Secrets Revealed: The Hidden Purpose of Those Mysterious Holes in Front Porch Walls!
August 25, 2023
Source: Reddit
A front porch has been a bedrock of home architecture, a welcoming driveway and a place to hang and engage. There is one detail that strikes to the eye while looking at them and is holes in the wall of the front porch of bricks. What would these holes be used for? Look at the history of architecture and its design, and you’ll realize these voids—these openings—aren’t random. Designers often plan them impeccably to serve both function and aesthetics.
Because of this, drainage is a very common reason that there are holes in front porch walls. The surface of the porch can literally become a battleground of water pooling during heavy rains. Architects and builders have ingeniously scheduled drainage holes into the design to alleviate this. These openings act as escape routes for rainwater that would otherwise pool and damage and erode.
But these holes do more than facilitate drainage. They were commonly repurposed as mail chutes. Long before mailboxes in their present form, folks could drop mail through these clever openings, delivering it straight onto your side of the door for delivery without you ever having to go outside. This use of architectural design to combine functions, not to mention it is really convenient, is an inspired example of resourcefulness.
That said, ventilation is the most underappreciated facet of architectural design. But holes in the front porch walls will also defend against it. All areas prone to this type of damage should be properly ventilated. Moisture can accumulate, and that can eventually lead to mold and decay. A hole in a porch wall allows air to circulate, drying out the porch after a rainstorm, and keeping the structure healthy.
The holes might also have served as a trough for utilities. Back in the days when coal and firewood heated homes, delivery workers slipped them right into the house through these openings. It spared homeowners the backbreaking work of hauling heavy wagon-loads through the front door.
Aesthetic Appeal and Architectural Interest
Exploring these holes, we find that they look nice on the front porch. It is possible to make architectural details beautiful, regardless of how utilitarian. Maybe the open holes create a light and shadow interplay that gives the porch depth and character. This makes it a good deal more interesting as a part of the home.
In other instances, these openings are remnants of a distant Yesteryear, calling tales from a land where the needs of a dweller operated differently from today. Why is it that when we learn to excavate the purpose of holes in front porch walls, we become a little bit of architectural archaeologists? We excavate the character makers of a home.
The gap in the brick wall on your front porch is much more than a simple omission. It’s an inspired element of architectural design — useful for drainage and ventilation, but also added for comfort and beauty. This city is filled with architectural glory. Reflecting on this craftsmanship, let’s behold the fact that there is a story behind every brick and mortar. It connects us to our homes’ history and character for future generations.
