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A court or '''courtyard''' is an enclosed area, often a [[space]] enclosed by a building that is open to the [[sky]]. These areas in inns and [[public]] buildings were often the primary [[meeting]] places for some [[purposes]], leading to the other [[meanings]] of [[court]].

A court or '''courtyard''' is an enclosed area, often a [[space]] enclosed by a building that is open to the [[sky]]. These areas in inns and [[public]] buildings were often the primary [[meeting]] places for some [[purposes]], leading to the other [[meanings]] of [[court]].

Courtyards—[[private]] open spaces [[surrounded]] by walls or buildings—have been in use in residential [[architecture]] for almost as long as people have lived in constructed dwellings. The earliest known [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtyard_houses courtyard houses] were built in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Iran] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China China] and date as far back as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3000_BC 3000 BC]. Courtyards have historically been used for many [[purposes]] including cooking, [[sleeping]], [[working]], [[playing]], gardening, and even places to keep animals.

Courtyards—[[private]] open spaces [[surrounded]] by walls or buildings—have been in use in residential [[architecture]] for almost as long as people have lived in constructed dwellings. The earliest known [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtyard_houses courtyard houses] were built in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Iran] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China China] and date as far back as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3000_BC 3000 BC]. Courtyards have historically been used for many [[purposes]] including cooking, [[sleeping]], [[working]], [[playing]], gardening, and even places to keep animals.

Before courtyards, open [[fires]] were kept burning in a central place within a [[home]], with only a small hole in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling ceiling] overhead to allow smoke to [[escape]]. Over time, these small openings were enlarged and [[eventually]] led to the [[development]] of the centralized open courtyard we know today. Courtyard homes have been [[designed]] and built throughout the world with many variations in every century.

Before courtyards, open [[fires]] were kept burning in a central place within a [[home]], with only a small hole in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling ceiling] overhead to allow smoke to [[escape]]. Over time, these small openings were enlarged and [[eventually]] led to the [[development]] of the centralized open courtyard we know today. Courtyard homes have been [[designed]] and built throughout the world with many variations in every century.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtyard_houses Courtyard homes] are perhaps more prevalent in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate temperate climates], as an open central court can be an important aid to cooling house in [[warm]] [[weather]]. However, courtyard houses have been found in harsher [[climates]] as well for centuries. The [[comfort]]s offered by a courtyard—[[air]], [[light]], [[privacy]], [[security]], and tranquility—are properties nearly [[universally]] [[desired]] in human housing.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtyard]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtyard_houses Courtyard homes] are perhaps more prevalent in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate temperate climates], as an open central court can be an important aid to cooling house in [[warm]] [[weather]]. However, courtyard houses have been found in harsher [[climates]] as well for centuries. The [[comfort]]s offered by a courtyard—[[air]], [[light]], [[privacy]], [[security]], and tranquility—are properties nearly [[universally]] [[desired]] in human housing.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtyard]

[[Category: Architecture]]

[[Category: Architecture]]