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COURTYARD STUDY — 06

Moroccan riad courtyard.

An open sky. Water at the heart.

DioramaIllustratedClayLinework

Preparing your riad courtyard…

PerspectiveIsometricPlanElevation

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Drag to orbit · Scroll to zoomDrag to orbit · Pinch to zoom8.0 m × 10.0 m · Riad study

MAKE IT YOURS

Shape the courtyard

Sides shown

2 sides3 sides4 sides

A cutaway aid: the design remains a four-sided enclosure. Three sides leaves the front open.

01

Courtyard archetype

Pool & gardenA reflecting pool framed by four palm bedsFour-part gardenCrossing paths meet a central fountainPaved darAn open tiled court with a small water basinAxial pool courtAn axis of water between facing porticoes

Compare spatial arrangements, then adjust their proportions. The default combines a reflecting pool with a quartered garden.

02

Proportion & enclosure

Open courtyard widthmm

Open courtyard lengthmm

Floor-to-floor heightmm

Upper storeyMore enclosure and an elevated gallery

A taller, narrower court frames less sky. A wider court gives the centre more openness; the gallery provides a sheltered edge.

80.0 m² court within the colonnades

03

Covered edges

Continuous galleriesSheltered movement around all four sidesFacing porticoesCovered ends emphasise the long axis

Gallery depthmm

Arches across courtyard

Gallery depth changes how much space is available for sitting and moving under cover. More arches divide the same frontage into narrower bays.

04

Water & movement

Reflecting poolA shallow sheet of water along the courtCentral fountainA compact focus at the meeting of pathsNo waterLeave the centre open for use

Pool widthmm

Pool lengthmm

A longer pool makes an axis; a wider pool takes more space from paths and planting. Dimensions keep a walking margin at each end and space for garden beds.

This is a shallow ornamental pool. Historic water basins and present-day swimming pools serve different purposes.

05

Garden & ground levels

Four garden quartersPaths divide planting into four bedsPaved courtA continuous floor around the water

Planting

CitrusPalmsUnplanted

Citrus makes a lower leafy canopy; palms leave a clearer view beneath their crowns.

Bed level relative to paths

Sunken soil · −200 mmWalkways stand above the planted groundRaised soil · +150 mmUpstanding tiled borders contain the planting

Sunken soil sits below the paths; raised beds create an edge to sit beside. Heights are illustrative.

Gallery above courtyard

Level1 step2 steps

The gallery is 150 mm higher. One 150 mm riser marks the transition into the sheltered edge.

Court path: ±0 mm
Planting soil: −200 mm
Gallery floor: +150 mm

06

Material hierarchy

Plaster

IvoryRoseOchre

Zellige palette

EmeraldCobaltTerracotta

Tile defines the water, bed borders and lower walls; plaster forms the upper surfaces; cedar marks doors, beams and balustrades.

The geometry simplifies the craftsmanship.

07

Read the architecture

The garden is the organising room. Four beds leave paths between planting and the surrounding rooms. A central fountain gives the crossing a focus; a long pool instead strengthens one axis.

Water makes an axis. The shallow pool is a contemporary study using the wider Moroccan–Andalusi language of courtyard water. Its length directs views and makes you walk around the centre.

Enclosure comes before ornament. Rooms face the private interior. Court width, building height and gallery depth determine the balance of open sky and sheltered edges. The lighting here illustrates form; it is not a climate simulation.

Pattern 06 · Riad courtyard

Concept study. Dimensions are indicative, not construction drawings.

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