PatternRecommended
Main Entrance
Pattern 110Description
The main entrance must be positioned so that it's visible from the street and from the principal approach to the house. Visitors should never be confused about where to enter.
Why this exists
Hidden or ambiguous entrances are unwelcoming and confuse first-time visitors. The entrance is the single most-used wayfinding element on the exterior.
Categories
CirculationSite
Source
Christopher Alexanderno manifest entry
A Pattern Language (1977 (Oxford University Press))
Section: Pattern 110
Published 1977-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-09
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Common Areas at the Heart · Pattern 129
- Long Thin House · Pattern 109
- Half-Hidden Garden · Pattern 111
- Entrance Room · Pattern 130
- The Flow Through Rooms · Pattern 131
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.