5 Cool Modern Courtyards

What's better than a backyard? In these modern homes, a courtyard offers its residents the same benefits—outdoor space for hanging out and entertaining—plus the coziness that comes from enveloping walls and a view back into the living spaces. Here are some of our favorites. Slideshow

A wide cut across the top of this house in Toronto made room for a second-floor courtyard where the residents and their kids can catch some sun but maintain their privacy. On the ground level, the front door is tucked into an ivy-covered alcove lined with ipe, a material used throughout the house. Photo by Juliana Sohn.