A Room Without a Roof

At Newil & Bau, a courtyard is never just an add-on to a finished building. The garden concept designed for us by landscape architect Minna Toivanen is timeless, layered, and serene—a lush living room for the entire building, where the aesthetics extend seamlessly outdoors and, best of all, change with the seasons.

The courtyard is part of the architecture and just as significant as the façade, ceiling height, or choice of materials. Its design is woven into the building’s rhythm and views—it doesn’t merely frame the architecture; it becomes part of it. The courtyard forms an outdoor space whose shapes, tones, and atmosphere are in harmony with the interiors. It is a room without a roof, inviting you to linger and live outdoors as the seasons pass.

 

 

Alive and Ever-Changing with the Seasons

In Toivanen’s design, the vegetation was carefully selected to support the architectural rhythm and structure of the courtyard. The plantings alternate between subdued ornamental grasses (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’), low perennials such as astilbes and cranesbills, and shade-loving hostas. In early spring, the courtyard awakens with bulb flowers. By midsummer, it’s full and green; in autumn, it turns warm-toned and structured. In winter, dried grasses and the silhouettes of plantings remain beautifully visible in the snow.

“The goal wasn’t to create a momentary bloom, but a space that lives throughout the year and remains visually appealing even when nothing in particular is happening,” Toivanen explains.

 

 

Materials That Stand the Test of Time

The same uncompromising aesthetic found in the building continues in the courtyard’s structures. The chosen materials—weathering steel and naturally greying wood—age gracefully and require little maintenance. Natural stone, sand-textured paths, and brick-framed planting beds connect gently to the architecture while retaining their own character. They bring the experience of the earth close and soften the building’s clean lines in a way that feels both intentional and organic.

Every Newil&Bau courtyard features a signature outdoor kitchen, completed with edible flowers and herbs that encourage spending time outdoors with friends. Every element in the courtyard is designed to endure both use and observation—on its own and as part of the whole.

 

Kuva: Jami Kallioväli

 

August Evenings in the Garden

The courtyard lighting is designed especially for evenings, particularly late-summer moments when the garden is at its lushest, the air is soft, and the light gentle. Recessed lights highlight the shapes of plants and the textures of materials without making the space feel artificially lit. Instead, it feels alive, with new details constantly catching the eye. The warm light brings out the surfaces of the building and creates inviting zones.

Just as important as daylight is how the courtyard functions at dusk: as a cozy, well-paced, and intimate space where you want to linger even as the autumn evenings grow darker. A beautiful courtyard is a place where people feel good.