Sleeping porch
Encyclopedia
A sleeping porch is a deck
or balcony
that is screened and furnished for sleeping in the warmer months. Sleeping porches can be on ground level or on a higher storey
and in either the front or back of a home. The idea of a sleeping porch dates back nearly a hundred years when people would sleep on a screened-in porch to get the coolness of the night air during summer without being bothered by bugs. Before the advent of air conditioning
, families often created sleeping areas on outdoor porches, where children would sleep during the warmer months.
Sleeping porches first gained popularity at the turn of the 20th century. Many people believed that fresh air helped sufferers of Tuberculosis
, a respiratory system illness that was the leading cause of death at that time in the United States
. Health experts then also touted the benefits of fresh air for avoiding other illnesses.
Deck (building)
In architecture, a deck is a flat surface capable of supporting weight, similar to a floor, but typically constructed outdoors, often elevated from the ground, and usually connected to a building...
or balcony
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
that is screened and furnished for sleeping in the warmer months. Sleeping porches can be on ground level or on a higher storey
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
and in either the front or back of a home. The idea of a sleeping porch dates back nearly a hundred years when people would sleep on a screened-in porch to get the coolness of the night air during summer without being bothered by bugs. Before the advent of air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
, families often created sleeping areas on outdoor porches, where children would sleep during the warmer months.
Sleeping porches first gained popularity at the turn of the 20th century. Many people believed that fresh air helped sufferers of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, a respiratory system illness that was the leading cause of death at that time in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Health experts then also touted the benefits of fresh air for avoiding other illnesses.