3 min readFew architectural features make a statement like a porte-cochère. A covered entrance gives a home a certain panache, but your house doesn’t have to look like something out of HBO’s The Gilded Age to pull it off.
The term porte-cochère translates from French as “coach door.” The feature has a highbrow history: horse-drawn carriages once pulled up beneath porte-cochères at King Louis XIV’s château. But it works just as well in the modern era.
“The easy answer as to why we love porte-cocherès is the weather,” says Utah-based designer Kristina Lawrence. “Here in the Park City mountains, a porte-cocherè gives guests a covered place to step out of the car, whether it’s snowing in January or raining in June. And when clients are entertaining, that’s something everyone appreciates.” But how do you know if this structure can actually work on your property?
“Because porte-cochères are relatively large structures, typically ranging from 18 by 22 feet to 25 by 30 feet, their scale and relationship to the main house are critical,” says Seth Ballard of Ballard + Mensua Architecture. “Without careful three-dimensional design studies, a porte-cochère can easily appear out of proportion or overwhelm the architecture.”
The last thing you want to do is rely on the size of your SUV as a guidepost. Mark Caulfield, director of Glass House Architecture, notes that this type of addition works best with Georgian, Regency, Victorian or large contemporary homes with strong horizontal lines. “The eaves should match to the roofline, and the columns should be slightly above the structural minimum to have the proper visual weight,” Caulfield explains.
Ahead, here’s when experts say adding a porte-cochère makes sense to your property.
Balance a Tall Entryway
A porte-cochère is one way to further enhance an already large home.
“Extending a roofline away from the house can help balance a tall entry and gives a spacious driveway a more balanced sense of scale and purpose,” Lawrence says of the above home. “It also creates an incredible feeling of arriving somewhere special.” Not to mention, it’s also incredibly convenient when you pull up to the house with a trunk full of luggage or ski gear, for instance.
“Add a fireplace nearby for warmth, and it’s like the welcome starts before anyone even walks through the front door,” she adds.
Leave a Grand First Impression
With the right architectural detail, perhaps an arch, passing through a porte-cochère reveals an entirely different point of view, whether it’s the focus on the home or the landscape view beyond.
“That unfolding arrival can be one of the most memorable parts of the home,” Lawrence says of another one of her projects above.
Make Arrivals Easier
You don’t have to live in a manse to add a porte-cochère. Adding one at the entry to the kitchen or mudroom creates a functional arrival point.
“Years of neglect had erased this 1890 home’s Victorian character,” says Dan D’Agostino, founder of Plan Architecture, of the above project. “So, the clients drew on the Craftsman bungalow they grew up in to guide its new details.”
Incorporate It as a Gateway
Here, D'Agostino took advantage of the natural slope to create a porte-cochère that actually works as a bridge carport to link the main house to a guest suite.
“It works as the home’s gateway,” he explains. This feature works in any climate, whether you’re escaping from rain or want to provide shade for your car during a heat wave.
Hide It in Plain Sight
Bob Zuber, a partner with Morgante Wilson Architects, created a porte-cochère that seamlessly blended into the overall architecture of the house. Creating an unobtrusive entryway facade makes this opening more like a doorway than a passage. Adding distinctive lighting and landscaping further enhances the look.
