High Density Residential Subdivision With Courtyard Common Layout

Abstract

A residential subdivision layout for high density developments is disclosed which includes placing residential buildings on lots in a configuration such that the front facade of the residential buildings faces a common area, preferably a green space, while he rear facade of the buildings includes a vehicle garage entrance and faces a vehicle passageway. A private courtyards are included between residential buildings on adjacent lots, preferably, on forward portions of the lots between residential buildings such that the courtyards are near, and within visual sight of the common area, but separated from it by a privacy barrier, such as a fence or shrubbery. Preferred configurations not only provide a usable and private outside areas in view of a common space, but create openings between the buildings that allow natural light to enter the interior of the buildings through windows adjacent to the courtyards.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An improved subdivision having a plurality of lots, at least one lot of said plurality of lots having a first property line defining a front of the lot, a second property line defining a rear of the lot, and third and fourth property lines defining the sides of the lot, and a first building disposed on the lot within the property lines, said second property line being proximate to a vehicle passageway and said first property line being proximate to a common area, said first building having a front portion nearest to the first property line and a rear portion nearest to the second property line, the rear portion of the first building comprising a vehicle garage and the front portion comprising a front door entrance, the improvement comprising:
 said at least one lot of said plurality of lots having a courtyard on one side of said first building and adjacent to the front portion of said first building;   wherein one side of said first building comprises a forward side along the front portion of the building, a rear side along the rear portion of the building, and an intermediate facade on the rear portion of the first building, the forward side being recessed relative to the rear side from the side property line, such that the rear portion of the first building has a width greater than a width of the front portion, and the intermediate facade is disposed between the forward and rear sides of the first building and generally disposed toward the first property line; and   wherein said courtyard is defined by one side of a second building disposed on an adjacent lot, the forward side of the front portion of the first building, the intermediate facade on the rear portion, and a privacy barrier, said privacy barrier being positioned between the intermediate facade of the first building and the front property line.   
     
     
         2 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second buildings comprises residential buildings having at least two, but not more than four floors. 
     
     
         3 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the common area comprises a green space. 
     
     
         4 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the common area has a width of at least about 8 feet. 
     
     
         5 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , comprising lots of no less than about 2200 square feet. 
     
     
         6 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , comprising lots of no less than about 1400 square feet. 
     
     
         7 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the courtyard comprises at least 150 square feet. 
     
     
         8 . The subdivision of  claim 1  wherein the courtyard comprises at least about 10 percent of the first lot. 
     
     
         9 . The subdivision of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate façade of the first building comprises at least one window facing the courtyard. 
     
     
         10 . The subdivision of  claim 1  wherein the forward side of the first building comprises at least one window facing the courtyard. 
     
     
         11 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the second building is immediately adjacent to the side property line of the first lot. 
     
     
         12 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , where in the second building is about three feet from the side property line of the first lot. 
     
     
         13 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the courtyard of the first lot extends over the side property line onto the second lot. 
     
     
         14 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle passageway comprises in alleyway. 
     
     
         15 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle passageway comprises a shared driveway. 
     
     
         16 . The subdivision of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle passageway comprises a street. 
     
     
         17 . The residential subdivision of  claim 1  wherein the first building further comprises a front porch immediately adjacent to the front door entrance, wherein the courtyard can be accessed from the front porch. 
     
     
         18 . The subdivision of  claim 1  wherein the first building further comprises a side door entrance and the courtyard is accessible through the side door entrance. 
     
     
         19 . The subdivision of  claim 18 , wherein the side door entrance comprises French doors to provide additional light to the building. 
     
     
         20 . An improved residential subdivision having a plurality of lots, at least one of said plurality of lots having no more than 2200 square feet in area, and having a first property line defining a front of the lot, a second property line defining a rear of the lot, and third and fourth property lines defining the sides of the lot, and a first building disposed on the lot within the property lines, said second property line being proximate to a vehicle passageway and said first property line being proximate to a common area, said first building having a front portion nearest to the first property line and a rear portion nearest to the second property line, the rear portion of the first building comprising a vehicle garage and the front portion comprising a front door entrance, said first building being a residential building having between two to four floors, the improvement comprising:
 said at least one lot of said plurality of lots having a courtyard on one side of said first building and adjacent to the front portion of said first building, the courtyard having a width of at least ten feet and an area of at least 150 square feet; 
 wherein one side of said first building comprises a forward side along the front portion of the building, a rear side along the rear portion of the building, and an intermediate facade on the rear portion of the first building, the forward side being recessed relative to the rear side from the side property line, such that the rear portion of the first building has a width greater than a width of the front portion, and the intermediate facade is disposed between the forward and rear sides of the first building and generally disposed toward the first property line; 
 wherein the forward side and the intermediate façade comprise at least one window each; 
 wherein said courtyard is defined by one side of a second building disposed on an adjacent lot, the forward side of the front portion of the first building, the intermediate facade on the rear portion, and a privacy fence, said privacy fence being positioned between the intermediate facade of the first building and the front property line; and 
 wherein said common area proximate to the first property line comprises a green space.