Pale stone apartments around a planted courtyard in afternoon light

A courtyard made for everyday life

The route home has to accommodate shopping bags, visitors and a place to sit. A courtyard study begins with those competing uses.

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A shaft of daylight crossing a textured pale interior wallInteriors

Drawing with daylight

The size of a window is only one part of the drawing. Its reveal, surroundings and position determine where the light will be useful.

Deep concrete balconies with green railings and small plantsHousing

The useful edge of a balcony

A balcony’s usable space begins beyond the door swing. Shelter, sightlines and the railing decide what can happen in the space that remains.

A quiet shopfront with a separate entrance to rooms aboveCities

The room above the shop

An unused upper floor needs an independent route and workable services before it can become a home or workspace. Start with the whole building.

A planted rooftop with grasses, a timber walkway and a benchLandscape

A garden on the roof

Planting, drainage, maintenance access and somewhere to sit all compete for a roof. The garden drawing needs to include what lies beneath it.

A broad timber doorway joining a pale interior and planted terracePractice

How to draw a threshold

The frame is only part of a doorway. Draw the approach, the landing and the route for rainwater before deciding how the junction should look.