At the threshold between inside and out, private and public, nature and shelter, the porch exists as a space of transition, gathering, respite, and observation. Through this built curiosity, we explore the diverse typologies of these thresholds—uncovering their role as both architectural elements and cultural artifacts—through the lens of Brooks + Scarpa’s work.

From the wraparound verandas of the American South to the shaded loggias of Mediterranean courtyards, from tropical lanais to the breezy dogtrot homes of rural landscapes, this installation reveals how porches embody porosity, climate adaptation, and cultural identity. Each typology—like an object in a cabinet of curiosities—tells a story of how architecture mediates between enclosure and exposure, past and future, tradition and innovation.

These ordinary yet extraordinary spaces, central to Brooks + Scarpa’s practice, show how the simple act of crossing a threshold can become an act of wonder—an experience of architecture as both shelter and spectacle.

We invite visitors to step between shade and shelter—to pause, reflect, and rediscover this timeless architectural form as a place where architecture and life converge.