Housing Typology (2 of 7):

Clusters, Groupings and

Courtyards

1
 Introduction
This piece explores a sample of housing formed around courtyards, into
clusters, or otherwise composed as groups. This second of seven in our
typologies series looks at the role of contemporary grouped forms of housing
in urban and rural settings. Illustrated by mapping, photography and scale
drawings, our aim is to show the linkage between design of the house and
the place of which it forms a part.

The farm steading and urban court continue to provide models for composing
and grouping contemporary housing. These are tried and tested adaptations
to Scottish social, climatic and topographic conditions, whether in urban,
coastal or rural contexts. Combining shelter and enclosure with common
outdoor space; housing in clusters can contribute to meeting local policy
objectives for townscape and sustainable design.

^ Courtyard in Shoregate, Crail, East Neuk, Here we illustrate built examples where architects and urban designers have
Fife sought to reconcile contemporary living with the wider roles and functions of
(image: SwaloPhoto, CC BY-NC 2.0) the individual house that are integral to placemaking.

Roles of clusters, groupings and courtyards

The re-emerging success of clustered housing can be attributed to the useful
roles that this typology plays:

1. Economic Value
• an efficient and economic use of land through common
driveways
• eliminating the need for large front gardens
2. Townscape Value
• visually containing car parking off-street
• providing street enclosure
• synergy with indigenous architecture and townscape models
3. Cultural Value
• creating secure and sheltered living environment
• creating small neighbourly groups
• providing domestic scaled outdoor space
• providing supervised space for children to play
4. Environmental Value
• providing climatic shelter

Viewing this data

Drawing and mapping were prepared by Architecture and Design Scotland in
2013, based on material supplied by the architects involved.

2
 Muirhouses Square,
Bo’ness
An enlarged courtyard grouping of
housing overlooking and activating a
popular local garden that is well used by
immediate and surrounding residents.
The square is organized as a home
zone where pedestrian use is prioritised
through a shared surface; where visitor
parking is integrated and where the
space is animated by street trees, a
distinctive tiled wall and public seating.

Frontages, garden walls, hedges and tree

planting are essential contributors to the
success of this public realm.

Credits
Design: Malcolm Fraser Architects
Images: A&DS

^ Home Zone streets

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^ Location plan ^ Site plan
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Detail plan and section

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^ The central green Crown copyri
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3
 Murdoch Nesbitt Court,
Newmilns
We note the way this small group of
houses is composed in two informal but
tightly organized clusters that infill the
urban frontages of King Street and Main
Street, whilst forming identifiable clusters
similar to the character of local streets in
Newmilns.

The degree of enclosure provided by

2-storey buildings creates an intimate

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and sheltered residential environment.

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Ba
70

Credits 68
66
Design: Page\Park Architects 69 64

Images: Page\Park Architects

El Sub Sta Sinks

52
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^ View of entrances

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to
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2

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to 69 116
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EAST STRAND

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Hall Old Parish

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^ Location plan Library
^ Site plan
CRAIG

Car Park
VIEW

˅ Detail plan and section Outfall

ROAD

HOUSING VALUE STUDY_CATEGORY B

Typology
CLOSES AND WYNDS

Status Title
DRAFT B 7 _ NEWMILNS
Date 17_01_13 Scale/ Format 1:1250@A4
7

0 10m 50m

© Crown copyright and database rights 2013

Ordnance Survey 100053303

^ Responding to a local landmark

4
 Tollhouse Gardens, Perth
Entrances to the houses in this example
are from a common parking court then,
via a footpath, to a collective front
garden space, creating an intimate
neighbourly environment. The courtyard
is contained on four sides.

Credits
Design: Gaia Group
Image: Gaia Group

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COUR
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UR T
7

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Fairfield RT
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^ View within the courtyard garden

1

Fairfield
Neighbourhood
Centre Posts

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4 to 6 1

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b Sta
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15
25

21
23
13

^ Location plan ^ Site plan

17 15
13

7
7

˅ Detail plan and section

ACE

TIBBERMORE GARDENS 42
40
Y TERR
1

UNIT

HOUSING VALUE STUDY_CATEG

Typology
CLUSTERS AND COURTS
30
2

Status Title
DRAFT B 8.3 _ TOLLHOU
2
Date 17_01_13 Scale/ Format 1:1250@A
27

1
0 10m
6

El Sub Sta
8
© Crown copyright and UN
database rights 2
Ordnance Survey 100053303 IT
Y
CR
1

5
 Carriden Place, Bo’ness
Groupings of three or four houses are
arranged around shared parking courts.
This format serves the dual purpose of
containing the visibility of car parking
whilst keeping street proportions narrow
and enclosed, which contributes to
changing driver perceptions and is
consistent with indigenous streetscapes.

Inside the courtyards, corner kitchen

windows overlook the space so that
the layout provides a safe and pleasant
domestic environment, allowing young
children to play within in close sight.
These popular shared courtyard spaces
have become personalized by residents.

The architectural language links to the

character of coastal towns with high
enclosing garden walls integrated with
^ View of a courtyard group
gables and house frontages.
26 26 Pa
Credits th

Design: Vernon Monaghan Architects

44
19

27
14 Images: A&DS 18

15
11 2

10

28

41

30
6
1

CA
29

RR

15
8

9
ID

16
11
EN 4

14
2
VI
EW

10
CA RRID EN PLACE
7

43
1
16

18

5
29

41
7

35
ES S

2
2

37

4
3
33
17

31
27
36
17
4
15 11

25

50
24 29
2

19 23
VE NUE
1 to 11 15
SE S A 52
HOU
14 2 to 12

MUIR
21 16

14
4
29 10

21
8
12
17 2
15 6
11
2

9
4

17
4

15

19
1 5
3
1

11
6

MU
^ Location plan ^ Site plan IR HO
US
3
7

ES
8

9
CRE
SCE
˅ Detail plan and section 14
NT

26

S inks

^ View of street frontage

6
Other documents in this series:

Housing Typology (1 of 7): Housing Typology (3 of 7): Housing Typology (4 of 7):

The Terrace Closes, Wynds and Mews Edge

1 1 1

Housing Typology (5 of 7): Housing Typology (6 of 7): Housing Typology (7 of 7):

Towers, Corners and Markers Topographic and Climatic Adaptables
Responses

1 1 1

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