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The Renaissance of the Porch
Porch-building is on the rise nationwide, up 23 percent on new homes from two decades ago, according to CityLab. This new trend is attributed to urban renaissance taking hold across the country, but the classic American porch isn’t being used in quite the practical way it once was. Through porchfests and beyond, the front steps are taking on a new life — one that’s stylish, sporadic and often more image-conscious.
Looking Back from the Front
Looking Back from the Front
Initially inspired by Caribbean, African and European structures, the front porch was the ideal place to retreat in the afternoon hours to escape the heat of the home, sit down and take care of chores and catch up with neighbors. Porches were a conduit to community-building, but with the arrival of air conditioning and television, Americans spent less time on their front porches and more time hidden away in their homes.
Don’t Call it a Comeback
The number of new homes built in the United States with porches show the rising trend. The percentage grew from 42 percent in 1994 to 52 percent in 2004 to 65 percent last year, according to data compiled by the National Association of Home Builders. The latest figures rise to 86 percent in the Southeast, where porches always made the most sense for cooling off, but they’re growing in places like Colorado as well.
Don’t Call it a Comeback
#FrontPorch
#FrontPorch
And just who has a significant hand in the front porch trend? The largest Homebuyer group: Millennials. Millennial buyers love the retro vibes of this once grandfatherly structure and have peppered social media with photos lounging while drinking coffee or catching a concert. Porches naturally resemble a stage and have provided inspiration for DIY music festivals that enlist musicians to take over front porches and rock out while attendees walk the community. The music festivals have grown organically and exponentially – in 2015, 46 porchfests were recorded but last year the number was up to 104, according to porchfest.info.
Whether having a morning coffee, rocking out to your favorite band or chatting with the neighbors, this staple of Americana is enjoying a renaissance as Homeowners step outside of the air conditioning and back to the past.
