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A porte-cochère (; ; ; ) is a doorway to a building or
courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary a ...
, "often very grand," through which vehicles can enter from the street or a covered porch-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which originally a horse and carriage and today a motor vehicle can pass to provide arriving and departing occupants protection from the elements. Portes-cochères are still found on such structures as major public buildings and hotels, providing covered access for visitors and guests arriving by motorized transport. A porte-cochère, a structure for vehicle passage, is to be distinguished from a portico, a columned porch or entry for human, rather than vehicular, traffic.


History

The porte-cochère was a feature of many late 18th- and 19th-century
mansion A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word ''mansio'' "dwelling", an abstract noun derived from the verb ''manere'' "to dwell". The English word ''manse'' originally defined a property l ...
s and public buildings. A well-known example is at
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...
in London. A portico at the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
in Washington, D.C. is often confused with a porte-cochère, where a raised vehicle ramp gives an architectural portico the functionality of the latter. Today portes-cochères are found at both elaborate private homes and such public buildings as churches, hotels, health facilities, and schools. Portes-cochère differ from carports in that the vehicles pass through for passengers to board or exit rather than being parked beneath the covered area. Guard stones are often found at the foot of portes-cochère, acting as protective bollards to prevent vehicles from damaging the structure.


Gallery

Hôtel d'Ambrun - Façade sur rue, Porte - Paris 04 - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - APMH00004645.jpg, alt=large entryway in building exterior, The Hôtel Hesselin in Paris (built 1642) NorwalkCTLockwoodMansEastSide09032007.JPG, alt=mansion with covered entry area, The Lockwood–Mathews Mansion (built 1864) BriarcliffOutlook3.jpg, alt=large rustic-style lodge, The Briarcliff Lodge (built 1902) BriarcliffOutlook4.jpg, alt=old black-and-white photo of small building with horse and carriage drawn up, The Briarcliff Manor railroad station (built 1906) Nottingham Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 1475112.jpg, alt=covered vehicle entry outside stone building, A typical railway porte-cochère at
Nottingham station Nottingham station, briefly known as Nottingham City and for rather longer as Nottingham Midland, is a railway station and tram stop in the city of Nottingham. It is the principal railway station of Nottingham. It is also a nodal point on the ...
Porte-cochere_at_Burleigh-Davidson_Building,_Berwick_Academy,_South_Berwick,_Maine.jpg, alt=entryway outside building, Porte-cochère at Burleigh-Davidson Building, Berwick Academy, South Berwick, Maine Guard stone at Berwick Academy.jpg, alt=close-up photo of a stone affixed at ground level to building column, Guard stone beneath ''porte-cochère'' at the Burleigh-Davidson building, the Berwick Academy, South Berwick, Maine Central Station, 1924 (4010230424).jpg, alt=black-and-white photo of people standing outside building with covered entryway, Porte-cochère at Central railway station, Sydney, 1924


See also

* Glossary of architecture


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Porte-Cochere Architectural elements