On courtyards
· 1 min read
This began as a quick note and bit by bit turned into something longer. The specifics matter less than the practice of paying attention. This is less a guide and more a record of what worked for me.
Why it matters
Some of this will be plain; some of it took me years. We start every project by spending time on the site at different hours. Daylight is the cheapest and most generous material we have.
What changed
A material samples helps, but it is not the point. I changed my mind about modest houses twice while writing this. Here is what changed, and what stayed exactly the same. We draw by hand early on; it keeps decisions loose.
The trick, if there is one, is to leave enough room for errors.
A friend once described retrofit as still work, and the phrase stuck. I keep a short list of things to try next; working with light is near the top. If something here is unclear, that is on me, not you.
renovationsstaircasesretrofit