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A typical 19th-century porte-cochère, at Waddesdon Manor

A modern example at a hospital

A porte-cochère (/ˌpɔːrt koʊˈʃɛr/), coach gate or carriage porch is a covered porch-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which originally a horse and carriage and today a motor vehicle can pass to provide arriving and departing occupants protection from the elements.

Portes-cochère are still found on such structures as major public buildings and hotels, providing covered access for visitors and guests arriving by motorized transport. ^[1]

Portes-cochère, which are for vehicle passage, are often confused with porticos, columned porches or entries for human traffic.

History

The porte-cochère was a feature of many late 18th- and 19th-century mansions and public buildings. A well-known example is at Buckingham Palace in London. A portico at the White House in Washington, D.C. is often confused with a porte-cochère, where a raised vehicle ramp gives an architectural portico the functionality of the latter.^[2]

Today portes-cochère are found at both elaborate private homes and such public buildings as churches, hotels, health facilities, and schools. Portes-cochère differ from carports in that the vehicles pass through for passengers to board or exit rather than being parked beneath the covered area.

Guard stones are often found at the foot of portes-cochère, acting as protective bollards to prevent vehicles from damaging the structure.

Gallery

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  The Lockwood–Mathews Mansion (built 1864)
  

  
  

  
  


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  The Briarcliff Lodge (built 1902)
  

  
  

  
  


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  The Briarcliff Manor railroad station (built 1906)
  

  
  

  
  


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  A typical railway porte-cochère at Nottingham station
  

  
  

  
  


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  Guard stone beneath porte-cochère at the Burleigh-Davidson building, the Berwick Academy, South Berwick, Maine
  

  
  

  
  

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portes-cochères.

Look up porte cochère in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.