The Garden in the Building: Córdoba's Courtyards

Abstract

The courtyard, a highly controlled landscape intimately related to its surrounding building, is examined for its esthetic, social, and technical roles in some buildings of Córdoba, Spain. Plants, water, and inhabitants are shown to have particular impact on the courtyard's success at maintaining cooler summer conditions than the street beyond. This cooling benefits from the contrast (both physiological and psychological) between the courtyard and the street. Detailed measurements of three courtyards in Córdoba demonstrate the role of courtyard depth, shading devices, and evaporation, as well as opportunities for winter access to sun.