The porch, garage and the car

[D2Cat]

How we went from being social to anti-social.

How attached garages changed traditional neighborhoods

The front porch was an anchor of social activity within the neighborhood and created social capital. Garages have replaced them as the primary design element of houses.

www.canr.msu.edu

 

[jimh406]

I think the architecture means nothing. The real change has to do with people watching tv and then internet. Maybe I have a different opinion because I saw a transition in my previous neighborhood where almost all of the houses had porches and eventually, nobody sat on them.

 

[Porcupine]

Yeah-No.

Jimh406 may be right, but I think the deeper reason is: form follows function.

I’d suspect better climate control (HVAC) had more to do with it than anything else.

Now you don’t have to escape the house because it’s hotter than blazes inside the house because food is cooking. You’ve got AC.

You don’t need to stack wood in close proximity to door while still keeping it dry for heat.

As a kid I lived in an older (even then) house that had a vestibule for the front door. Storm door outside, glass walls on the side, long benches down either side, and front door at the other end. About 5’ wide and 6’ deep. Kind of like an airlock.

You don’t see those anymore either.

I think (as typical) some academic felt the need to wright something, and took the wrong lesson from reality.

 

[mikester]

I think land use is the issue. When a 40 foot wide lot is considered an "estate" extra wide lot in a new subdivision, there is no other place to put a garage. Builders are trying to maximize houses per acre, not into building suburban "neighborhoods" where people walk and kids play. The suburbs are a parody of the english country estate.

 

[RCW]

I think land use is the issue. When a 40 foot wide lot is considered an "estate" extra wide lot in a new subdivision

My wife showed me a picture of her friend's house that had been renovated and put up for sale. Big house, city lot.

Lot size 0.13 acres.....my driveway is almost that big...

 

[skeets]

Now think about it,, where else can you smoke a fine cigar, drink beer and watch the races? Use naughty words and throw your peanut shells on the floor? Ya aint doin that in Mama's living room or down inthe game room,, Hence the garage with a sign on the door that says "The he-man female woman haters club" NO GIRLS ALLOWED

 

[JimmyJazz]

Five years ago I bought a house in the suburbs thinking a large yard would be nice for my children. Nope, all I do is cut it while they play "video" games. Very few kids outside in the whole community. I think the television more than anything else conspired to change the culture and prevent us from living our lives in a more constructive and dignified manner.