the open house Contemporary Deck, Sydney

The terrace houses and cottages so typical of Sydney’s inner suburbs are usually positioned snug up against one another and traditionally bring in light through windows at both ends. Not so with this house, which has an internal courtyard that can become part of the house whenever the weather’s fine. In sunny Sydney, of course, that means almost all year round. Glass bifold doors running on tracks can be closed when necessary but still allow plenty of natural light to penetrate.The long wall abutting the neighbors also faces north, so positioning the courtyard here allowed light into the center of the house, a typically gloomy space in most terrace homes. “We had also maximized our floor space ratio [the amount of house we could build on our block] so this area is usable space for us, but wasn’t included in our ratio,” Richardson says. “We love the internal courtyard; we use the space every day in summer. It feels like part of the house, but is outside.”Outdoor furniture: Eco Outdoor; single yellow outdoor seat: Space Furniture; potted plant: Garden Life

Carve out an interior courtyard.Do you have the budget for renovations and some space to sacrifice? A central courtyard could naturally light your home from within, which is the case with this Sydney home by Elaine Richardson Architect. These tranquil indoor-outdoor spaces are best surrounded by windows, glass louvers or glass sliding doors to let light shine from the courtyard into adjacent rooms.Consult an architect, an interior designer or a builder for advice on how to maximize light penetration on your site, and remember that even a small interior courtyard can make a big difference.

Creative use of small outdoor area

Light, privacy, air, connection to spaces and nature