Courtyards

architectural feature

300px|thumb|upright= 1.5|The cloister at Salisbury Cathedral, England

A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky.

thumb|Reconstruction of a Roman peristyle surrounding a courtyard in Pompeii, Italy

thumb|260px|right|Yunnan, [[Kunming]] A siheyuan (; [sɹ̩̂.xɤ̌.ɥɛ̂n];Sìhéyuàn) is a traditional Chinese architectural style characterized by a courtyard enclosed by buildings on all four sides. This design was prevalent throughout northern China, notably in Beijing and rural Shanxi. Historically, siheyuan served as the foundational layout for various structures, including residences, palaces, temples, monasteries, family businesses, and government offices.

principal courtyard of a mansion or palace

thumb|right|260px|Large sahn of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, surrounded by riwaq (arcades), in [[Tunisia.]]

palace in the Alhambra, Granada

painting by Pieter de Hooch, National Gallery London

form of terraced house

historic palace inside the Alhambra of Granada, Spain

Style of building

space or courtyard

Chinese-garden courtyard in New York City