The article considers the problem of architectural and spatial formation of the local area of multi-storey residential areas from the point of view of psychophysiological perception. Negative and positive examples of the organization of local areas are given. An analysis of the architectural and spatial organization of the residential environment in specific residential areas of St. Petersburg was carried out. The features of the integration of “internal” and “external” in the formation of space directly at the “border” of street and house are revealed using examples of world architecture. Techniques for the architectural organization of open spaces in the local area, based on examples of foreign and domestic practice, have been identified.

Keywords: living environment, local area, courtyard, architectural space, scale, internal and external space