On corner lots with lane access, density is optimized by designing townhomes in a U-shape while maintaining private front entries for all 5 units, with a communal outdoor courtyard space accessible by 3 of the units through a back door.
The proposal draws inspiration from late 1800’s European architecture, where apartment blocks implement courtyards serving as both a negative space to maximize building footprint, and an outdoor gathering area for the site’s residents. The courtyard becomes the heart of the site, promoting opportunities for socializing, community building, or gardening. Ground-oriented entrances do away with barriers between units allowing residents to use the porch as a space to co-mingle or connect with the urban context at street level.
