![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_hero-a-852x479.jpg)
De Rosee Sa uses cobbled courtyards to bring light into west London house
A trio of courtyards covered in cobbles and surrounded by glass break up this London home, which has cedar-lined walls that reference the old timber store it replaces.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_5-852x568.jpg)
London-based architecture studio De Rosee Sa designed the house for a client who lived across the road from the old timber storage yard. He bought the site located between terraces and a row of 16 garages to prevent it being overdeveloped.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x568.jpg)
The architects were challenged to design a residence in line with strict planning restrictions stipulating that the structure matches the height of the former single-storey shed.
It was also not possible to create openings in the two 37-metre-long boundaries as they are party walls with the neighbouring structures.
Instead, three internal courtyards and a series of skylights are used to bring plenty of natural light into the long-and-thin residence aptly named Courtyard House.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_3-852x1278.jpg)
These courtyards also separate the plan into three chunks: a combined kitchen and dining area, a lounge and a two-storey bedroom block created by digging down to form a basement.
Crittall-style glazing and doors – a manufacturer of industrial windows made popular the 1920s but enjoying a resurgence – enclose the courtyards, allowing for views into and through the outdoor space.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x1278.jpg)
"The most satisfying aspects of the project is the top light that pours into the interiors and the long views through the courtyards," said studio co-founder Max de Rosee.
"Once inside, you forget that this house is in London."
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_9-852x568.jpg)
The doors can also be opened up in warm weather to allow fresh air into the house from the granite-paved yards.
The lounge opens directly to the front garden on one side and to a yard on the other, while extra natural light is provided by two roof lights.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_8-852x568.jpg)
The yard links the lounge with the combined kitchen and dining room beyond, which in turn overlooks a sunken courtyard set between it and the two-storey bedroom block.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_10-852x1278.jpg)
Red-cedar battens line the walls of the courtyards as both a reference the site's old use as a timber storage yard and a contrast to the minimal interiors, which have clean white walls and herringbone-patterned parquet flooring.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_20-852x1278.jpg)
The red-tinged cedar cladding continues into the interior to surround two small boxes containing a study niche, utility room and a toilet.
"We wanted to contrast the crisp white walls and ceiling with some strong materials so we spent a considerable amount of time considering the detail of the western red cedar battens and granite setts in the courtyard surfaces," said de Rosee.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_19-852x1278.jpg)
Glazed doors bring light into the two bedrooms, which are set one on top of each other alongside their ensuite bathrooms.
A third yard, which is much smaller than the other two, also cuts between the bedrooms and bathrooms to provide further lighting.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_13-852x1278.jpg)
De Rosee Sa was founded in 2007 by Max de Rosee and Claire Sa and is based in London's North Kensington.
![Courtyard House by De Rosee Sa](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/Courtyard-House-De-Rosee-Sa-Design-Architecture-Residential-London_dezeen_2364_col_18-852x1278.jpg)
Other projects by the studio include a small black hut in Belgium that shares many characteristics with the witch's houses found in fairytales and a school dining hall that recreates Fantastic Mr Fox's underground village.
Photography is by Alex James.