Part II – The Nature of a Porch –Its Exterior Life

          Porches are making a comeback!  The front porch provides an ‘interface between inside and outside, private and public, viewer and viewed.’  It is this in-between aspect that makes the front porch not only an architectural place but also a social one.

          Here is a little history for you . . . For a full century, until immediately after WWII, the front porch remained a vital ingredient of American architecture.  It was the place people gathered news of the world – an outdoor parlor where gossip and information were treated as one.  But as Americans took to their cars, this arena for casual social interaction became obsolete.  The layout of the suburbs was built to be driven through, not to be walked in. (Geography of Home – Akiko Busch) 


         Another author puts it this way: The porch goes back to antiquity, but Americans since Washington and Jefferson have embraced it with special gusto. The so-called piazza was first popular in the South, where it provided cool shade.  People sat on their steps or benches and in time, the stoop grew larger, acquired a roof, and became a porch. The Victorian period, which venerated both fresh air and pale complexions, was the golden age of porches. . . Until the 1950's, the front porch was America's sitting room on the street. (House Thinking -  Winifred Gallagher)     

          Where once the front porch was a way of life for the American people, in recent years we have begun living more privately in the back of our homes.  Patios and decks became popular and the new styles of homes being built were void of a front porch. Also evident during this time was the disappearance of the front sidewalk.   We drove into our garage to enter the house and the ways of bumping into a neighbor became much more involved.   The gain in privacy often meant a loss in community.

          Sociologists, architects, community developers, and urban planners took note of this trend and its effects.  Intentional neighborhoods began to be designed with front porches on the houses, sidewalks, alleys, and detached garages.  The study discovered that people became much more aware of their neighbors because they knew each other by sight, sound, and story. It continues to be the hope that this ‘design’ will assist us in more natural ways of being ‘neighborly’ - friendlier and interested in the welfare of those around us.

          I can speak to this personally. Our home has three porches – one in the front and two on the side.  We have noticed that no one ‘bothers us’ when we sit on the side porches even though we can be seen.  The positioning of the location of this porch says ‘private- do not disturb’.  But when we sit on the front porch, those who are walking or pass by in their cars will wave, say hi or strike up a conversation. A remarkable difference!

          When I asked others about front porches, many responded with its importance to community.

The porch space opens up the mind and spirit to conversation, thoughtfulness, and friendship.  It lets you sit still and build a community through conversation, song, and prayer.

Big wrap-around porches on old Victorian houses are great places for neighborhood children to put on summer plays.

A place for friendliness . . . A place for neighbors to run into you.

Every Friday in summer a neighbor couple with a gorgeous front porch has ‘open porch night’.  Great conversations, great times together.

As we speak, our front steps (1950’s cement with wrought iron rails) are being torn out and replaced with a larger wooden porch with room for chairs, flowers, and neighbors!

         
        So if you have a porch, lucky you!  And if not, the front stoop might be just as magical.  Wishing you ‘good times’ and Happy Porching!