From the luxurious terraces of Dubai's Al Barari district to the charming Victorian terraces of London, thoughtfully designed modern courtyard homes showcases clever approaches to privacy optimisation, natural light maximisation, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow.
Here, we present the most breathtaking modern courtyard home designs featured on AD, each offering unique interior design insights and practical tips for creating outdoor living spaces that feel both intimately private and grandly sophisticated.
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In many places, says architect Maxime Dautresme, wind is “a force to resist”, but in this contemporary courtyard home in Abu Dhabi, it’s “a co-creator in the built environment”: the invisible made visible. Christened Nasayem, an Arabic word that means “breezes” or “gentle winds”, the house is a poetic tribute to the desert landscape, and to the lifestyles of the Bedouin tribes that have roamed it for centuries.
Owned by a family of six, the six-bedroom home is located on Saadiyat Island, which is a ten-minute drive from the city and is renowned for its resort-like ambience and natural beauty. At the heart of his concept is a double-height internal courtyard that reimagines this Middle Eastern archetype in modern, minimal style, inspired by Maghrebi riads and Emirati homes. A 200-year-old olive tree forms the centrepiece of the soaring internal courtyard, planted in a custom-made marble planter with an integrated teak bench. A large skylight in the roof allows sunlight to gently flood the space. Click here for a full home tour. – Amy Bradford
Design Tip: “It serves as a central gathering point and a passive cooling system within the arid climate,” says Dautresme. “The open mezzanine that envelops it creates an inward-facing dynamic with both vertical and horizontal connections. Rooted in the middle of the house, the courtyard is the main growing element that branches out to all the floors.”
Egypt's courtyard homes are timeless design marvels; carrying forth that storyed tradition, AD100 talent Tarek Shamma’s palatial home blends soulful interiors with architectural grandeur. It is a thirty-minute-or-so drive from the centre of Cairo to the family home of the Egyptian designer Tarek Shamma; the city’s electric energy – the cacophony of life pouring through its traffic-filled streets – is now behind us. The distance is enough to disconnect. “Drawing inspiration from the family’s Bedouin heritage, we embedded historical cues from those nomadic tribes in our design concept, paying homage to the tribes’ connection to the land, their resilience and adaptability, and their artisanal tradition,” explains the designer.
At the heart of his concept is a double-height internal courtyard that reimagines this Middle Eastern archetype in modern, minimal style, inspired by Maghrebi riads and Emirati homes. Building in the Egyptian countryside offered two options: either a contemporary house or something more traditional. They chose the former, opting for clean architecture with precise lines, entirely clad in Brescia and Egyptian Galala marble (a palette that continues inside). Click here for a full home tour. – Amy Bradford
Design Tip: Contrasting with the minimalist architecture are the more bountiful interiors, layered with antique furniture, from 17th-century Chinese chests to 19th-century English sofas; there are also modern Arab artworks, and tapestries that soften the scale of the building by offering a sense of intimacy and homeliness.
In the heart of Ahmedabad in western India, architecture studio Morphogenesis has reimagined the concept of a courtyard home, combining modernist design and Vastu principles to create a multigenerational villa nestled in nature. The clients were seeking a home integrated with nature and a distinctive identity. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape and vernacular architecture – specifically, the thinking behind a courtyard home and baolis, the local step-wells – we designed a home that truly resonates with their preferences."
Located in the Indian state of Gujarat, surrounded by a verdant landscape of Gulmohar, ficus, Rudraksha, and Bakul trees, this courtyard home is a testament to the duo's ambition. All spaces were created according to the science of Vastu. Planned axially with three cascading courtyards, it features an interplay of stepped levels derived from the layout of Indian step-wells. A welcoming atrium gives way to a double-height communal courtyard with a Kalpataru tree – the central element along the north-south axis on the ground floor. Rooted in its local context, the design also draws inspiration from modernist icons like Louis Kahn and Le Corbusier, which is evident in the prominent facade made of an amalgamation of concrete, HPL wood and Dholpur stone. Click here for a full home tour. – Karine Monié
Design Tip: Inside, the colours revolve around the five elements of nature: fire, water, air, earth and space. Leaf-patterned screens and sheer curtains and columns clad with fluted wood emulate the spirit of a forest, while warm neutrals and earth tones prevail in the main bedroom.
While a courtyard home is familiar in the Middle East and Asia, it's rarer in Canada – yet that's what makes this midcentury-style house in Toronto's Rosedale neighbourhood special. Nestled in a ravine and almost completely secluded by trees, it feels like a rural retreat yet is only a short distance from the city. The U-shaped layout enabled the creation of a serene pool courtyard, formerly a Japanese garden and koi pond, now a functional outdoor room. "This layout is what made us fall in love with the property," says Miller. "We transformed the courtyard to include a pool that can be used year-round. The stone floor is heated, so during the winter, the snow melts, and you can walk outside and swim."
Miller designed every element of the interior to accentuate the home's indoor-outdoor character. The original Western Red Cedar ceilings were sanded down to "a beautiful blond colour", windows and sliding doors were re-framed in oak, and the floors were replaced with white oak planks. Brick walls were painted white to harmonise with the exterior, and the kitchen was finished with Bianco Raffaello marble to complement the earthy interior scheme. Click here for a full home tour. – Amy Bradford
Design Tip: “We planted a cherry blossom by the pool that flowers in spring, and lined the courtyard with 22-foot cedars, so you’re always looking out at a massive green wall from the kitchen,” she says. “This really makes the courtyard feel cosy and private. I also placed pots around it filled with lavender and rosemary, so that when we sit outside, we’re surrounded by beautiful scents.”
When local design firm ADND first started work on this courtyard home project, they found a home that was out of kilter with the surrounding tropical climate. Built in the 1990s to a traditional farmhouse design, it was dark and gloomy on the inside, with no connection to the outdoors other than the views through the windows, which were disproportionately small in comparison to the walls and parapet heights. Rather than knock the building down and start again, the designers decided to work with the existing structure, which now engages with the outside world, enjoying better natural light, improved ventilation and a deeper connection with nature.
At the heart of the house, an open inner courtyard with a double-height veranda allows the owners to experience a sense of being outdoors, but within a cool, shaded environment. Stone slabs ground the lower part of the space, while above, the fluted wooden screens of the brise soleil that wraps around the building's upper exterior provide natural shading, helping to control the heat within the rooms and allowing natural breezes to flow through. The latter is furnished with the textures of locally sourced wood, stone, plaster and limewash, and large tropical plants. Click here for a full home tour. – Jessica Doyle
Design Tip: Aesthetically, the screens also bring a contrasting lightness to the stone, referencing the architecture of the region and allowing light to dance over the courtyard.
This modern rustic home in Portugal, perched at a prestigious spot where the Tagus River meets the sea, was designed by Bernardes Arquitetura for "a family that loves to receive friends and relatives." Located merely an hour away from Lisbon, with 835 square meters that blend in with the surrounding landscape and garden, this modern yet earthy home is perfect for them to do so at their leisure. Casa em Caxias is on Avenida Marginal, at the mouth of the Tagus River, about 100 meters from the ocean and 30 meters above sea level.
"From the beginning, we sought to integrate the residence into the local natural landscape, enhancing the views, which are unique, and merging the interior and exterior," they explain from the studio. However, the slope of the land did not make it easy: "It represented an interesting challenge for the design of the house and the definition of its location," they continue. To circumvent the ravage, a large courtyard was created on the first floor, leading to the entrance of the house and the garage; while on the upper level, the house opens completely to the garden, thus creating a space that functions as a 'second first floor'. Click here for a full home tour. – Marta Sader
Design Tip: “The concise choice of natural materials (stone, wood and fabrics), coupled with a palette of warm tones, brings luminosity and warmth to the project,” says the studio. “We incorporated into the interiors the natural materials present in the exterior architecture, such as walls painted with paint pigmented with natural lime, rustic woods, hand-dyed linen and cotton fabrics and handmade baskets, as well as some objects that symbolise the experiences lived by the family in other countries.”
An art-collecting couple commissioned this modernist villa in Amman, where creativity, nature and family life are in constant dialogue. Twenty years ago, when Sirine Sidani Abu Ghazaleh and Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh were looking for the perfect home in Amman, they had two requirements. One, that the location felt like "them" – Sirine is Lebanese and was brought up between Paris and Beirut, while Ahmad is Jordanian-Palestinian, but spent his formative years globetrotting; and two, that they could build something from the ground up. "It felt like a way of laying down our roots," recalls Sirine. “We wanted our home to be an anchor and a complete representation of what was important to us as a family.” Click here for a full home tour. – Pratyush Sarup
The couple knew that their new home needed to have the architectural scale and grace to hold these diverse stories together. Drawn to the raw, Modernist style of the late Lebanese architect Pierre Bassil, they commissioned him with one simple request: that his solution keep the family close to nature. “Growing up, we both played lots of sports, so being outdoors and being connected to nature became crucial for our mental wellbeing,” explains Sirine. “We wanted to create the same experience for our kids.” An indoor-outdoor concept with great natural light would also be ideal for appreciating the couple's growing art portfolio.
Design Tip:
Designer Rachel Hills has thoughtfully crafted a modern home for herself where texture takes centre stage. The new-build abode reflects both her seasoned design sensibility and a fresh chapter in her life alongside her husband, Paul, an architect who leads the Hills Group. Known for creating custom luxury homes across the region, Hills approached this build with a different kind of brief: to downsize thoughtfully and create a space that's as intuitive as it is refined.
The ground floor's open layout boasts views onto an internal courtyard at the heart of the home. Designed around a 100-year-old olive tree, the courtyard brings daylight and nature into the interior plan. Framed by walls of glass, the tree becomes a serene focal point visible from several rooms. “We wanted something living at the centre of the house,” says Hills. “It gives the space rhythm and a sense of pause.” The architecture and interior work were handled entirely in-house, resulting in a seamless dialogue with organic materials and a natural palette. Click here for a full home tour. – Talib Choudhry
Design Tip: “Texture was as important as colour here,” Hills notes. “We wanted surfaces to have a tactile quality that adds interest without overwhelming the space.”
Interior designer Sahar Ghazale, co-founder of the UAE-based firm Nors Design, designed this extraordinary villa in Kuwait, the pièce de résistance of which is a sparkling mosaic waterfall flowing from the ground-floor level to a central basement pool, which is visible as soon as one enters the entrance lobby. In courtyard homes in the Middle East, one usually expects a garden, rockery, or fountains; but this villa in Kuwait comes with a staggering waterfall that bring down the outdoor temperature and creates a soothing microclimate. Offering a contemporary take on the Arabic majlis, the villa also has a separate entrance for the owner to receive business associates.
The client's brief was relatively simple: "He wanted it to be extremely luxurious, yet private and spacious enough to fit his family's needs and his love for hosting relatives and friends," says Ghazale. The aforementioned mosaic waterfall brought the "element of awe" that she wanted to create. "The design for the mosaics of the waterfall was done to mimic actual flowing water, so that even when the water is off, you can still see the water flowing effect," she says. "It has gold speckles so that it shines when the sun hits it." Click here for a full home tour. – Jessica Doyle
Design Tip: Custom-made floating crystal chandeliers and statement pieces from luxury brands like Elie Saab Maison create dramatic focal points in reception areas.
At the top of Serra do Louro, in Portugal's beloved Arrábida Natural Park, is a contemporary villa that dialogues with the landscape as though it had always been a part of it. Architect João Completo has designed the perfect retreat from the city, combining design, sustainability, and warmth. Cimbre, the Setúbal studio led by architect João Completo, transformed what remained of a dilapidated house into a statement of intent towards mindful integration of contemporary architecture in rural environments.
Designed for family life, the volume is organised around a central courtyard that acts as a meeting point and separates the two private areas. This distribution gives independence to the main bedroom and configures the shelter in a functional way. The kitchen, dining room and living room are located here, with birch wood ceilings and exposed concrete walls, providing warmth and establishing an earthy palette that connects the interior to the surroundings. The main bathroom, en suite, is hidden behind a private patio, disconnecting it from the rest of the home to create a more intimate feel. Click here for a full home tour. – Eva Morell
Design Tip: The use of arches in the kitchen softens the rigidity of the concrete, while Nordic-inspired wood furnishings add warmth.
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Supercharged by AI design software and precise digital modelling, this cave-like space is at the heart of a surrealist courtyard home in New Delhi, India. Antoni Gaudí's contribution to architecture inspired Manish and Tanushree Gulati of M:OFA to design this courtyard home. The structure is more than just a functional space; it is an immersive installation — a culmination of Manish and Tanushree's distinct aesthetics, interwoven with inspiration from the Catalan visionary.
Located at the centre of the house, this installation extends from the lower ground level to the third floor, becoming an integral part of every level: Balconies and windows visually connect the family on the upper floors, whilst the ground floor serves as an informal meeting space. Tall, curving and undulating forms spread across a built-up area of 645 square feet, and while the courtyard has an organic fluidity reminiscent of Gaudí's masterpieces, it is anchored firmly in its Indian context. Click here for a full home tour. – Aditi Sharma
Design Tip: "In the morning, sunlight filters through the eastern oculus, casting a soft beam that lights the fountain," says Manish. "As light reflects off the cascading water droplets, it creates a shimmering ambience — an ideal setting for the couple to enjoy their morning coffee."
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In the 13th century, the famous Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited this Indian town; the serenity of the beaches and the rich cultural amalgamation made Mangaluru one of his favourite places in the country. Inspired by this ancient connection and the enduring influence of Indo-Mughal architecture, Chaitanya, who heads up India's leading design studio Prism, decided to re-establish the links between these seemingly different regions.
Within a compound lined with white stone mashrabiyas, the 22,000sqft home which is announced by a lowered dome crowning a pointed arched porch, is set within an expansive garden dotted with fountains and bucolic planting – a vision not far from Morocco's regal homes. The ground floor has three bedrooms, including the main bedroom. The grand, ballroom-style staircase rises from the inlaid honey-onyx floor to a double-height landing, culminating in a domed volume. Chaitanya's favourite part is the courtyard swimming pool surrounded by multifoil arches clad in blue Moroccan-style tiles. Click here for a full home tour. – Shalbha Sarda
Design Tip: "Everything in the house was made specifically to fit the overall design scheme," says Chaitanya. From the hand-carved black marble balustrades on the stairs and hand-painted wallcoverings to mother-of-pearl tables, together, they create an opulent montage of the best of Islamic art and craft traditions.
The resulting revamp was partly inspired by traditional Moroccan and Andalusian homes – "where a tall central courtyard is filled with light, with smaller, cosier rooms at the sides", as Robert Houmøller explains. Angular internal and external cuts add a contemporary edge and create interesting views throughout the house; much of its original first floor was removed to maximise the height of the central kitchen extension, with light flooding in from numerous windows and skylights overhead.
All & Nxthing's response to this original concept was just as impressive. Nash focused on raw natural materials and textures to complement the bold architecture, deploying a palette of neutral tones that enhances the sense of calm and flow. "The ultimate aim was to create a place of sanctuary from the city outside," he says. He took inspiration from Mediterranean, SoCal and New Mexican interiors, juxtaposing exposed brickwork with limewash-painted clay walls, terracotta floor tiles and bespoke joinery with a rough-sawn finish. Click here for a full home tour. – Amy Bradford
Design Tip: He echoed the architecture's asymmetrical forms in his choice of linear and grid-patterned finishes, and in the tapering handles on the bespoke maple and beech kitchen cabinets, which were designed in-house.
Like an archetypal courtyard house, the building – which sits on a spacious corner plot – is protected on the outside and open on the inside, with living spaces arranged around lush terraces and a pool. "The residence was thoughtfully crafted to offer both warmth and a constant connection to the outdoors, creating a relaxed sanctuary that accommodates both intimate family moments and larger gatherings," says AlHumaidhi about why he decided to revisit the courtyard home archetype.
"The design was driven by a concept of gradual rotation across the building's three levels, mirroring the natural geometry found in shells, where forms twist, turn and contract as they rise. This movement creates shaded terraces, rooftop gardens, covered outdoor areas and framed views that adjust to both privacy needs and sunlight throughout the day. As the structure rises, each floor plate rotates almost ninety degrees, creating a sculptural sense of movement and a dynamic interaction with the corner plot's orientation." Click here for a full home tour. – Amy Bradford
Design Tip: "Travertine was selected as the main interior material for its durability, natural beauty and ability to age gracefully," says AlHumaidhi. “It was applied in two finishes - a semi-polished honed finish for the floors, and a raw, brushed finish on the walls. These create a subtle variation in texture that adds depth and richness to the spaces.”
At its core, this is a stripped-back interpretation of grand Arab courtyard homes, where life played out within an enclosed, open space. By removing one side of the built envelope, Saleh immediately modernised the concept. Instead of a landscaped garden, a meandering pool serves as a focal point, visually connecting the public and private sections of the home. "We wanted to create a living space that complemented the clarity of the bay," explains Saleh. "The idea of the ceiling meeting the sky and the floor hugging the sandy coast was quite integral to our design."
As a result, an earthy palette runs from the floor, onto the walls and up to the ceiling. From linen upholstered sofas to the putty-hued kitchen and pastel room divider that effortlessly blend in, this is colour drenching (the Tik-Tok–approved design trend that sees every built element painted the same tone) at its finest. Complementing the barely-seen retractable glass doors, Saleh's choice of natural materials and handcrafted finishes imbue this Egyptian home with warmth and informality. Click here for a full home tour. – Pratyush Sarup
Design Tip: Once again playing with proportions to guide the eye and amplify scale, an elongated multi-functional kitchen island becomes a sculptural device that connects the lounge (that can accommodate both cosy and large gatherings) with the outdoor dining court and the bedrooms on the other side.
Giving Nantucket Style a fresh spin, this laid-back yet chic home is a summer getaway for a San Franciscan family of four. They had been renting on Nantucket for several summers prior to purchasing this home, and tapped ABD Studio to design a warm island retreat that combines the homeowners' passion for modern art with their love of traditional New England style. The goal of the project was to create a welcoming vacation home that served as a prime space for entertaining while honouring the aesthetics of Nantucket Style.
The unique approach to this project involved selecting the art collection first, allowing it to dictate the design choices and set the tone for the overall aesthetic. The couple's fabulous collection features notable works by artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, Sheila Hicks, and Leonardo Drew. Textile art, inspired by Nantucket's basket-weaving history, adds layers of texture and storytelling. Click here for a full home tour. – Saiqa Ajmal
Design Tip: Traditional Nantucket Style elements have been reimagined with a modern twist, incorporating fresh palettes, contemporary silhouettes, and bold use of colour. Giannone took inspiration for the palette from the existing garden in the property's central courtyard, integrating greens, maroons, and mauve hues.
“I wanted a space that would feel cosy and tactile, but also a little bold,” says Mohanad AlHattab, the UAE-based Syrian content creator whose online persona is as colourful as the home he inhabits. The villa, designed by Emirati urban planner-turned-decorator Alamira Noor Bani Hashim, is an ode to balance: a calm, contemporary canvas enlivened with thoughtful colour choices and a touch of whimsy. The layered design scheme is calibrated to gently stimulate rather than overwhelm the senses.
Bani Hashim focused on introducing materials and textures that could coexist harmoniously, but with enough piquancy in the mix to stop it from being seen-it-all-before bland. In the dining room, the walls are lined with deep-red Moroccan zellige tiles, and the ceiling is painted in the same almost-Gucci-Ancora-red shade. One side of the space is glazed, suffusing it with light and framing a view of the courtyard garden, which has been thoughtfully landscaped to include plants which echo the hue of the tiles. I wanted the inside to blend seamlessly with the outside, says AlHattab. The garden really ties everything together. Click here for a full home tour. – Talib Choudhry
Design Tip:” I like the idea of discovering a space slowly,” explains Bani Hashim about how courtyard homes can help create visual journey. “I want people to notice more details the longer they spend in a room. Nothing should fight for attention, but it's also important to have some characterful pause points.”
A beach house should evoke a sense of fun, of joy, of being carefree. And this retro-inspired holiday home does all that with a playful take on Mediterranean living. The homeowners, who reside between Melbourne and Los Angeles, bought this Byron Bay beach house to be a sanctuary for pure relaxation and a respite from their city lives. They have a fondness for staying at Kit Kemp Hotels during their travels, so I was inspired to incorporate a vibrant colour palette, which at the time was a departure from my usual style.
The newly open plan was achieved through the addition of the hero of the house: an arched four-sided central courtyard that floods light into every room without sacrificing privacy, creating a cocoon-like feeling. For the palette, the designer opted for tones that can be seen from the terrace vista at the sunset: the beautiful pink clouds, the green tree-lined backdrop and the blue sea in the distance. I wanted to have fun with colour, and furnishings were a little inspired by the kitsch styling of Saint-Tropez vacation homes from the '60s to the '90s. It probably turned out looking a little more like Barbie and Ken's Mediterranean beach house, but I am fine with that. Click here for a full home tour. – Karine Monié
Design Tip: I love using materials with texture and movement where imperfections are celebrated. I introduced stone wall cladding and steel windows, and doors for contrast.
There's a particular moment when visitors first step into this modern Dubai villa that captures the essence of what designers Meher Sahney and Bani Singh of GroundedDesign have achieved. As eyes travel upward, following the sculptural sweep of a staircase that ribbons through the entrance, the villa's interior concept reveals itself: this is a home where clean architectural precision meets organic fluidity, where each curve and contour has been meticulously considered. The villa achieves biophilic harmony without resorting to the expected tropes of living walls or overt greenery.
Instead, it's the architectural language itself – the organic curves, the natural flow of spaces – that creates a profound connection to natural principles. At the heart is a Zen-inspired courtyard – a grounding visual axis visible from key vantage points throughout. It serves as a conceptual anchor that connects disparate areas of the home while reinforcing the property's connection to nature. We saw the courtyard as an opportunity to soften the villa's architectural framework. The planting scheme was deliberately restrained, focusing on texture, height, and movement. Click here for a full home tour. – Kieron Marchese
Design Tip: “The planting scheme was deliberately restrained, focusing on texture, height, and movement,” explains Sahney. “The layering of plants creates a quiet rhythm, while subtle lighting highlights their form, adding depth throughout the day.” The result is a courtyard that feels integrated yet impactful – a serene focal point from which the villa’s architectural components “grow”.
Caroline Stanbury and Sergio Carrallo's LA-style home in Dubai was designed by UAE- and London-based talent, Kate Instone, a long-time friend of Stanbury's. The glass-lined central courtyard with the towering bonsai overlooking the home office serves as the heart of this Al Barari villa. One of the design elements that caused much concern was a gigantic bonsai tree that had to be air-lifted into the central glass-lined courtyard – and here is where Caroline Stanbury's designer of choice, Kate Instone's mastery of combining locality with modernity shines through.
As the first thing one sees when they enter Caroline and Sergio's Dubai villa, the landscaped court tips its hat to the Arab traditions of privacy and spatial hierarchy. On one hand, it screens the private lounge and dining areas from immediate view, and on the other, it separates the home from Stanbury's Barbie-pink home office and podcast studio, without cutting anything out of sight. Click here for a full home tour. – Pratyush Sarup
Design Tip: Exterior walls in high-performance glass that minimise heat transmission without compromising the view were complemented with motorised, retractable shading systems – such as louvred pergolas and automated blinds – and smart thermostats, which automatically adjust interior temperature based on the weather and occupancy patterns.
Betsy Shiverick is an interior designer and president of the Palm Beach Preservation Foundation, and her husband, Paul, is a financier. Originally designed by the noted architect Marion Sims Wyeth, the house – and the street which borders the Everglades Golf Course – was developed by financier EF Hutton in the 1920s, and typifies Palm Beach style, both in terms of its Spanish Colonial architecture and its elegantly exuberant interiors.
The property's flow was most dramatically reconfigured by raising the inner courtyard to the ground floor level, allowing a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The entire site, including the garden and new pool, was raised, as well as the courtyard, which also has a new fountain and a tented dining pavilion. Richard Sammons and Anne Fairfax, the principals of New York– and Palm Beach-based practice Fairfax & Sammons, were unfazed by the challenge of restoring such an elevated couple's home. Click here for a full home tour. – Saiqa Ajmal
Design Tip: The inspiration for the new architectural details is essentially 16th-century Spanish architecture, ironwork and lighting. We were striving for a sense of romance and mystery.
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