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https://www.wsj.com/articles/homeowners-center-themselves-with-charming-courtyards-11661370440

Located in an affluent Atlanta neighborhood is a traditional brick house that contains a surprise in the center—a courtyard. It’s off of the dining room and sunroom, and has a fountain in the center and string lights above. “It’s like an outdoor entertaining room,” said Betsy Akers, the home’s listing agent with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Ms. Akers finds that most buyers aren’t specifically seeking out courtyards, but their presence “adds a lot of charm to the exterior of the home,” she says.

While the Atlanta property has a classic courtyard setup, there are many ways to design one. Defined as being an open-air space that’s enclosed on at least three sides, courtyards are associated with architecture in warm climates (such as Moroccan riads). But architect David Montalba, based in Santa Monica, finds that there’s interest for them anywhere. Courtyards provide ventilation and more natural light, but they also let homeowners control their views and environment, whether that’s with landscaping or water features, he said.

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This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.