Courtyard Housing in Los Angeles: A Typological Analysis

As cities throughout the U.S. struggle with housing shortages valuable lessons can be learned from the principles thatunderlie the design of the courtyard house. Whether humble or sumptuous in scale courtyards create a sense of privacyand enhance quality of life by creating the impression of green space for their residents. Now available in its fifth printing Courtyard Housing in Los Angeles documents the historical technical and cultural forces that shaped the development of this distinctive West Coast building type. The authorss in-depth research andanalysis is enhanced by the inclusion of numerous plans and technical drawings. Julius Shulmans sensuous black-and-whitephotographs document the range of courtyard stylesfrom simple bungalow-style dwellings to more ornate buildings combining Italian Spanish and North African influences.