Why is the garage the most prominent part of the house?
I agree an automobile is necessary for many in our mobile, fast-paced world, especially if you live in a suburban area without access to mass transit.
As a result, many home buyers purchase a dwelling that most closely resembles a large, two-car garage with an attached home. Should we let our transportation dominate how our homes are planned?
As an architect, I would say “no” yet we’ve all seen them. Cookie cutter neighborhoods where every house is a variation of the next one; spaced closely together allowing more homes in a finite space. This leaves little option for vehicle storage except at the most prominent spot – the street front.
Vehicle storage isn’t a new feature of architecture. One hundred twenty years ago, homes had carriage houses for horse buggies and tack storage. These small, detached buildings were not placed at the forefront of the property but resided toward the rear and complemented the home in proportion and trim detail. Today, Americans still want freedom to come and go at will and access to the community remains important therefore car storage must be a consideration.
Every new project presents an architect with a set of problems requiring solutions. The key to finding these solutions is listening to the owners describe their daily activities, movements about the home, as well as interests and concerns. When planning a new home whether in an established development or as a “stand alone” on a piece of property, the entire picture needs to be considered. Presupposing vehicle storage is important, its placement can be incorporated as part of the whole. In these sketches I’ve shown two attached garages, one dominating and one blending with the overall composition. Exterior trim, roof pitches, eaves, lighting, and even garage door style should match the overall theme of the house to provide a complementary not conflicting appearance.
It’s fine to have the approach and garage opening facing the front of the property, even in the same plane as the house. My point of discussion is how the garage, an addition or original component, addresses the main structure. By carefully considering the overall composition, the main house can be brought back into prominence which, after all, is why you purchased the home in the first place.
Ed Garbee can be found at Garbee Architecture, PLLC, 633 Chestnut Street, Suite 600, Chattanooga, TN 37450. Phone 423-364-2830. Email g-arch@bellsouth.net.