Courtyard and Water: The Coolest Part of the House

A courtyard of a Spanish Revival house. White stucco walls and arcades on all four sides, with a low square or octagonal stone pool in the center. The water surface is almost flush with the ground, shallow and calm, with only a small, subtle spring. The ground is simple geometric patterns of terracotta bricks or pebbles. Two or three citrus trees or an olive tree are planted in a corner, casting shadows on the white walls. Due to the water and shade, the temperature here is noticeably lower than outside.
Avoid: Using tall, jetting decorative fountains, filling the courtyard with plants to make it a garden, adding a glass roof to enclose the courtyard, using colored pool tiles and lighting.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一個西班牙復興住宅的內庭。四面是白灰泥的牆與拱廊,中央是一座方形或八角形的低矮石砌水池,水面幾乎與地面齊平,水很淺、平靜、只有一道細小的湧泉。地面是赤陶磚或卵石鋪成的簡單幾何。角落種著兩三株柑橘或一株橄欖,樹影落在白牆上。因為有水與遮蔭,這裡的溫度明顯低於外面。避免:使用高聳噴射的裝飾噴泉、把庭院鋪滿植栽變成花園、加上玻璃屋頂封閉庭院、使用彩色的水池磁磚與燈光。