PatternRecommended
Entrance Room
Pattern 130Description
Place an entrance room (foyer / vestibule) at the front door so the first thing visible from outside is a transition zone, not a private room or the back of the house.
Why this exists
The entrance room is the buffer between public and private. Without it, opening the door reveals the entire house at once — which feels invasive to occupants and overwhelming to visitors.
Categories
CirculationPrivacy
Source
Christopher Alexanderno manifest entry
A Pattern Language (1977 (Oxford University Press))
Section: Pattern 130
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
- Intimacy Gradient · Pattern 127
- Long Thin House · Pattern 109
- Main Entrance · Pattern 110
- Half-Hidden Garden · Pattern 111
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.