I just cannot imagine living in a space that is so hard and sharp as this.

kind of a cool take on the tenement airshaft.

Looks like living inside a smokestack... way too claustrophobic for not enough payoff. I think it'd be better off with two story windows instead of a ... weird, cooker vent-thing.

What an ingenious way to bring the sun in! I wonder if it is hard to deal with in heavy rains?

I love it. Can you post more examples of bringing the outdoor in, besides floral arrangements and balcony designs

Or snow!
Does it get filled with snow?!

The first thing I thought of was the scene in Interview with a Vampire when he puts Claudia in the sun.

It's creative, I'll say that. Although for an interior courtyard I'd want places to sit, and plants, and more than just teak decking in a large shower stall. Also, I cannot even imagine how weird it would be in the winter, when the snow is melting and refreezing and getting crusty and gross. Because even without being at ground level, it would.

I would put in some of those wall pocket things from yesterday all up one side and that crazy moss carpet thing from the design show. And then it would be a perfect uber hip mod thing.

It's wonderful.

Fortunately those who can't imagine living with something like this won't have to.

Wow. I want.

I think this is VERY cool. Maybe it gets closed off on top in winter so it doesn't get too much snow in it? I don't know, all I know is that it's cool.

I'm not sure I like this...reminds me of the twilight zone episode where people are trapped in a box.

It looks like a solar oven to me.

I think it's kind of cool as a quirky home feature, but not really as an outdoor feature. The picture of the little girl with the hose makes me kind of sad. Like...is that her idea of going outside to play? Which makes me wonder...what exactly is the point of having a hose there? There aren't any plants to water or anything...

This was built in cold grey Boston? Did they plan this via long distance? I'm sure the family will enjoy their courtyard the dozen or so days out of the year they can use it. It would be more useful if asinner's surmise were correct and it actually were a solar heater.

Very inspirational apartment right in the middle of chilly and dull Boston. This courtyard must be attraction for the whole family.

Stunning design idea!

It's a lovely reno overall and a great way to let in light. However, I can't imagine the smells of cooking oil and exhaust in the summertime would be pleasant.

This reminds me of air shaft sitting spaces in homes in San Francisco! I love them. Granted, it's a little more temperate there...

Cool and innovative! I think it's great for Chinatown since there's little greenery in that neighborhood.

To those who posted that Boston is cold and gray, chilly and dull have clearly never been to Boston. Today was a gorgeous, sunny, warm summer afternoon and there were hundreds of people enjoying the beautiful Boston Common. Many travel from around the world to visit the history, architecture and culture in Boston, so not sure where you're getting your facts. Just had to respond to the haters... cheers!

reminds me of James Turrell's skyspace, Tending, (Blue) sculpture at Nasher Sculpture Museum in Dallas, Tx. It's quite breathtaking.

I remember reading about at least one converted warehouse loft that had an atrium feature like this in my city. It was cool at the time, but now I really don't know what I'd do with it. I'm afraid it'd just fill up with snow and transient critters.

I like it in theory. But agree that they certainly haven't employed it very well. Cube of Nature? Really? And not one plant? (Vase of cheesy flowers NOT withstanding...) Um, okay. "Cube of Weather" is more like it. Hey, I am all about spare and modern design. But this space isn't spare or modern, but vacant.

It's weird ... the vase of flowers seems to move with every single shot. They must really, really like those flowers.

Anyways, I think this space is owned by the Cellist from the Magnetic Fields, whom I love!

I think of a light rock wall with some built in planters instead of dark wood. A fountain trickles down the wall to a narrow trough where lucky bright orange koi swim. In the evening lights from the trough stream up the wall to the sky.