Architectural Details: Elissa and Alvar Aalto’s Patchwork Wall of Bricks

"Aalto’s idiosyncratic courtyard walls are this building’s defining feature, and form a beautiful example of how a unique architectural language can be produced by deviating from conventional construction techniques. The walls are composed of a patchwork of different brick patterns, forming a collage of texture and color that evokes the patina of the surrounding forest."

more at architizer.

The Tempietto by Donato Bramante, 1502

"Βramante’s Tempietto  sits on the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo) in Rome, a small temple incorporated into the larger project of San Pietro in Montorio. Currently, the temple occupies a quadrilateral courtyard and is only visible to the public from a single, fixed, exterior point. However... the Tempietto was intended to be viewed from all sides, surrounded by an additional ring of columns, ultimately creating a series of concentric circular boundaries. The interiority of the Tempietto is placed in contrast to the seeming exteriority of the courtyard, only to be made interior again by the surrounding building." -Michael Vlasopoulos

left: section of the building, right: Harvard University team's reconstruction of the building's intended courtyard.

more here.

Optical Glass House by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

"A tree-filled courtyard is glimpsed through the shimmering glass-brick facade of this house in Hiroshima, designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Nakamura."

more plus video at dezeen.