From the Porch (Reflections on Generosity)

An outstanding collection of thoughtful essays and insights by leading voices in American architecture and culture with archival images, and original photographs by acclaimed photographers Tim Hursley and Francesca Bottazzin.

The porch is a singular architectural space—at once private and public, a threshold between the intimacy of the home and the communal life of the street. Porches are and have historically served as hubs for community, places where bands play and neighbors chat, where people met to social distance during the pandemic, and also where nature is observed and the effects of climate change can be witnessed. From the Porch weighs this quintessential American vernacular through the lens of generosity.

Conceived by the creators of “PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity” for the 2025 Biennale Architettura in Venice, From the Porch is an exploration of the meaning and impact of the porch and the transformation of the US Pavilion into a site of social and cultural exchange. Discover how the humble porch serves as a powerful symbol for civic engagement and a more inclusive future. 

“Porches occupy the edges of nature and architecture where outside comes in, hosts meet guests, relaxation joins resilience, and imagination rides the frontiers of climate.”—Charlie Hailey, author of The Porch: Meditations on the Edge of Nature