This book features gardens especially created for inner-city homes. Gardens have changed significantly over the last couple of decades, and clever architects and designers know that incorporating an outdoor living space can improve a dwelling's aesthetic, not to mention its value. In the 1980s, manicured lawns framed with box hedges and annuals were a common site. It seemed that both space and water supply were unlimited. 'Courtyards for Modern Living' presents beautiful gardens which have been designed for locations around the world that represent the changed reality of drier climates, and heralded in a preference for native species, drought-tolerant plants, and even a new popularity of the humble succulent. Contemporary houses also reflect a move towards enjoying larger houses built on smaller sites, so that available space is turned into a multifunctional courtyard that is usually accessed from the kitchen and living areas. Author Stephen Crafti ('Beach Houses Down Under, H2O' and 'Ultimate Urban Makeover' presents an inspired study of what makes outdoor rooms so appealing. Including many tips to guide the architect or the DIY enthusiast, 'Courtyards for Modern Living' features courtyards, balconies and gardens that are extensions of the very house itself. SELLING POINTS: - Offers hundreds of outstanding colour photographs and plans collected by the author. Includes an informative blurb for each project - Includes invaluable 'insider's tips' from the landscape architects and designers of each project - Features an array of spectacular designs that blend the indoors with the outdoors, creating a seamless transition between the interior and exterior - Provides revealing insights into the use of materials and architectural details, such as floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors, which make spaces seem continuous rather than separating indoor and outdoor spaces - Offers tips for sustainable garden design including minimising water consumption, drought-resistant plants, rainwater tanks and use of recycled or sustainable materials - Presents an enormous variety of gardens, from densely planted to minimalist, with a common theme of suitability for 21st-century living 275 col., 27 b/w.