Architectural Relationships to the public Right-ofWay

A major design issue in both architecture and urban design is the relationship
of the building to the street. This relationship determines not only the
character of the building but also the character of the urban fabric.
The medieval town with its irregular streets and buildings jutting out into or
even spanning the streets serves as an example of the nearly complete
integration of building and right-of-way.
Many cultures clearly define the street by using a wall backed by a courtyard.