Simply put, a veranda is an open gallery, cloister, porch or portico, sometimes partially enclosed, along the outside of a house. In the opinion of Verandas du Trégor, verandas seem to have their modern roots in Australia, where they first appeared in colonial buildings in the 1850s. Incorporating an architectural style known as Victorian filigree (or simply filigree), verandas began to become popular in residential buildings in Australia and near New Zealand, as well as in commercial buildings, especially hotels.
Verandas around the world
Spanish colonial architecture, including the neo-missionary style popular in the western United States in the early 1900s, often included verandas – outside and, in some cases, along some of the interior walls of the gardens. Some of the more elaborate houses of the period were built so that each room opened onto a verandah in the garden.
In New Orleans, the typical Creole townhouse often includes a verandah, as do other buildings in the area. Probably the most popular style of architecture in this southern U.S. city is the Creole house style, with buildings constructed of brick or stucco, wrought-iron balconies and verandas. These iconic houses make up most of New Orleans’ famous French Quarter and Bourbon Street.
In Africa, many of the earliest colonial houses were built with large verandas, which allowed the inhabitants to stay cool during the hot summer months, entertain guests, and keep an eye on their fields. The Omani Arabs also have a variant of this structure, with palace architecture featuring verandas with high ceilings all along the East African coast.
Veranda or “verandah”?
The French word, verandah, was borrowed from English. It is generally accepted that the word used in England and France was brought by the English from India. Synonyms include porch, gallery, terrace, balcony, patio and loggia.
The veranda in popular culture
The word veranda is quite popular as a name for restaurants, hotels, pets… but also as a baby name for girls, outdoor furniture and accessories lines, in the fashion world. There is even a music band called “The Verandas”. In the same vein, there is also a singer called Veranda. Véranda is also the name of a magazine dedicated to home, garden and lifestyle.
The modern veranda
Gone are the days when the veranda was just a conservatory. Nowadays, the veranda is a real living room, comfortable as one could wish, and can be fitted out for various needs. Many people choose to turn it into an office, a dining room, or even a kitchen. One such example is the magnificent kitchen veranda of the famous starred chef Gordon Ramsay, made famous by the cooking shows he films there!
