veranda

A veranda is a roofed, open-air or partly enclosed gallery that runs along the outside of a building, usually at or near ground level. It provides shelter from sun and rain and acts as a social and transitional space between interior rooms and the outdoors. Unlike a balcony, which projects from an upper floor, a veranda typically extends along one or more sides of a structure and is supported by columns or posts. The sides may be open or enclosed with screens, lattice, or balustrades, and the floor is commonly finished in timber, tile, or stone.

The word veranda arose in the Indian subcontinent, from verandah, and was incorporated into English in the 18th–19th centuries. It became widespread in colonial and post-colonial architecture, notably in India, Australia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the southern United States, where long, shaded verandas became a characteristic feature.

Regional styles vary. In Australia, verandas are a defining element of many homes, often wrapping around multiple sides with decorative timberwork and a pitched roof. In India, verandahs run along the facade and connect interior rooms to the outdoors, sometimes shaded by overhanging eaves or lattices. In North America, the term porch is more common, but many older houses in the South use verandah-like galleries that extend along the front and sides.

Today verandas may be left open, screened, or enclosed with glass to create year-round living spaces. Materials range from timber and stone to steel and concrete, and construction emphasizes weather protection, drainage, and continuity with the house's architecture.