Back To Articles
Download PDF
COURTYARD POPULARITY GROWS
From the ground up, Builder's Spotlight is your guide to the ever-changing real estate landscape of Florida's First Coast. Each week, Builder's Spotlight will feature a local builder, developer, real estate professional or architect who will answer the hottest questions concerning Jacksonville's developing real estate market.
This week's discussion: The popularity of courtyard homes has been on the rise in recent years. What makes this type of home appealing to home buyers and how are they being incorporated into today's lifestyle?
In the spotlight: Jim Ash, president of The Pineapple Corp., builder of luxury custom and semi-custom communities including Villini at Glen Kernan and Palermo.
Question: The Pineapple Corp. incorporated courtyards into the design of nearly all of its homes. What defines a courtyard, and what is its main purpose in a home?
Answer: A courtyard is an exterior open space contiguous to a room or a grouping of several rooms that partially or completely enclose the courtyard space. The possibilities for size, shape, entrances, walls and feature options in courtyards are virtually infinite in nature. While the main purpose of a courtyard is to offer a private outdoor extension of interior living spaces, the most important element that courtyards integrate into a home is the ambient presence of natural light. Courtyards abundantly add light to the inner core of the home that surrounds the courtyard space. From an architectural and practical point of view, light. Courtyards abundantly add light to the inner core of the home that surrounds the courtyard space. From an architectural and practical point of view, light enhances the visual volume of a home, as well.
Q: You have traveled the world in order to bring the best cultural and architectural influences into The Pineapple Corp.'s homes. Where did you get the inspiration to incorporate courtyards into your homes?
A: Courtyards have been an architectural feature of homes for thousands of years. They have been prevalent in the warmer climates of Europe, particularly Italy, Southern France and the Greek islands. The more favorable climatic conditions allow the utilization of courtyards as additional living and entertaining areas.
Interestingly, in the United States, courtyard homes have been built during the last century in geographic and climatic conditions similar to Europe. Today, you'll find these homes throughout the SOuthwest and in certain parts of the Southeast, including Florida.
Q: Where are some of the most unique courtyards located and what are some of their design features?
A: Without a doubt, the best representation of creative and authentic architecture relating to courtyard homes can be found in Southern California. Architects and builders have paid particular attention to design elements that comprise courtyards and the link to their cultural and historical heritage. The California homes are an accurate translation and integration of ancient European design forms with modern building materials and technologies. For example, today's courtyard designs may include softer features centered around European gardens, fountains and a varies use of materials including stucco, brick and adobe block in a variety of colors and textures. A more formal extension of outdoor living spaces might include either brick pavers or stone areas accented with specimen trees, flowering perennial and annual flowers as well as climbing vines.
From a recreational standpoint, small pools and spas provide a wonderful opportunity for utilizing the courtyard in a private and refreshing setting. Often, the central area of the courtyard might feature an outdoor fireplace as well as formal gardens with sculptures or statues that enhance the airy outdoor space. In reality, the possibilities are endless.
Q: What has been the response to courtyard homes in the Jacksonville real estate market?
A: Fundamentally, our market and consumer research has indicated a significant demand for courtyard homes. If the sales pace at our Villini at Glen Kernan and Palermo communities is any indication, the response of courtyard homes in Jacksonville has been very strong.
In an effort to continue to bring fresh architectural designs to the Jacksonville market, we've also been working on integrating the best features of our courtyard plans with a new architectural them - "Pineapple Coastal". It's a blend of coastal, Bermuda style and West Indies architectural themes. Look for it from our company in the near future.
