Porches with purpose

Traditional neighborhood design (TND) strives to create new towns and neighborhoods that recapture many of the traditional elements of town planning. These new versions of small towns and historic neighborhoods integrate various housing styles and sizes with a network of streets that encourage pedestrian activity and interaction. In contrast with the current approach of placing houses far away from the street, TND homes are pulled forward toward narrow, tree-lined streets. This creates streetscapes reminiscent of many cozy neighborhoods built during the early part of this century. Since most of the elements of TND are based on details and ideas from our heritage, it''s not surprising that one of the most important elements of a TND home is the front porch.

The significance the front porch plays in the overall concept of TND is evident in the fact that many new traditional developments require front porches on a large percentage of all homes. The overall goal of these new neighborhoods is to recreate the social interaction that has disappeared from most of our current subdivisions. Simply moving the houses closer to the streets and providing tree-lined sidewalks doesn''t guarantee much pedestrian interaction. However, by locating porches close to the sidewalks, residents can easily converse with neighbors as they pass by. Contrary to most existing subdivisions, traditional neighborhoods encourage residents to become acquainted with their neighbors. One result of people knowing one another is a renewed sense of safety, both for children and adults.

Not only is the concept of a front porch an integral part of TND, but the actual design is also critical. For any porch to be a practical and inviting place for people to gather, it must be spacious. While a depth of six feet is minimum, most guidelines encourage at least eight feet in depth and 10 feet to 12 feet in width. These dimensions are adequate for a swing and several rocking chairs. Proper proportion and scale, along with strict attention to detail, are also essential elements of most TND guidelines. It is important that the porch be raised at least 24 inches from the level of the sidewalk. This elevation of the house provides an amazing sense of privacy, even though the porch is located close to the street. The proportion, size and detail of the porch columns and balustrades are of equal concern.

It''s been said that the demise of our neighborhoods began when porches started disappearing from the fronts of our homes. While such a statement is obviously an oversimplification, the re-emergence of the front porch is a vital part of the overall TND design philosophy of recreating neighborhoods and towns with a strong sense of community.