Courtyard Fence Where Lighting is Permitted

I live in an improvised building with very small housing units, and each couple lives in their own unit. However, there is no room for a laundry room inside the unit, and on the ground floor, there is a lobby where the neighbors' washing and drying machines are placed, and everyone does laundry there. This entrance hall is open to the street. In such a case, is the building entrance considered the entrance to the courtyard, and can candles be lit there according to all opinions, or is it still preferable to light at the window?

Even in cases where the courtyard or stairwell is used for residential purposes, as is sometimes found in dormitories or in the building you described, it is preferable to light at the window.

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