Terraces, porches, porches

I was watching an American weekend movie the other day, lighthearted and positive, never mind what it was called. What caught my attention, however, was a plea made by one of the main characters - an architect - for terraced houses. It wasn't about those big, luxurious penthouse terraces or the back terrace of a two-story, 20-room mansion. He was talking about the little terrace - porch as the Americans say - that greet you at the entrance and look very much like the porches or porches of peasant houses.

Grandparents' house prism

The warmth with which he spoke about the importance of the terrace for the visitor and family members reminded me of my grandparents' house where I spent a good part of my childhood holidays. It had a porch, both behind and in front of the house. The fretworked wooden beams, posts and wooden embroidery under the eaves adorned and personalized the house.

Mamaia paints all the woodwork every year in a very pleasant light silver grey colour. The prispele were the place where he welcomed his guests - those of the house on the back porch, and the most important ones, like the priest, on the one in front of the house.

The porch of the old church in Băița

I found the wooden porch that welcomes you with warmth also at the wooden church, more than 300 years old, in Băița commune, near Reghin, where I went for a few days this summer. The very beautiful but unfortunately unrestored church has this wooden porch on the side where the entrance door to the church is.

The porch was built to protect the church and the people from animals and weather. The wood of the church and the porch are carved with many signs specific to these constructions, symbols that were meant to protect the building from evil spirits. Among them are the cross, the rope, the sun and the horse's head.

Narrow porches have evolved into wide, welcoming terraces

Over time the porches have evolved, widened to make room for benches, rocking chairs and sometimes even tables.

The carved wooden symbols have been abandoned, and a variety of colours and sophisticated protective materials have emerged. The design has changed here and there without altering the message.

The same general appearance of welcome you feel when you see a house like this. It's still the place you walk past and wait to see, in a rocking chair, a familiar face smilingly greeting you.