EXTERIOR SPACE: The Transition

Summer is winding down, and here in Minnesota, we are taking advantage of our coveted porch and deck evenings.  Exterior spaces and the transition they provide between 'inside' and 'outside' have been an element of architecture since the Ancient Greek temples and the portico at the front, filtering people into the space.

The Parthenon, Athens

As a part of our homes, exterior spaces have firmly rooted themselves as a place for gathering, serving as the middle ground between the privacy of home and the rest of the outside world. They have also become a cornerstone of our culture.  (Listen here for NPR's 'All Things Considered' about the culture of sitting on the porch).

Recently, Building Arts worked on a project with a home that was lacking this transitional space:  

Jon and Katie's exterior space before.

Mostly due to a rotting deck that had to be removed, Jon and Katie's sliding glass door was met immediately by a set of stairs to ground level, and Maisy's dog door, met by a ramp.  We not only wanted to give them an exterior space, but also wanted to connect it with the reorganization we were doing inside.  We added a sliding glass door at the opposite end of the house, integrating the deck and porch into the overall flow, and opening up the home, successfully tying the inside to the outside.

Showing the flow before and after the remodel with the deck and porch.

Here is the result:

Jon and Katie's deck and porch after.

So, as these final days of summer wind down and the air gets cooler, invite the neighbors over, unwind, and indulge in the sweet spot between inside and out.  



**This project will be shown on the Homes by Architects Tour September 21 & 22.  See our Website for more details.  www.building-arts.net



Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!