Ronald G. KNAPP

Courtyard in a Garden in Shanghai, 1979. Virtually all courtyards share similar elements: enclosure behind high gray walls that offer substantial seclusion; a single off-center entry gate that controls access; and an orientation to the cardinal directions, with main structures facing south or southeast to ensure maximum sunlight and passive solar heating during winter. PHOTO BY JOAN LEBOLD COHEN.
With at least one courtyard enclosed by four single-story buildings that