… when people come upon a building, they pass through a FRONT AREA and then an ENTRYWAY to reach the door. This pattern gives an entryway a practical use while still observing the artistic nature an entryway can possess.
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During inclement weather, patrons must enter a building in a way that maintains their dryness, as well as the dryness of possessions they are carrying under an
umbrella. Entryways should allow a visitor to remain dry despite practical or cultural issues with entering a building while holding an umbrella.
On a rainy day, one can see multitudes of people walking about with umbrellas covering themselves and their possessions. Although the umbrella protects a person for the majority of the time he or she is walking, a person generally gets wet in the transition through a door. For instance, when getting out of a car door, the person must open the door, stick his or her arm out and open the umbrella, and then step out of the car with one hand busy holding the umbrella. Invariably the person, the inside of his or her car, and what the person is trying to hold gets a little bit wet.
When entering a building, the same situation is likely to happen. Cultural and practical problems inhibit a person from entering a building with an umbrella over his or her head. Some cultures view an open umbrella inside as bad luck. Others find it rude because water drips off the umbrella onto the floor making it slippery or ruining the floor work. Still others want to be as "presentable" as possible when entering a building, and a dripping umbrella and buttoned up raincoat is considered sloppy attire.
Practical concerns also limit the ability of people to enter a building with an open umbrella. Single-width doors that swing out are often not wide enough for an open umbrella to fit through without turning it sideways. Also, these doors require a hand to open the door, and if the other hand is holding the umbrella, there is no hand with which to carry belongings.
Thus, many buildings offer a dry overhang above the main door that protects an area around the door from inclement weather. Ingredients of successful overhangs include:
1. The overhang is wide enough to protect against rain and snow even in windy conditions, but small enough to not be obtrusive or take away from the ambience of the front of the building.
2. The overhang is designed to fit in with the building's style. For example, the overhang may be part of the building such that the upper floors are larger than the first floor, a canopy that matches the color scheme of the building, or a staircase.
When overhangs are designed in this way, people are grateful for a dry place between the outside and inside of a building. However, they often do not notice the overhang as an addition to the building, or even consciously regard the overhang as existing. Instead, it is a natural part of the building. A building with such an overhang is more likely to be visited in wet weather.
Therefore:
Include an overhang over at least the main doors of buildings to protect visitors from inclement weather. The overhang should be large enough to allow patrons to shake off and close umbrellas without getting wet, but small enough to still be regarded as part of the building itself. The overhang should be designed in a way that fits in with the building's design and architecture, so that it is appreciated but not noticed.
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Build an overhang that complements the DOOR DESIGN of the building. In choosing material, consider a CANVAS ROOF, OUTDOOR STAIRCASE, or UNEVEN BUILDING FLOORS. To give the overhang more personality or to integrate it into an artistic front yard, include ENTRY PLANT LIFE on and around the overhang. If appropriate, make the overhang large enough to cover an entire entryway that has BENCHES or doubles as a WAITING AREA…