--- title: What is the Courtyard Aspect Ratio and How is it Adjusted? description: Courtyard Aspect Ratio controls --- [Skip to content](https://support.testfit.io/knowledge/what-is-a-courtyard-aspect-ratio-and-how-is-it-adjusted#main-content) [![](https://support.testfit.io/hs-fs/hubfs/primary%20wordmark.png?width=150&height=113&name=primary%20wordmark.png)](https://testfit.io/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - - [Contact us](https://support.testfit.io/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) [Contact us](https://support.testfit.io/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) Welcome to the TestFit Knowledge Base - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [TestFit Knowledge Base](https://support.testfit.io/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Site Development](https://support.testfit.io/knowledge/site-development?hsLang=en) 3. [Housing - High Density & Gurban](https://support.testfit.io/knowledge/site-development?hsLang=en#housing-high-density-gurban) March 13, 2026 # What is the Courtyard Aspect Ratio and How is it Adjusted? ![courtyard-creation-by-distance](https://support.testfit.io/hs-fs/hubfs/courtyard-creation-by-distance.gif?width=670&height=340&name=courtyard-creation-by-distance.gif) The Building layer contains a parameter called ***Courtyard ***that can be toggled between *Height Aspect Ratio* and *Distan*ce ![](https://support.testfit.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-11-52-6148-PM.png?width=350&height=471&name=image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-11-52-6148-PM.png) --- ### **Height Aspect Ratio** Example Below: The building is 100' tall. The *Height Aspect Ratio*  is set to 0.5, therefore we are allowing a minimum courtyard dimension of 50' (actual distance is 65'-4") ![](https://support.testfit.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-24-01-0852-PM.png?width=670&height=290&name=image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-24-01-0852-PM.png) But if the value is increase to 1.0, we would require 100' of courtyard: ![](https://support.testfit.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-25-24-3372-PM.png?width=670&height=328&name=image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-25-24-3372-PM.png) Increasing the value to 3.00 would open the building up completely ![](https://support.testfit.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-26-20-0155-PM.png?width=670&height=357&name=image-png-Mar-11-2026-02-26-20-0155-PM.png) **The lower the value, the more enclosed a building will be.** **The higher the value, the more open the building solves.** --- ### Distance The ***Distance*** option is explained in the video below:   When ***Distance*** is selected, courtyard size is controlled by explicit minimum dimensions rather than by a ratio tied to building height. This decouples the courtyard from the height of the building, giving you direct control over how large or small the courtyard opening will be. The ***Distance*** option exposes the following parameters: **Minimum distance X** — Sets the minimum courtyard opening along the X axis (the shorter dimension of the building footprint). Increasing this value widens the courtyard; decreasing it allows the building to close in tighter. **Minimum distance Y** — Sets the minimum courtyard opening along the Y axis (the longer dimension of the building footprint). Increasing this value stretches the courtyard lengthwise. **Offset X** — Shifts the courtyard position along the X axis. Use this to push the courtyard left or right within the building footprint. **Offset Y** — Shifts the courtyard position along the Y axis. Use this to push the courtyard up or down within the building footprint. **Orientation Axis** — Click ***change*** to flip which axis is treated as X and which is treated as Y. **Reset** — Returns all Distance values back to their defaults. To adjust the courtyard using ***Distance***: 1. Select the ***Building*** layer in the *Nav-Tree*. 2. Scroll down to the **Courtyards** section in the *Parameters* panel. 3. Select the ***Distance*** radio button. 4. Adjust ***Minimum distance X*** and ***Minimum distance Y*** to set the desired courtyard dimensions. The building will regenerate in *Canvas* as values change. 5. If needed, use ***Offset X*** and ***Offset Y*** to reposition the courtyard within the building footprint. --- Decoupling courtyard size from building height enables significantly more building configurations while maintaining project requirements. 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