in the pre- air conditioned age, every southern home had a porch. when the heat built up too much in the house ( which it did ), you retreated to the porch for a cold glass of tea and, hopefully a breeze. the porch offered a respite from the heat indoors and out. it functioned as a place of leisure, but also as an outdoor workspace to shell peas and shuck corn. utilizing the front porch increased visitation between neighbors and passers by, and served as a pleasant place to entertain company.
here's some of the southern porches in my neighborhood -
photographs and words by rebecca wood