Courtyards

A courtyard that works well becomes the perfect private space to relax in and a great way to allow your home to flow into the outdoors.

Alterations to the rear of this house to draw in green vistas, sunlight and cooling breezes making the most of the weather year-round.

Scribbly Gums on the site of this new family home inspire the use of timber internally and help to generate the colour palette.

Sandwiched between weatherboard cottages in Brunswick East, C House breaks with convention to create a warm, unique and nuanced home.

This modern beach house wraps around courtyards and open spaces to blur the lines between inside and out - perfect for a beach retreat.

By creating outdoor covered spaces for dining and car parking Laneway House manages to pack a lot of space onto a tight site.

A playful rear addition maximises the possibilities for outdoor living, while bringing light and fresh breezes into the living area.

Mills House eliminates bulky cupboards by converting the floor into storage space, leaving the entire width of the terrace for living.

Skin-Box House is a compact but refined home that maximises the sense of space with full height glass and quality materials...

This welcoming house has a verandah so generous it blurs the line between a courtyard house and a traditional Australian verandah.

Rectifying a poorly planned '90s renovation this new courtyard arrangement lets in plenty of light and feels more spacious than ever.

Like a giant three dimensional puzzle this home defies its tight block with no views, houses on each side and a high wall to the north.

One of Balmain's earliest homes, a humble sandstone cottage, is renovated to reveal its inherent beauty - revealing layers of history.

A home previously owned by the client's Grandmother wasn't a good fit for a young family. An innovative extension changes all that.

The timber-clad Links Courtyard House prioritises simplicity over size leaving more of the budget for beautiful indulgent finishes.

Perched on top of a hill overlooking the stunning ocean along the Victoria's Great Ocean Road is a home that balances heavy and light.

Brick Bay House's L-shaped plan has a number of benefits - sheltering from winds, blocking road noise and embracing the ocean view.

Rachel Nolan of Kennedy Nolan Architects designed a weekender for her family called Merricks Beach House. It cleverly redefines the Australian beach house.

Sean Godsell's Edward Street House in inner-urban Melbourne has a lot of surprises in store. It's full of hidden secrets just waiting to be discovered...

Profile House is an extension that pays homage to the varied buildings in Brunswick East. BLOXAS Architects created an unexpected space inside, and out.

Fairfield Hacienda offers an alternative to the often wasted front yard. MRTN Architects have created a sunny, private courtyard at the front of the house.

Level changes in this home inspired its name, Jack and Jill House. It has fairytale-esque fun by the bucketful -- and not a broken crown to be seen...

Karri Loop House has two irregular-shaped courtyards which are centered around three majestic native Australian trees. This is what happens when trees are given the chance to shine.

Like a sunflower, Turnaround House grows from the existing home, turning to face the sun. Once dark and cramped, now light and airy -- what a turnaround!

Victoria Road House is a long way from India, but saturated color, radiating patterns and gold metalwork bring an Indian flavor to this surprising addition.

The age-old advice is to buy the worst house on the best street. Doll's House was the smallest house in the trendiest neighborhood, does that count?

House Eadie proves it's possible to retain unique quirks and a sense of history while integrating new, multifunctional spaces for contemporary living.

If you arrived at this house blindfolded, you might assume you were in a secluded jungle house. But you're actually just 3km from the heart of Sydney!

You wouldn't expect a modest, low-budget renovation in Sydney's luxe suburb Tamarama. Despite the budget, this house has some Tamarama glamor -- Glamarama.

Bushfire regulations are a challenge. Homes can end up like bunkers. Chenchow Little's Stewart House is a bushfire proof house that doesn't sacrifice looks.

A Brisbane red brick spec home was showing its age. Architect James Russell cleverly transformed the dated home into a bright and modern courtyard house.

Elm and Willow House's walls seem to vanish. The living area is neither indoor, nor outdoor space -- the entire yard becomes a part of the house.

In true glamping style Kurreki Beach Retreat has real beds but opens completely onto a courtyard and uses mosquito nets and shower curtains where necessary.

Bisley Place House is a suburban home built for family life and interaction. Bending the rules creates an incredible indoor-outdoor space for the family.

Elliott Ripper House is a prime example of how a well designed, harmonious extension can provide much more than extra floor space.

Parure House in Melbourne's inner suburb Kensington is a matching set of separate architectural ideas. It displays a richness of detail and experience.

As the name suggests, Convertible Courtyard House is a home that's as adaptable as a convertible car - rain, hail or shine, this house has you covered.

The location was right. But it would take a lot of imagination and a leap of faith to transform this dilapidated shed into a home...

Yarra Street House is a pavilion-style extension designed to fit perfectly with a family who loves cooking, outdoor living and entertaining in style.

Unlike most renovations, Park Lane House isn't tucked away in a backyard -- it's out there for all to see.

Since the cows moved out, this old shed has been transformed into a modern home for humans

Raven Street House brings new meaning to 'open-plan' with curtains, shutters and dazzling colored glass where the walls should be. There's even an indoor tree!

Tucked away on a treed site on Australia's beautiful Great Ocean Road, Treehouse takes in stunning ocean and tree views.

Islington House brings sunlight deep into the home and shows off the personality of its owners. A unique home for a unique couple.

From very early on it was clear that a simple box would dramatically improve the amenity of this home. And what a beautiful box it is!

Side-by-side homes owned by two generations of the same family get an addition that explores interconnectedness and independence.

A palette of masonry, timber & stone is pushed to their physical limits. Fairbairn House is a material delight…

A new living \'pod\' provides more than space at Mountford Road - bringing light, volume, air and dramatic results to this small-scale project.

This coastal cottage proves that quality always trumps quantity. The small house will age gracefully thanks to quality materials.

A bayside extension clad inside and out in timber battens blurs the functional and decorative.

Don't be deceived by the curved exterior. Abbotsford Residence is rational -- inside and out -- to deal with a heavily constrained site.

Semi-detached house revitalized for a young couple's contemporary lives. The transformation creates a bright new home.

To make the most of a tiny site -- 10 x 15 meters -- amongst low lying neighbors this double story home was partially submerged.

By wrapping an extension against the boundary, Boundary House deals with awkward residual spaces and improves access to light.

A previously dark terrace is transformed into a light and bright home with the help of some unusual 'light cannons'.

The craftsmanship of the Arts and Crafts period has been skillfully reinterpreted to create a modern extension which feels right at home next to the original home.

A Launceston suburb renowned for its Californian Bungalows gets a new development that reinterprets the iconic style for modern, medium density living.

A stronger connection to the exterior courtyards with concealed sliding doors, for access to light, fresh air and aspect.

Everyone needs a bit of sunshine in their lives. That's why Bow House goes out of its way to let the sunshine in.

A series of spaces at this small weekender create numerous places sit and enjoy the inspiring surrounds which are comfortable year round.

Some call the 1960's cream brick house ugly but this one has transformed into a spacious family home suited to its semi-arid climate.

It can be a challenge to enjoy indoor/outdoor living without sacrificing your privacy. Birchgrove House achieves the perfect balance.

Hover House by Bower Architecture is built on a disused backyard tennis court in Mt Martha -- a great example of infill housing.

At Datum House the ceiling height, rather than extra square meters, creates a generous and varied sense of space (without the cost).

James Russell Architects' distinctive tropical style shines through in this climate-sensitive weatherboard house extension.

A reinterpretation of a traditional terrace home keeps council happy, while a series of courtyards inject life into the home.

You can't see the sea from this modern beach house. Undeterred by the lack of view, it faces a sheltered internal courtyard instead.

A central courtyard makes this inner city home feel spacious and light despite its modest size and materials.

A combination of good design and plenty of storage makes inner city downsize house feel just as spacious as the owners' previous home.

This apartment renovation in the middle of one of Sydney's busiest suburbs still manages to capture the relaxed nature of a beach house…

A modest, energy efficient home in New Zealand's spectacular wine country makes the most of sweeping views…

At Alexandria House 2 full height glazing and louvers let the house breathe and skylights are used strategically to maximise natural light…

Architect Peter Miglis lists “light, space, and air” as the elements that form great architecture; he has incorporated all three into his own home.

In this case, the Green House effect is the impact light and air can make to a family home for a florist…

Instead of a generic mass-built home, this family built a home designed to suit their lifestyle and the sub-tropical Brisbane climate.

A series of insertions into this period home injects light deep into the plan, making it modern and bright in-spite of its age.

The brick exterior of Five Courts House belies its light-filled interior which surrounds five courtyards arranged around the perimeter.