How can a courtyard give people a shady place outside?

A courtyard is an open space with buildings around it. A wall can block sunshine and make a patch of shade. People can sit in that patch even though the sky above the courtyard is open.

In the desert city of Yazd in Iran, courtyards are part of many traditional homes. Walls and covered edges shelter parts of these spaces. As the Sun appears to move across the sky, the shadows move too. A spot that is sunny in the morning may be shaded later.

Shade keeps some sunlight from reaching the ground and our bodies. It does not turn off all the warmth in the air. Trees, water, wind and the building materials can also affect how a courtyard feels. Builders choose different shapes for different places. An empty space between walls can be a carefully planned part of a home.