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.

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.

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.
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.

"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 fo...