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Hey, have you seen Tranq’s porch? Wow! And that view! I’d like to have my morning coffee there.
We don’t have a porch. In fact: most houses in Germany don’t. In Germany the weather doesn’t favor porches. And: we Germans are a rather secluded pack. We like our private lives to unfold behind closed doors and curtains, because everything the neighbors or the public can see has to be “tip top in Ordnung”, in order, clean, up to social standards. Germans have terraces in the backyard, where no one can see. If it’s warm enough you can have breakfast naked. Well: that’s definitely a plus of terraces.
Travelling in Texas we enjoyed the porches very much. Like the one at Sara’s in Houston:
By Detlef.
I like to be part of the action without having to be in the middle of it. At Sara’s you could see what’s going on in the street, greet the joggers, wave at the bicycle riders, watch the pizza deliverers:
By Detlef.
My own porch would probably look a little more like this:
By Detlef.
Even this would be fine, as long as there is something going on in front of me. Not all the time. But from time to time.
By Detlef.
Somebody I know passing by: “How are you doing?” – “How is your day?” – “Are you having fun?” You know: that small-talk kind of thing. I love that. Probably Jeb is right: We have to move to Texas.
This one is a little over the top. And it’s too far from the street to have a little chat. I’d probably have my morning coffee up in that little steeple. “Hey, you! Come up here!”
W.B. Houston House from 1895 in Gonzales, Texas. By Detlef.
I feel cars generally get in the way of life on the porch, because of the noise and: you can’t talk to someone driving by in a car. I like those porches in the Faulkner novels set in Mississippi at the start of the 20th century. Porches on Main Street. Well: Coffee shops took over that function. And blogs…
Jeb Dickerson 8:31 am on May 10, 2009 Permalink |
You know, DC, porches seem to have transitioned (at least in my experience) to back decks. I guess I understand it, as you mention above…privacy and all. But the cost is community, at least to some degree. @kt_writes talks a lot about porches, much in the way you have above. There’s something so interactive about them.
But alas, they’re going the way of the Dodo. But I hope not completely…I’d like to see them make a comeback, remind us what it is to be a part of something local.
Detlef 12:29 am on May 11, 2009 Permalink |
I think it’s the general level of noise, mostly caused by cars, that’s killing porches in the city. It’s difficult to holler over the front lawn.
In Europe a lot of inner cities become pedestrian zones, with lots of coffees in the street – taking over the social function of the inner city porches. I missed thoses pedestrian zones in Texas. Well: there was the Riverwalk in San Antonio which came close.
There was a Riverwalk in Carlsbad, NM, too, where the locals were chilling. But mysteriously no catering there. That’s where I think social city life is going from the porches.
Jeb 3:41 pm on May 11, 2009 Permalink |
Yes, I think you’re right, but unless you live right in the thick of it, you still have to drive to get there. Something is most definitely lost in the translation.
Detlef 11:02 pm on May 11, 2009 Permalink |
We drive to those places where there are no cars. I hope to see the day where cars
1.don’t stink
2.don’t make any more noise than a bicycle
3.are not a danger to others any more.
Henie 4:05 pm on May 11, 2009 Permalink |
Porches are the hub for family gatherings in my world! And if by chance a friendly passer-by comes along, so much the better! My dream is to have a “wrap-around” porch, where any door from the interior would lead one to the bosom of mother nature! Am thinking on top of a mountain in Montana or Wyoming! :~)
Detlef 11:09 pm on May 11, 2009 Permalink |
I’m sure you’re working on that dream, Henie!
Keeping the road to that mountain-top in Montana clear in winter might involve a lot of snow shovel work – instead of running
If you should need a hand, give me a holler…
Using Twitter like a dandelion uses the wind | Detlef Cordes 8:59 am on May 12, 2009 Permalink |
[...] Living on the porch [...]
Kristin T. (@kt_writes) 9:12 pm on May 12, 2009 Permalink |
I love this post. As Jeb mentioned, I end up writing about front porches fairly often. I believe entire communities would change if every house had a front porch and people were committed to spending a certain amount of time there each day.
People used to go to their porches in the evenings to cool off, get the news (gossip), and be entertained. Now we have central air conditioning, TV and the internet. When most Americans do want to enjoy a few moments sitting outside, it’s highly controlled, behind tall privacy fences on elaborate decks.
It’s sad, because porches are the perfect blend of public-private space, and such spaces are absolutely essential for providing inroads and transitions for healthy communities.
Detlef 10:29 pm on May 12, 2009 Permalink |
Hi Kristine,
you put that beautifully: a “blend of public-private space”. We need that in order to be able to meet by chance, not just by invitation. A place you can go to chat and to smalltalk.