ELEMENTS FOUND IN THE COURTYARD:

Water is an ever present feature within courtyards, whether for practical

purposes of gathering and protecting water in a dry climate, or for the

nurturing sound of water falling.

It could be a traditional fountain...

Source: www.water-fountains-plus.com

...a Solar fountain...

Source: www.prosperityfountain.com

...or even a fountain-looking sculpture without water:

Source: www.theguys.org

"A year in the life of a Czech Plush Monkey"

A Birdbath can symbolize the water element:

Such as this Mexican stone basin...

Source: www.mexicanstyle.com

...or this birdbath in a quiet church courtyard.

One needs to be able to sit, either in solitude or with friends:

Sitting can be on chairs...

...or, on an organic form:

The "Council Circle" at the Sanctuary Garden at the Crossings, Austin, Texas.

Walkways, to help guide visitors to different areas of the courtyard,

is an element that can be as decorative as they are practical.

Designs can be created by

imbedding stones into

concrete.

Asante design in the city of Kumasi,

Ghana, 1817

Patterns in cobbles at the Villa Gamberaia,

Florence, Italy.

From: "The Book of Garden Ornament"

edited by Peter Hunt

Patterns can be stamped into concrete.

Murals and decorative elements will enhance the character

and atmosphere of a courtyard:

Here, a community of people work on a

mural for a Gardens for Humanity project.

Sedona, Arizona

Detail of a mural, one of many projects created by

Gardens for Humanity.

Source: http://www.gardensforhumanity.org/

Recycled objects, broken tiles and plates, almost anything can create a mosaic surface.

This mosaic wall was created by Antonio Gaudi (1852 - 1926). Gaudi was a Spanish Catalan

architect famous for his unique style and highly individualistic designs.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Here the use of stone, brick, cut tiles and stone sculpture

make up this wall. Photo by Clara Cohan

Sculptural elements:

Anything goes? Creatively, yes. What needs to be considered since the

sculpture(s) will be exposed to weather and possibly climbed on...

the materials must be durable and safe. Other than that,

the sculpture added to the courtyard must "fit" the overall purpose

or theme.

The sculpture could be a functional

work of art, as is this fountain.

source: www.acsgarden.com

A sculpture could be used to divide

up the spacewithin the courtyard.

German artist, Jorg Siegele, createde this piece for the Sculpture garden at the

Katitche Point Guesthouse, Virgin Gorda, in the Caribbean.

A sculpture could be used as an entrance or to lead the eye to

something significant...

View through Bottle Gate into Sun Garden,

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, Maine.

Photo by Alan Ward

Or, one could go wild...

...as did Nek Chand with his Monkey theme.

Source: www.inpreparation.com/ nekchand/gallery.html