Spectacular Homes with Wraparound Porches
These great estates demonstrate the diverse benefits of a stylish outdoor space.
In warm weather, a wraparound porch is the perfect place to enjoy a cool drink, take in panoramic views, find shelter from the midday sun, and relax. They’re most often found in Italianate and Queen Anne-style Victorian homes dating from the mid-19th century, but their architectural roots go back much further. Our word “porch” is derived from the Greek portico and Latin porticus, meaning “passage,” which refer to the covered openings, generally supported by a row of columns, at the entrances of important buildings and temples. In the mid-19th century United States, catalogs selling mass-produced millwork and ornate brackets made the construction of an elegant front porch a relatively simple way to add a touch of stately elegance to a Victorian home, evoking the grandeur of Neoclassical architecture, and carving out a permanent space for warm-weather leisure.
Though they went out of favor with postwar modernism in the 1950s, porches are as popular now as ever. The design philosophy of New Urbanism, which emerged in the 1980s, has encouraged a return to the front porch, with the belief that they help cultivate a sense of neighborliness and community. Today, both new homes and historic estates boast spacious wraparound porches that make ideal settings for social gatherings both planned and spontaneous. These homes from around the globe show that wraparound porches are back in style: the eternal delights of beautiful weather and good company haven’t changed since the invention of the portico.
City and Country
Bogota, Colombia
This one-of-a-kind penthouse residence in Bogota’s most exclusive enclave has a wraparound terrace with over 775 square feet of space. The terrace offers spectacular views of both the city skyline and the green mountains beyond. The interior is chic and modern, with four bedrooms each with their own en suite bathroom and walk-in closets. There are two living rooms and a formal dining room for entertaining, plus a fitness room in addition to the full fitness center in the building. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the interior with natural light.
East End Elegance
East Hampton, New York
This beautifully restored, three-story estate in East Hamptons’ Huntting Lane Historical District was originally built by A. O. Jones in 1903, and retains much of its period detail. The 900-square-foot wraparound porch surrounds the home on three sides. Many of the home’s windows are original, and there are six fireplaces throughout. Eight bedrooms and eight full baths, plus a carriage house on the property, offer ample space for guests. The estate sits on nearly 0.7 acres, surrounded by manicured grounds and mature trees, giving the porch a picturesque view from all directions. With antique lighting fixtures, white balustrades, and a sky-blue beadboard ceiling, the porch is like a natural extension of this home’s gracious interior.
Mediterranean Villa
Javea, Spain
This exquisite villa in the town of Javea on Spain’s southeastern coast is perfectly positioned on a hillside to offer spectacular views of the nearby valley and mountains. It has a ground-floor loggia, which is roughly equivalent to a wraparound porch in a Mediterranean context. The estate includes a swimming pool, lovely landscaped garden, sauna, and spacious, modern interior with four bedrooms and ample room to entertain.
Round House
Nosara, Costa Rica
Casa Redonda (literally the “Round House”) is a unique architectural marvel in Nosara, Costa Rica, built on a mountaintop, with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The house itself has a circular floor plan, so that every angle offers another vantage point from which to enjoy the nearby mountains, rainforests and water. The 7,000-square-foot interior includes three bedrooms, an expansive eat-in kitchen, and a jaw-dropping living room with a 30-foot-high domed ceiling. On the first floor, the living room opens onto an infinity pool with its own mini bar. On the second and third floors, wraparound balconies encircle the whole house, giving the bedrooms their own terraces. The rooftop features a circular bar, perfect for sunset cocktails or a nightcap under the stars.
