Verandas a popular part of house designs – old and new

I’ve always been susceptible to the charms of a veranda. A delightful halfway space between inside and out.

The term is widely known to have been brought from India by the English where a verandah referred to any covered outdoor extensions to a home. In Spain these areas were barandas and in Portugal they were called barandillas. It was only later in Australian early architecture that the term ‘‘veranda’’ became synonymous with the covered area, held up by balustrades, around a single residence.

They were a feature of our large old heritage homes and country houses, a popular outdoor area that allowed for easy entertaining or relaxing. The veranda would often run around at least two sides of the house, even occasionally around the entire house.

It wasn’t until the 1860s that they became a marked characteristic of smaller New Zealand homes, our cottages and villas. As on larger homes they were a source of shelter from summer heat and winter rain, well suited to our climate but were also a sensible addition to a smaller home where they provided some much needed extra space for muddy boots and wet coats to be taken off before going inside. As families grew verandas could be closed in to provide an extra room.

In their simplest form they are just a continued roofline which extends out from the existing roof and is held up with posts and a raised wooden floor. In grander versions they are more elaborate, wider gallery like spaces, with decorative fretwork.

Their popularity waned in the 1930s with the ascent of English cottage-style homes influenced by the arts and crafts movement and the arrival of bungalows with sunrooms and porches becoming more common. From the 1970s onwards they have become a feature of homes again.

They provide a sheltered spot and a quiet place from which to enjoy the view. The addition of a comfy chair adds to their appeal. – Karen Rolleston