solar radiation also has a significant influence on the surface
The extent to which people feel thermally comfortable indoors temperature of individual enclosing surfaces, which in turn
and outdoors depends on various influencing parameters, are in a long-wave radiation exchange with a person. Since
including air and radiation temperature, air humidity and air incoming radiation is reflected, transmitted and absorbed
movement, but also on the type of clothing and degree of by components, the enclosing surfaces must be divided into
Leaning: 0.8 met Standing medium activity: 2.0 met activity. While the conditions indoors are often easy to control opaque and transparent, i.e. surfaces transmitting radiation.
Standing light activity: 1.6 met Walking (2 km/h to 5 km/h): 1.9–3.4 met and fluctuations are comparatively small, the seasons and the Opaque components present no transmission but reflect and
Fig. 126: Energy expenditure of different physical activities according to weather have a periodic effect outdoors. Conditions are only absorb incoming radiation. Absorption causes the surface
DIN EN 7730: 2005. predictable and controllable to a limited extent. temperature and possibly also the air temperature to rise
in the layer adjoining the component. Through transparent
The personal perception of temperature, which depends components, solar radiation largely reaches the interior as a
essentially on the thermal equilibrium of the body, can be heat source, where it is absorbed and reflected. However, the
described technically by the universal thermal climate index actual surface temperature of a component is also influenced
(UTCI) – basically a mathematically approximated equivalent by its heat storage capacity. In the case of thermal insulation
value for the expected temperature perceived by a person composites, for example, this is very low due to the low
0.1 0.3 1.5 under the respective conditions. The more stable the body’s thermal storage capacity of the plaster layer. An increase in
Insulation value of the clothing = clothing factor = clo heat balance, the less effort the body has to expend on cool- the externally effective storage capacity of the wall structure
1 clo = 0.155 (m²K)/W [U-value: 6.45 W/(m²K)] ing or warming, for example, by sweating or shivering. up to the heat-insulating layer can attenuate the surface
Fig. 127: Estimation of the insulation value of clothing combinations according A major influencing factor is a person’s metabolic rate (met) temperature’s volatile daily fluctuation.
to DIN EN 7730: 2005.
which describes a person’s activity: the greater the physical
strain, the higher the rate. The factor of individual clothing Microclimate in the Courtyard
fluctuates seasonally and is therefore rather difficult to Solar radiation as well as the envelope’s surface temperature
influence. The clothing factor (clo) describes the clothing have a significant influence on thermal comfort. In order to
insulation value. In winter it is rather high and in summer it is quantify this, two variants with different heat storage capacity
rather low, as it makes heat transport between the environ- (variant 1: 7 kJ/(m²K), variant 2: 307 kJ/(m²K)), but equal
ment more difficult or easier. thermal resistance of 7.2 (m²K)/W were investigated. One
wall in the courtyard was depicted as a solid wall, facing
The air humidity, temperature and movement as well as different directions. This ensures that it is exposed to varying
the sky temperature, solar radiation and also the average solar radiation. The courtyard under consideration has a
long-wave radiation temperature of enclosing surfaces are dimension of 3.6 × 3.6 × 3 metres. An average of 750 direct
further environmental conditions with a significant influence hours of sunshine per year (h/a) is assumed.
on comfort. An increase in air movement, i.e. flow velocity, is
expected to increase convective heat transport between the
Interior    Exterior / Courtyard
person and the environment. Overall, however, solar radiation
Fig. 128: Factors influencing the microclimate in a courtyard: short-wave and with its diffuse and direct component has the greatest influ-
long-wave radiation, air movement, air humidity, air temperature as well as the ence on a person’s perception of heat.
person's motion and clothing.

78
 N
Courtyard Orientation hours in the courtyard can be achieved. This creates a kind of
330 ° 30 °
One of the courtyards’ tasks is to provide sufficient lighting funnel, improving the natural lighting of the interior spaces.
for the interior spaces. It can be stated that if the interior is 300 ° 60 °
naturally lit sufficiently this also applies to the exterior. The constraints described here for an optimal orientation of
Whether or not sufficient direct lighting of the interior is courtyards apply to European regions and can be applied in a
provided depends largely on the courtyard’s orientation. mirrored orientation to the southern hemisphere. W Courtyard E

Depending on the shadow cast by the courtyard’s enclos-

ing areas, the hours of direct sunlight in the courtyard will 240 ° 120 °
increase or decrease. The amount of shade is determined by
the height of the enclosing walls and the sun elevation angle. 210 ° 15O °
As the sun elevation angle increases, the shadow cast is S
reduced. As the location’s latitude decreases, the influence of 21 June 21 March 21 December
the wall height on the amount of shadow cast is reduced.
Fig. 138: The sun chart for the location Stuttgart shows the hourly course of
By rotating the courtyard in the sun chart, it quickly becomes the sun on 21 June, 21 March and 21 December as well as the rotation of the
courtyards to determine the direct sun hours in the courtyard.
clear that the length of the courtyard’s stretch parallel to the
course of the sun must be as long as possible in order to
increase the hours of sunshine in the courtyard.

However, this only applies to courtyards with enclosing sur-

faces of up to three metres in height and a ratio D/H ≥ 1.2. If
the height of the enclosing surfaces is the same and the ratio
D/H is less than 1.2, the diagonal of the courtyard should be
parallel to the course of the sun. 160 Ele 3.6×3.6×3 1400

Sun li hours in the courtyard [h/a]

140 va
tio 3.6×6.0×3 1200
na

Wall height
Shadow cast [m]

If the areas surrounding the courtyard are up to six metres 120 ng

le 3.6×8.4×3 1000
high, a D/H ratio of at least 0.9 should be the goal. North- 100
3.6×3.6×6 800
80
south or east-west orientations should be avoided. In Shadow cast 3.6×6.0×6
60 600
comparison, the hours of sunshine in the courtyard can be 3.6×8.4×6
40 400
increased if the orientations deviate by 30 ° to 60 °. 3.6×3.6×9
20 200
3m 0 3.6×6.0×9
A north-south orientation combined with the longest possible 0° 10 ° 20 ° 30 ° 40 ° 50 ° 60 ° 70 ° 80 ° 0
6m

300 °
330 °
3.6×8.4×9

30 °
60 °

120 °
150 °

210 °
240 °

N
N

W
S
courtyards is only advantageous in the case of enclosing 9m Sun elevation angle
walls higher than six metres. For these courtyard geometries,
a D/H ratio greater than 1 should be aimed for. By staggering Fig. 137: Shadow cast by a wall of 3 m, 6 m and 9 m as a function of the sun Fig. 139: Direct sun lit hours on the courtyard floor area with different orienta-
the courtyard towards the south, an increase in sunshine elevation angle and with ideal solar exposure. tion and different proportions of the courtyard.

85
 24
Acoustics The propagation of airborne and structure-borne noise within Energieagentur NRW (eds.), Doris Haas-Arndt, Fred Ranft, Tageslichttechnik
in Gebäuden, Heidelberg 2007, p. 82.
the building should always be counteracted in accordance
There are various requirements for the acoustic design in with the building regulations for terraced houses. Double-­
courtyards. Conversing parties need to be able to understand layer partitioning walls with a separating layer extending all
each other clearly, while at the same time there must be dis- the way down to the foundations should be used, which can
cretion and privacy between neighbouring parties. In addition, be further improved with siding.
the courtyard should be protected from outside noise – from In order to reduce the penetration or leakage of sound waves
neighbours or streets. into or out of the courtyard, sun protection measures with
sound insulation effect or projections on the courtyard walls
This being said, sound from outside can also support the or at the courtyard end are also possible. The courtyard end
desire for discretion and privacy by impairing intelligibility and wall can also act as an absorber or reflector.
masking conversation. Natural sounds such as birdsong or
splashing of water are particularly suitable for this purpose The acoustics and sound insulation in the courtyards can
and can also be used deliberately. Especially in very quiet be further improved by cladding the courtyard facades with
neighbourhoods, pleasant masking sounds can significantly alternating surface roughness, for example using acoustic
improve the acoustic conditions. plasters. Perforated or micro-perforated elements on different
levels of the courtyard are also conceivable, such as perfo-
As the distance to a sound source increases, sound which rated sheeting, wood wool panels or translucent elements.
propagates spherically (Fig. 145), usually decreases in inten- Vegetation on the courtyard facades, for example in front
sity and intelligibility, but it can be amplified and sustained in of cavities, with integrated absorber elements has a similar
the courtyard itself and from courtyard to courtyard or street effect.
to courtyard by reflections. In addition, the sound waves are
diffracted and scattered in different directions at the upper In addition, the sound propagation between the courtyards
edges of the courtyard. is attenuated by green roofs. The vegetation reduces the
sound energy through absorption and ground effects and at
In order to prevent the danger of unwanted extraneous noise the same time is an important urban climate measure. Any
in the courtyards, the distances between courtyards of the vegetation should have a high leaf content.
same and different buildings should therefore be designed to
be as large as possible when forming neighbourhoods and As in the courtyards, noise sources can also be used for
the structural separation should have good sound insulation. masking in selected open spaces. Water fountains have a
synergetic effect on acoustics and local microclimate. All
List of Measures for Acoustics measures to reduce traffic in the neighbourhood are also
The schematic section of the neighbourhood shows various welcome.
possibilities for improving the acoustic conditions as well as
for reducing noise in the courtyards. Measures for targeted
reflection and absorption reduce the leakage and penetration Fig. 144: Staggered arrangement of the courtyards to generate the longest
of sound waves into the inner courtyards. possible paths for sound transmission.

89
25
Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, Gesellschaft Energie und Umwelt (ed.), Resource Efficiency – energy requirements,
VDI-Richtlinie 4800: Ressourceneffizienz – Methodische Grundlagen, Prinzipien – energy supply,
und Strategien, sheet 1, version 11/2016.
Resource efficiency describes the relationship between – building material ecology
26
Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz, online unter:
benefit (product, function, functional unit) and cost (resource (see the section Building Construction).
https://www.ressource-deutschland.de/ themen/bauwesen/ (last access: input).25 Applied to the construction industry, this refers to
3/4/2020). factors such as material, soil sealing, energy saving, used Subsequent compaction and special situations offer further
energy and embodied energy. Taking into account that about possibilities.27
27
See chapter VIII “Potential for Today and Tomorrow”. 90 percent of the mineral raw materials used in Germany
28
are deployed in the production of building materials and The study Energieeffizienzsteigerung Gebäude – Wege zu
Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (ed.), Energieeffizienzstrategie
that about 54 percent of the total waste volume in Germany einem nahezu klimaneutralen Gebäudebestand (Energy
Gebäude – Wege zu einem nahezu klimaneutralen Gebäudebestand, version
18/11/2015, p. 48, online at: https://www.bmwi.de/Redaktion/EN/Publika- originates from the construction sector, the development of a Efficiency Strategy for Buildings – Methods for achieving a
tionen/energy-efficiency-strategy-buildings.pdf (last access: 3/4/2020). future-oriented building type is only possible by considering virtually climate-neutral building stock) by the Federal Min-
resource efficiency.26 istry for Economic Affairs and Energy for 2015 forecasts an
average primary energy requirement for residential buildings
In the following chapter, aspects of sustainability and of approximately 40 kWh/(m²a).28 This is currently equivalent
Fig. 145: Measures to improve intelligibility and reduce sound transmission resource efficiency will be applied to the compact courtyard to the value of a KfW Energy-Efficient House 55 and shall be
from courtyard to courtyard. In public spaces, fountains can have a masking house. In terms of content, this section focuses on: defined as a target value. The results obtained show ways to
effect. achieve resource efficiency, but do not claim to be exhaus-
– area efficiency / area type, tive; they are intended as a guide.
– enveloping surface,
– D/V ratio,

Adaption of courtyard end wall Separation layer Sunscreen Fountains and dense Vegetation and alternating Vegetation
vegetation facade surface Noise absorber element

90
Fig. 154: Potential energy surfaces of a compact courtyard house and their Individual Solution For the operation of heat pumps, the base slab, the foun­
evaluation. The available space, the expected yield, the technical feasibility and Depending on the concept, different surfaces on the building dation or the property’s soil serves as an energy source.
the suitability for a KfW Energy Efficiency House 55 are evaluated.
are suitable for energy generation. Their potential differs However, there is little free space available on the property,
depending on the available space, the expected yield and the which is also difficult to regenerate over the summer when
technical implementation. using a surface collector.

For example, photovoltaic cells can be integrated into Due to the low proportion of usable roof area, the poor
transparent facade glazing or a separate system for energy regeneration possibilities of soil or the foundation area, the
generation can be added – albeit with disadvantages in terms high space requirement of plant technology and the desired
of lighting and transparency. clarity of the ownership structure, the implementation of an
For opaque facade areas receiving sufficient sunlight, there individual solution is generally not expedient.
are many possibilities for system integration of solar active
Floor slab Property
technology. Neighbourhood Solution
Roof areas Foundation
Transparent facade Opaque facade
A neighbourhood solution offers the advantage that system
Various types of solar collectors are suitable for the roof technology within the individual buildings can be limited to a
Potential energy Space Yield Feasability KfW 55 surface, but additional shading of the courtyards should be transfer station, hot water storage tank, pump technology and
surfaces available avoided. This supports almost horizontal orientation, even heat exchanger. These system components are either located
if yield and economic efficiency of the active technology is in the individual units or centrally in the building.
Transparent facade o - o + reduced. Due to wind force, the usable roof area is very small
Opaque facade o - + +
and is only 39 percent across all concepts. If the collectors Waste heat, biomass, geothermal energy and solar radiation
are mounted, on average only 14 percent of the roof area can can be used as a source of energy depending on the location.
Roof area - o + + be activated. This significant reduction is due to the required Biomass should be acquired regionally. Heat pumps, solar
Floor slab + + - o
distance between the collectors to avoid mutual shading. collectors and combined heat and power (CHP) convert the
Usable vs. non-usable roof area energy into heat or electricity. The respective type of energy
Foundation o + - + is thus supplied to the building or stored. A holistic approach
C1
to a neighbourhood solution not only includes the provision of
Property - + - +
C2 space heating, domestic hot water (DHW), electricity and pos­
C3 sibly also cooling, storage capacity and water retention, but
C4 should also address the issue of mobility. For this purpose, for
example, the surplus energy is stored in batteries or conver­
C5
ted into a synthetic energy carrier via the power-to-x process
C6 (e.g. power-to-gas or power-to-liquid). The stored energy can
C7 then be fed into the mobility sector or back into the building
C8 via energy supply stations.
Fig. 155: The mean values of the concepts› usable roof areas with collectors in
0%

10 %

20 %

30 %

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

80 %

90 %

100 %
horizontal orientation compared to the non-usable roof area. The mean value of
all concepts is 39 % usable roof area. Usable roof area Non-usable roof area

96
Building Material Ecology energy inputs, and these are included in the balance sheet 5
The demand for sustainability must be reflected in the choice along with the corresponding environmental impacts. 4

Thermal transmittance [W/(m²K)]

of materials used for implementation by promoting optimi- For these reasons, the focus should ideally be on the most
3
sation. This also applies to sensible component thickness, complete possible recycling of raw materials after use and
which is discussed controversially and questioned in public, demolition and with this as a clear target starting from the 2
especially in the case of thermal insulation. earliest planning phase; the goal is to avoid waste from the 1
The course of the thermal transmittance (U-value), plotted very start.
0
in Fig. 162 over the insulation material thickness, shows Generally speaking, this means: maximum use of recyclable
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
that by determining the latter, an economic and ecological and renewable materials, if possible no composite materials Material thickness [m]
optimum can be achieved. While more insulation reduces or structures that are difficult to separate, no glued joints, Mineral wool WLG035
the heat transfer, more material and space are required. The no coatings that limit the recycling potential and a selection Wood fibre WLG05
relationship between transmission heat losses, embodied of materials and design methods that consider life cycle
energy and space requirements must therefore be considered assessment data, etc. Fig. 162: Performance of thermal transmittance with increasing material
over the life cycle. thickness.
Building Separation Walls / Exterior Walls or Facades
Life cycle assessments provide an overall view of material In keeping with the logic of the compact courtyard house,
and energy flows and the associated environmental impacts adjacent buildings do not share an exterior wall, each building
over a variety of life cycles. Fig. 163 shows the key stages of rather has its own separately founded exterior walls with
a life cycle assessment, for example for a building materi- dividing joints on the property boundaries. This results in
al. DIN EN 15804 divides the life cycle into four life cycle synergy effects for fire and noise protection. The noise insu-
modules (A-D): lation issue between neighbouring courtyards is comparable
to situations involving public space: it is more intensive, but
– production A1-A3: raw material supply, transport, manu- there are more options for coping with it.
facturing; Utili
c tion s ati
– use B1-B7: use / application, maintenance, repair, replace- From building classes 1 to 3, type-tested flammable exterior du

on
Pro
ment, renewal, energy consumption for building operation, walls are permissible instead of fire walls: highly fire-retar­

Pha
water consumption for building operation; dant or fire-retardant and fire-resistant from the outside to

se
– disposal C1-C4: dismantling / demolition, transport, waste the inside, if no additional mechanical demand is present.
treatment, landfill;

Demo
ra
d l e to C r a d

le
C
– credits and debits outside the system boundaries D: reuse, Building class 4 permits the use of type-tested highly fire-

litio
g
recovery or recycling potential. retardant walls that withstand defined mechanical stress.

lin

n
yc /R
Rec en o
If the core is combustible, they require a non-combustible
vation

After demolition or dismantling and clean separation of the cladding and insulation.
building materials, however, they can generally only be re-
used to a limited extent. Often, only downcycling is possible, Conclusion: The previous typology of compact courtyard Fig. 163: Life cycle of a building material for the construction of a building. In
and the quality of the original product cannot be restored. In houses basically allows exterior walls with partially or com- some cases, transport must also be taken into account in the individual stages
addition, the various processes again require considerable pletely flammable materials. of the cycle.

101
Construction Process – Construction Site Organisation Holzrahmenbauweise mit Brettstapeldecken,
Timber frame construction bis Gebäudeklasse
with glued laminated timber ceilings,4
up to building class 4
It is an obvious fact that small-scale plots of land offer little
Floor level
space for storage, work preparation and the usual construc- e.g. inverted roof, water-bearing level 15 cm below floor level
z.B. Umkehrdach, wasserführende Ebene 15 cm unter OKF
tion site facilities with a crane.
Brettstapeldecke
Glued laminated timber ceiling
Furthermore, accessibility is usually only possible from one
(narrow) side. Therefore, public space with official permission
to deliver, store and set up a crane during the construction z.B. Elementfassade, Metallrahmen mit Füllungen (thermisch getrennt)
Section e.g. element facade, metal
Dreifachisolierverglasung frame withtransluzent),
(transparent, infills (thermally separated),
Dämmpaneele
period must be included. triple insulating glazing (transparent, translucent), insulation panels
In addition or alternatively, an inner courtyard can be used as
a storage area or, if necessary, also for crane placement. Courtyard Interior
Gebäudeabschlusswände
Building end walls: / anstelle von Brandwänden
Holzständerwand,
timber frame wall,nicht brennbare Bekleidung, F 60 AB, typengeprüfttype-tested
Construction is implemented as usual on a floor-by-floor non-combustible cladding, highly fire-retardant,
basis. The higher the component prefabrication level, the
faster the construction process and the easier the building
site can be organised. Up to five buildings are expected to be Interior Courtyard Air space Load-bearing walls and columns: highly fire-retardant, non-combustible
managed with one crane as a construction segment. cladding
Basements are to be organised in the construction process
and through construction segments in such a way that c
expensive underpinning is avoided.

Floor plan
Strategie Herstellung
Fig. 182: Construction example in timber frame construction.

Heavy and bulky objects can be brought deep into the build-
ing at a later date using cranes and via the exterior spaces or
18
Crane courtyards, provided generously opening glass facades to the
courtyard and/or public space are available.

Conclusion: With well-considered construction site organisa-

tion and logistics, an advantageously high level of prefabri-
cation and just-in-time deliveries, no serious or exceptional
Zugänglichkeit in der Regel von einer Seite
problems are to be expected, comparable to construction
sites in cramped inner-city locations, for example in infills.
daraus folgt

Fig. 181: Typical construction site situation of a compact courtyard house in

- Baustellenorganisation mit wenig Platz auf dem Grundstück
- Benutzung des öffentlichen Raums zum Anliefern, Lagern und Aufstellen eines Krans

schematic representation.
Nutzung von Innenhöfen zu Lagerflächen oder ggf. auch Kranaufstellung

konventionell geschossweise Realisierung mit geringem oder hohem Vorfertigungsgrad

Bau von 1 bis 5 Einheiten mit einem Kran / Bauabschnitt

falls Unterkellerung, dann zwingend möglichst große Bauabschnitte, sonst werden

aufwendigen Unterfangungen erforderlich

über die Außenräume / Höfe, können auch zu späterem Zeitpunkt über Kräne (auch
113
mobil) schwere und sperrige Sachen in die Tiefe des Gebäudes eingebracht werden
(in Verbindung mit großzügig zu öffnenen Glasfassaden zum Hof und öffentlichen Raum

Fazit
mit überlegter Baustellorganisation sind keine schwerwiegenden oder außergewöhnliche
Probleme zu erwarten
vergleichbar mit Baustellen in beengten innerstädtischen Lagen

6
 Fig. 196, right page: Street space of an urban quarter with compact courtyard Degree of Prefabrication and Cost
housing according to concept C1. The strategy on which the case study is based – timber
frame construction method and modular system – allows a
high prefabrication level plus a short construction time on
site.
Fig. 195: Perspective to type 121-C1-3-1-2.8. If ensembles or neighbourhoods can be realised by multiplied
addition of the same or related types, an economical serial
production is possible with individual adaptations similar to a
construction set. By dispensing with a costly basement, the
foundation can be reduced to a frost-free base slab and com-
ponents necessary for the building services (not shown in the
drawings). A dry assembly method, also for floor structures,
saves desiccation time. Prefabricated installation walls are a
further option for the bathrooms.
All of these measures and factors are suitable for bringing
the construction costs down to a level in line with the market,
despite the widely vegetated flat roof constructions.

Natural Illumination
With the exception of the bathroom on the first floor, all
interior rooms receive daylight via the street facade, courtyard
facades or additional skylights.
Previous considerations on the courtyard orientation are
embraced. By rotating the building type to a position where
the diagonal of the courtyard is parallel to the course of
the sun, the amount of insufficient illumination is reduced.
During the occupancy period, the area below 100 lux is
reduced by an average of five percent. The improvement is
particularly noticeable in the bedroom next to the bathroom
on the first floor. The second floor is sufficiently supplied with
daylight and a rotation here has a tendency of leading to an
oversupply.

To avoid overheating in summer, the top floor needs appropri-

ate sun protection, as does the street facade if the orientation
is between southeast and southwest.

120
Fig. 215: Perspective view of a street space with variants according to
­concepts C2 (left side of street) and C6 (right side of street).

133
 Erhöhung dervon
der GFZ
Erhöhung GFZ0.3von 1.4 bis 1.4
bis 0.3
Geschossfläche
Geschossfläche ca.qm
ca. 245 245 qm

Typ 120-K1-3-1-2.0
Typ 120-K1-3-1-2.0

Fig. 238: Case study for the conversion of a typical low-density settlement boundaries. The 50 to 60-year-old existing buildings (usually still unrenovated) aroused in this way, for example, if necessary home care and accessibility are
from the 1960s into a much more sustainable urban structure in the long term. will be replaced in stages by compact courtyard houses. This can be accompa- made possible or if building land is generated for children and grandchildren.
Schematic representation of a temporary intermediate state, site plan and nied at the same time by a division of the plots into four narrow plots of 175 m²
schematic section, scale 1:1000. each, which can be sold individually if required. In this way, valuable building land is created in good locations for those willing
With land prices in metropolitan regions ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 Euros to build, prospective buyers and investors (internal development). The living
per square metre, a landowner can earn approximately 500,000 to 2.5 million quality of such a compact courtyard house (with a central courtyard, roof
Duplex houses with garages as boundary buildings on plots of about 700 m² Euros in this way. As a rule, the increase in building rights will, according to the terrace that cannot be seen, integrated parking space, generous storage areas,
form the existing buildings. The two-storey buildings (ground floor + first floor laws of the market economy, cause land prices to rise even further. This cre- etc.) will at the same time far exceed that of the existing conventional building.
+ extended roof) have a gross floor area of 200 to 220 m², which corresponds ates a strong economic incentive to demolish, sell and rebuild, which few are The range of services in the neighbourhood is also improved with the higher
to a utilisation of the building land or a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.3. likely to be able to escape. This will not only save the costs of renovating the density.
With narrow and deep compact courtyard buildings (e.g. according to concept existing conventional buildings (approx. 150,000 to 300,000 Euros), but also
C1), the utilisation or floor area ratio can be increased to 1.4 while maintaining completely finance the new building and possibly create funds for other areas
the distance (1/2 × H) to the existing conventional buildings and property of life and investments. Even the interest of retired owners and users could be

148
 Home News Contact About Newsletter Login DE EN

0 articles in Cart

Link to the book’s page at Triest Verlag:

Triest
All Architecture Design Typography

HFT Stuttgart (eds.),

Jan Cremers, Peter
Bonfig, David
Offtermatt
Kompakte Hofhäuser
Anleitung zu einem urbanen
Gebäudetyp

German edition

158 pages, ca. 240 images and plans,

25 × 17,6 cm, softcover with flaps

Euro (D) 45.– / Euro (A) 46.30

Available

ISBN 978-3-03863-051-7 → Excellent living quality on a small area: a building typology for urban
redensification of existing districts

1 Add to cart
→ Specifications and planning criteria – a practical handbook

→ Typology for future housing models

CHF   49.00
The courtyard house, a type of building that harks back thousands of years, is
being reinterpreted as a module for high-density, heterogeneous urban districts.
The Compact Courtyard House, generally with three closed exterior walls, takes
up only very little space. With three to five storeys and up to four dwelling units,
it can replace detached houses and even conventional residential buildings. The
outside space that ordinary buildings need as spacing between each other is
incorporated into Compact Courtyard Houses as high-quality courtyard space
protected from outside viewing. Interior and exterior spaces can thus merge into
a single spatial continuum with great utility value.
Each flat has at least one such courtyard, as private as a bathroom. This resolves
the dilemma of conventional types of construction in which density equals loss
of privacy and stress caused by unwanted visibility.

Going into great detail, the books presents different types and variations for sites
of different sizes and proportions. All can be readily combined to create urban
ensembles and districts. Nevertheless, each building can remain largely
autonomous on its own plot, thus ensuring a simple situation in terms of
ownership.
There are many possibilities of deploying this kind of building in the urban
setting while only taking up little area: redensification of existing residential
areas, conversion of brownfield and leftover areas, new construction of mini-
quarters and even larger urban districts.

The book demonstrates the characteristics and extensive typologies of the

Compact Courtyard House, providing planners with specific information and
specifications for their work.

About the author:

Jan Cremers, Prof. Dr.-Ing., architect, Professor of Building Technology and
Integrated Architecture, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at HFT
Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart. Specialist national and international
publications and related research and development activities.

Peter Bonfig, architect with more than thirty years expertise in the development
and application of innovative concepts and technologies. Activities in teaching,
research and practice in Europe, USA, Australia and Japan and as an
architectural photographer.

David Offtermatt has been a research associate at HFT Stuttgart since 2017. He
studied Climate Engineering there and went on to acquire his master’s degree in
Energy and Building Systems at Biberach University of Applied Sciences.

DOWNLOAD Cover Kompakte Hofhäuser DE ›

DOWNLOAD Waschzettel Kompakte Hofhäuser DE ›

These books may interest you too: