Shelter at the entry — covered porch / overhang / roof deep enough to wait dry
Susanka — Shelter at the entryDescription
Front entries need shelter from rain + snow — a covered porch, overhang, or projecting roof deep enough that a visitor can stand at the door, unlocked it, and step in without getting wet. Minimum: 4 ft deep, 6 ft wide. Best: a true porch (6+ ft deep, integrated with the architecture). The 'porte cochère' on driveways serves the same role for cars.
Why this exists
Architects who skip the entry shelter create homes that are unpleasant to arrive at in bad weather — and impossible to use comfortably to wait for a car/pickup. The detail is cheap to design in + impossible to retrofit elegantly. ALWAYS include front-door shelter on the schematic.
Categories
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Common Areas at the Heart · Pattern 129
- Long Thin House · Pattern 109
- Main Entrance · Pattern 110
- Half-Hidden Garden · Pattern 111
- Entrance Room · Pattern 130
Last reviewed 2026-05-15.