Terrace (building)

A terrace is a flat space outside.

It can be near a building. It can also be on a flat roof.

People use them to sit or walk. They are good spots for resting.

Some terraces are in parks or gardens. Others are in front of big buildings. A grand staircase might lead up to one. A low wall might go around it.

In Thailand, homes have a central terrace. Small rooms sit around the edge. A tree might grow through the middle. This tree gives shade to the home.

In Venice, people have roof terraces. They are made of wood. Long ago, people hung laundry there. Now, people use them to be social.

Terraces have been around for a very long time. They are found all over the world.

A terrace is a flat, open area.

It can be near a building or on a flat roof. People use them to rest, walk, or sit.

Some terraces are in gardens. Others sit in front of very large buildings. A grand staircase might lead up to them. A balustrade, which is a low wall, might surround them.

Terraces are very old. People have built them for a long time. In Greece, they were used in many homes. In the Roman Empire, they were in front of temples. In Cambodia, stone temples used terraces by the year 881 CE.

In Thailand, homes have a central terrace called a chaan. Small rooms sit around the edge. A tree may grow through the middle to give shade. In Venice, Italy, people have wooden roof terraces. These are called an altana. Long ago, people used them to dry laundry. Now, people use them to spend time with friends. Architects say terraces help link a building to the land.

A terrace is a flat, open area that sits outside.

It can be in a park or a garden near a building. Some terraces sit right on top of a flat roof.

People use these spaces for leisure activities. They might sit, stroll, or simply rest. A terrace is always open to the sky. It may be paved or left as natural ground. Some are raised and sit in front of huge buildings. These might have a grand staircase or a balustrade, which is a low railing, around them.

Building terraces is a very old way of making spaces.

People have used them for thousands of years. In the Middle East, early sites like Nahal Oren used them. This site was used between 13000 and 9834 BCE. Other old sites include Tel Yarmut and Tel el-'Umeiri. Architectural terraces have also been found on Babeldaob in Palau. In Greece, rooftop terraces were at Knossos by 1700 BCE. The Roman Empire also built many terraces for their temples. In Cambodia, the first stone temple with a terrace was built at Bakong in 881 CE.

Different cultures use terraces in special ways.

In Thailand, traditional homes use a central terrace called a chaan. Small rooms called house cabins sit around the edge of the chaan. These rooms are higher than the terrace to make built-in benches. Often, a tree grows through the middle of the terrace for shade. People might also put plants or bowls of water lilies there. In Venice, Italy, people use wooden roof terraces called an altana. These were made around 1500 CE. They have small spaces between the floorboards to let water pass through. While they were once for drying laundry, people now use them for social time.

Many experts have different ideas about how to design them.

In the early 1900s, Henry and Theodore Hubbard had a specific view. They thought a terrace should be a simple base for a building. They believed it should help people see a nice view. Other architects like Catherine Dee have different ideas. She says a terrace links a building to the land. It acts as an extra space for living. Sophia Psarra says terraces are very common in the 21st century. They are as common as stairs or hallways.

Terraces connect the things we build to the world around us.

They act like a bridge between a house and a garden. Some people think they are mostly for large, expensive gardens. This is what the landscape architect Russell Sturgis observed. Even so, they remain a popular way to enjoy the outdoors. Whether they are on the ground or on a roof, they offer a place to be outside. They turn a building into a place that reaches out to nature. This makes our living spaces feel much larger and more open.

A terrace is an external, raised, and flat area that remains open to the sky.

These structures can appear in a landscape, such as a garden or a park, near a building. They can also function as a roof terrace on top of a flat roof.

The primary purpose of a terrace is to provide space for leisure activities. People use these areas for sitting, strolling, or resting. While they are always open to the sky, they may or may not be paved with hard materials.

Architectural terraces can be constructed in several ways. A terrace might be supported by a solid foundation or a natural embankment.

In the case of monumental buildings, a terrace often serves as a raised area in front of the structure. These grand terraces are frequently reached by a large staircase. They may also be surrounded by a balustrade, which is a low railing. This design helps define the space and provides a sense of importance to the building.

Humanity has used architectural terracing since prehistoric times. In the Middle East, early examples have been found at the Natufian site of Nahal Oren. This site was occupied between 13,000 and 9,834 BCE. Other ancient sites include Tel Yarmut, from 2,700 to 2,200 BCE, and Tel el-'Umeiri, from 600 BCE. Architectural terracing was not limited to the Middle East. It also occurred on the island of Babeldaob in Palau. In Greece, rooftop terraces were present at Knossos as early as 1700 BCE. The Roman Empire also built terraces extensively, often in front of monumental temples.

Different cultures have developed unique ways to integrate terraces into their homes. In traditional Thai "cluster houses," the dwelling is built around a central terrace called a chaan.

Small, enclosed rooms known as house cabins are placed around the edge of this terrace. These cabins are set higher than the chaan to provide built-in bench seating. Often, a tree grows through the center of the terrace to provide shade. People may also decorate these spaces with potted plants or large ceramic bowls containing fish and water lilies.

In Venice, Italy, a specific type of rooftop terrace is very common. Known as an altana, this structure developed around 1500 CE. An altana is a wooden platform that features small spaces between the floorboards. These gaps were originally designed to allow water to pass through. This was helpful when the terrace was used for hanging laundry to dry. Today, however, the altana is used primarily for social purposes rather than for housework.

Architects have offered many different theories regarding the design and function of terraces. In the early 20th century, Henry and Theodore Hubbard argued that a terrace should be a simple base. They believed it should serve as an interesting foundation for a building without being the main focal point. They also felt a terrace should command a good view. More recently, architect Catherine Dee has suggested that terraces link a structure to the landscape. She views the terrace as a functional extension of a person's living space.

In the 21st century, the importance of the terrace remains high. Architect Sophia Psarra notes that terraces are among the most common architectural forms used today. She places them in the same category as entrance halls, stairs, and corridors. However, landscape architect Russell Sturgis has observed a distinction in how they are used. He notes that terraces tend to be found only in larger and more expensive gardens. Whether used in a grand temple or a private home, terraces remain a vital way to connect buildings to the outdoors.