In 2007, the city of Portland , Oregon held an international design competition as part of an initiative to encourage families with children to remain in the city’s neighborhoods.  The focus of the competition was courtyard -oriented planning strategies for infill urban and suburban lots.
The primary question asked how courtyard housing could encourage community, increase privacy, improved sustainability, and provide affordability within the existing city fabric.
This design received the Merit Award and the People’s Choice award for the Eastern Portland competition category.

http://collabdesignwork.com/index.php/project/portland_courtyard_housing_competition