Atrium: A Hole in the Center of the House

An open courtyard in the center of a residence. It is surrounded by architecture, with only the top open to the sky, so sunlight moves along the white walls throughout the day, illuminating different surfaces at different times. The ground is terracotta square tiles or gravel, with an old olive tree or a fig tree in the center, its canopy extending towards the opening. Along one wall, there is a slender pool or a stone-built trough, with still water reflecting the sky. Surrounding it are arched openings leading to various rooms, allowing glimpses into the darker interior spaces. The walls are white lime plaster, dazzlingly bright in strong light, and a cool blue-grey in the shadows. A few terracotta pots are placed along the walls. Avoid: enclosing the courtyard with a glass roof, using modern outdoor furniture, making the walls a flat, modern surface, eliminating strong contrasts of light and shadow.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一個住宅中央的開放中庭。四周被建築圍住,只有上方開向天空,因此陽光在一天中沿著白牆移動,在不同時刻照亮不同的面。地面是赤陶方磚或碎石,中央有一株老橄欖樹或一棵無花果,樹冠伸向開口。一側牆邊有一道細長的水池或一個石砌的水槽,水面靜止並映出天空。周邊是拱形的開口通往各個房間,可以看見室內較暗的空間。牆面是白色的石灰塗料,在強光下亮到刺眼,陰影處則呈現冷藍的灰。幾只赤陶盆沿牆放著。避免:加裝玻璃屋頂把中庭封閉、使用現代的戶外家具、把牆面做成平整的現代表面、消除強烈的明暗對比。