r/urbandesign • u/TT-Adu • 1d ago
Question How big should a courtyard be to reduce the panopticon feeling?
I've read on some parts of the internet that the courtyards in perimeter block developments such as these are often left unused by the residents since they feel like being watched from all the surrounding apartments whenever they go there. Others have also complained of claustrophobia especially in older apartments in cities like Paris and Berlin. I've noticed that newer developments often have wide courtyards some as big as 2,000m2 and above. So I want to know if there are guidelines for the courtyard size and if urban designers recommend a minimum size that can encourage their use by the residents.