Also, plans would be for a smaller 2000-2500ish sq ft main level, with a basement.

eplans has some. You can search for courtyard plans there. One is plan number HWEPL00893. I would post a picture, but for some reason it won't let me.

I do not see how such a plan is possible unless it's a splash pool (tiny). For a decent size pool in a courtyard, the house will be more like 3500+ sq ft. UNLESS one side of the U is just a privacy wall.
Casey

I generally would think an L makes more sense. U plan makes sense with privacy issues from the side but on 15 acres, there would be other ways to do privacy.

If you figure 15x30 as a reasonable size pool with 5 feet around then you have 25 feet at the base of a U. Even if the pool ends right at the ends of the legs, that is another 35 feet. And of course you would want a patio - say 15 feet. That is a big house.

The concept is very romantic and trust me, I've thought about it. But the reality is that it is very impractical to build and live in. The wasted space in hallways. The long walks from one end of the house to the other. I hope they can do it but it isn't a walk in the park. Well maybe getting up to get coffee in the morning feels like a walk in the park.....

Here are a few:

http://www.eplans.com/ranch_house-plans/HWEPL00438.hwx

http://www.eplans.com/southern_house-plans/HWEPL73055.hwx

http://www.eplans.com/italianate_house-plans/HWEPL09164.hwx

http://www.houseplans.com/1884-square-feet-3-bedroom-2-bathroom-Contemporary-House-Plans-0-garage-(32563)

http://details.coolhouseplans.com/details.html?pid=chp-30122&FoundID=1&sid=chp2&ordercode=C101

I agree with David. There are a few U-shaped historic homes in my area that were originally stables -- and some where a third 'wing' was added to create a U. They are among the hardest homes to sell, for all the reasons David mentioned. Few peoople want to walk around a house from one side of the U to the other. Few want to leave all the hallway doors to the center unlocked to permit crossing the center. Having a pool in the middle of the U means you would also have to walk around *that*.

All, thank you for the input. I realize it may seem impractical, but my mom has had this picture of a courtyard house with pool hanging on their fridge for more than a decade...of course we dont have any details, it was a picture in a magazine ad. I think their vision is to have one leg of the "U" to be a 3-car garage, with a small guest suite above. The main house would be the other two sides. The entire structure will have a large footprint, but fortunately, they do have plenty of room!

We scanned in the pic:
{{gwi:1444853}}

It is difficult to tell, but from the pic, I dont think the pool is entirely inside the courtyard, I think that each wing extends out to about where the pool flares out wider. So the legs arent likely to be that long.

Some things to consider with any enclosed area are natural lighting and air circulation. This is going to be The View from all sides. You want 'pretty', not possibly mold and a bleak pool cover. A negative of the photo is wall to wall concrete baking in the sun and reflecting heat. (This appears to be somewhere in Florida.) In fact, as I look again at the ad, I wonder if it shows a residence or a pool house.

Where would the house be built?

My family lived in a U-shaped house when I was in junior high school and I HATED IT. If I was in my room and wanted to watch TV in the family room, I had to walk the ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE U to get to the TV room. And while the actual distance wasn't any further than had we lived in a 2-story house with the bedrooms upstairs, mentally it was depressing to realize I left something I needed on the other side of the house.

i've always loved the courtyard style myself and would do it if i had the room.
i'm not into pools but horses, and one wing would be living quarters for me, the top of the u-shape would be the garage, and the wing opposite my living quarters would be the stables.
i would have a small courtyard garden patio outside my living space and a barnyard outside of the barn space.
that would be the best of all worlds for me!
i think your mom should get what she wants, especially since that's been her vision for so long.
and i think she needs an architect tp help her flesh it all out.

see cool house plan chp-15497 http://www.coolhouseplans.com

also see cool house plan chp-23761 http://www.coolhouseplans.com

I love u-shaped homes - great decision.

Summerfield, if you are bored, I'd love to see what you come up with. I really like the two other designs you did on other posts.

And it doesnt have to be just a "U", feel free to toss a garage on the front of the house, almost like an "H" shaped house, just minus one of the legs of the "H".

There was one at our local parade of homes. I wish I could find the plan for you. I loved the idea for the sense of privacy it gives to their pool area. (On acreage, this might not be as necessary... but still pretty cool. The other benefit would be protection from wind, which we have a lot of here.)

Since your parents plan on a L-shape for living space (with the other wing of the U for the garage,) I think it could be pretty practical in the end. The key would be keeping the bedrooms in one section and the living spaces/kitchen in the center section.

The nice thing about a U shaped home is that it can grow as the family size grows.

??
Not since they want 2500 sq ft max.

It is not easy to tell, but from the picture, I don't think the pool is entirely inside the courtyard, I think that each wing extends out to about where the pool flares out wider. Therefore, the legs aren't likely to be that long.

My dad drew something up and they hit the ground running. It is a 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, 2 half bath, all one level, right at 3k square feet. He has about 1/3 of it framed. He is doing most of the build himself. He subbed out the foundation, and is planning on subbing out brick, drywall, and finishing the hardwood floors (though he intends to lay them himself). I don't have any pics, nor do I have a floor plan to show you. Ill try to get some pics, though. I go up there once a week or so.

I've been searching and searching for the right floor plan for a u shape house. It's ALWAYS been my dream and now in Oct, I can start building it. Is there anyway I could see how you did yours ??

I don't have a floor plan online, my dad just drew something on paper and started building it. It has turned out great so far, but my parents were pretty specific about some things..for example, there are two master bathrooms so they can each have one. There is no dining room, lots and lots of closets. It should suit their needs wonderfully, but as far as being a house that people universally will love and meet their needs, it might not be a great fit.

Essentially, the central portion of the house is the foyer/den/living area space. Walk in the front doors and there is a huge room with windows and french doors out to the courtyard area where the pool will be. Walking in the front door, the wing to the right has the garage, kitchen, pantry, and mudroom. The wing to the left has three bedrooms, a full bath, both master baths, and a half bath for guests.

It basically looks just like a "U" shaped house.

Check out these two books:

http://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Western-Ranch-Houses-Magazine/dp/0940512033/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342199200&sr=8-1&keywords=cliff+may+sunset
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Ranch-Houses-Cliff-May/dp/0940512041/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342199193&sr=8-1&keywords=western+ranch+houses

These designs are all from the 1940s-1950s and so the plans will need some tweaking for modern use (e.g. the kitchens are often small/separated from the living areas), but many of Cliff May's designs feature the U-shape/courtyard layout/corredor.

Your architect can easily change the style of the home from western to Mediterranean.

IMO few things are as luxurious as the easy living afforded by a rambling single level home.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sunset Western Ranch Houses