Organic Living

Courtyard Living

Social

The courtyard typologies its main aim is to gather the people of the same cluster in one place belongs to the nature. To interact and be one community in their backyard. Most of the courtyard houses are connected to small shops in these courtyards, so it gives the sense of mixed use of the land, and bring the facilities closer to the residents of the place.

Ecological

The urban gardening and living close by the urban farming in the Southridge Valley give the neighbourhood the sense of the green and increase the quality of these courtyards. The lifestyle in these courtyard is provided by eco-friendly measures such as recycling system, renewable energy sources like solar panels and electric car charging point.

Complete

The courtyard is an added value for Okotoks as recently, the town miss the social housing that focuses on the social value. By increase the density in the area it leads to decrease the current urban sprawl in Okotoks.

Semi public space Social Cohesion Medium

Density

Courtyard Living

The courtyards housing are 900 medium density houses where it is targeting the social seeker residents, who appreciate the social value. These typologies are designed to encourage the social interaction in the Southridge Valley with keeping the green nature and add to the entire town of Okotoks. As it is done in West Sussex by Mohsin Cooper, the masterplan creates a comfortable and organic layout, with all existing mature trees retained to the entrance and perimeter areas in order to complement the rural character and feel of the development.

The public spaces of these courtyards it is divided into a private, semi-public and public spaces. the house itself is a private property, and each group of houses has a common semi public space in between their houses. This semi public spaces are the spot where the residents of these courtyard are able to do different activities

Connecting the sidewalk to the building

Exterior spaces bridge the gap between the building and the surrounding sidewalks. Depending on how this critical transition is treated, the flow from public zone to semi-public zone may seem smooth and seamless or abrupt and intimidating. (Semi Public Zone, 2008)

Providing focal points

One way of welcoming the public into a building’s exterior spaces is to provide functional focal points such as kiosks, sculpture, or benches, where people can meet before entering or after leaving the building.

Activities to do

• Build a shared community garden. This is to promote community interaction in the as well as share in a bounty of fresh veggies. • Host a courtyard movie night. • Shared waste disposal systems by having multiple bins. Larger quantities of compost heat up faster • Map out the play areas such as buy a playground-sized climbing structure that could be shared for the other neighbourhoods. • Coordinate a neighbourhood yard sale

Privacy

These shared courtyards aren’t totally open and connected. But they also keep privacy for the households by having different kind of fences separating the houses.

Figure 29: Fences Examples

Street Design

Primary neighbourhood road

This primary road is the main road for accessibility of the medium density areas. Bicycles and cars have to share the road. Although there is plenty of room for cars next to each other, speeds are low. Parking spots are specific and are defined by the road design, creating safety and visibility for bikers.

Figure 31: Primary neighbourhood medium density areas. road

Secondary neighbourhood road

These roads are for access of the public spaces on the outside of the neighbourhood. As this same space is also used by children playing or social activities, the streets are quit, spacious and low of cars. These cars have specific parking spots in addition to the ones on private property to keep the street clean and to provide overview and public safety.

Figure 32: Secondary neighbourhood medium density areas. road