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The Six Courtyard Houses Project in Tucson

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An urban infill project by from Ibarra Rosano Design Architects in Tucson respects the private courtyard-based architectural traditions of the region.

At the heart of each of the Six Courtyard Houses is a private courtyard.

The project is sited in a desert town that is plagued by sprawl and lacking in public transportation.

The architects demonstrate the possibilities for higher density, urban infill desert development that is respectful of time and place.

It takes cues from Tucson’s architectural past; plastered masonry walls, central courtyard, and minimal western exposure.

Each of the six looks out onto its own private courtyard.

The courtyard is a traditional concept long employed in hot arid regions.

But the vernacular tradition is updated in this modern interpretation.

A gigantic metal door is hinged from a perimeter wall.

The same internal pivot point is repeated in the entry door.

Bath rooms look onto small private outdoors spaces, giving one the sensation of bathing outdoors

The project is marked by a cool and clean cut aesthetic.

Its tall windows and clerestory windows bring in light in abundance.

While central courtyards, low-rise masonry construction, and thoughtful solar orientation are part of the historical architecture of the region, this project is a new and updated version.