A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky.
Courtyard in the Lidzbark Castle, Poland
Courtyard in the Quetzalpapálotl ruin complex at Teotihuacan, 5th century AD.
The Court of the Lions, Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Oak Ridge Apartments in Evanston, Illinois from 1914
A building or edifice is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls, usually standing permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, and have been adapted throughout history for numerous factors, from building materials available, to weather conditions, land prices, ground conditions, specific uses, prestige, and aesthetic reasons. To better understand the concept, see Nonbuilding structure for contrast.
Skyscrapers under construction in Kalasatama, Helsinki, Finland (2021)
A timber-framed house in Marburg, Germany
Image: Ishtar gate in Pergamon museum in Berlin
Image: Philae temple at night