courtyard
An accessible open-air space surrounded on 3 or 4 sides by the same building.
A courtyard is an outdoor space, open to the sky, accessible to building tenants or the public, which is wrapped around by a building on at least 3 sides. It may either be open on one side, or totally surrounded by the building. A courtyard can contain a plaza or landscaped space.
Most courtyards are at ground level, but they can also be slightly sunken or elevated. If it is elevated at least one full floor level then it must be connected to ground level by a stairway or slope; otherwise it is classified as a terrace. A courtyard can be shared by multiple buildings if it is carved out of a common podium.
A courtyard cannot be enclosed in glass: such enclosures are generally classified as atriums or wintergardens. If a building wraps around an open space but the bottom of that space is not accessible to tenants, then it is considered a light court.
A courtyard can be covered as long as it is open to the air on its side.
