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Architecture/porteco or portecoche

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Expert: - 1/28/2005


Question
Hi, I am looking for pictures and information on a porteco or portecoche. They are attached drive-through carports but very formal in that they match the siding, masonry, bricking or stones of home and have a room built above as part of second story. Could you give me the correct spelling; are they one in the same; and are they ever built in conjunction with an Arts and Crafts home? Thank you very much, Sandee

Answer
Hi Sandee - thanks for your question!

You're talking about a Porte-Cochere, which literally means "carriage door" but refers to a porch large enough for a carriage to pass under.  They're typically designed as large porches and only very rarely do they have a room above.  In fact the only ones I've seen with rooms above weren't true Porte-Cocheres, they were "pass throughs" from the front of the house to the back.

The most well-known example might be the one on the North side of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.

You'll find them associated with almost any architectural style, but almost always in very large homes.  You'll see a few of them in the Arts and Crafts style, but not often since the big A/C homes are (were) in California where they're not needed.  Smaller Bungalows sometimes have them but smaller lots usually don't leave enough room.

A Porte Cochere isn't restricted to any particular building style; they're appropriate wherever they're functional and wherever there's enough space.  Just like a regular porch, if well-designed it's completely appropriate to work into the plan.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com

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Richard Taylor, AIA

Expertise

Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.

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I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.

Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America

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Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect Custom Home Architect Remodeling Architect

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Sense Of Place and join the conversation on our Facebook Page.

Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year

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