Support Us Button Widget

Why porches are slanted in Charleston

IMG_1427 2

Home in downtown Charleston | Photo by CHStoday

Have you ever noticed slanted porches in Charleston? We did some digging, and it turns out the tilt is there for a reason. Before we dive into the explanation, we’ll give you a quick run-down on porches in the Holy City.

A piazza — Italian for “open space” — is a covered porch held up by columns on a home. In the Holy City, the porch typically runs lengthwise on a Charleston single house — a narrow home that’s one room wide and two rooms deep.

The piazza came to Charleston in the 1700s and was often built facing south or west to help catch the sea breeze. Air conditioning wouldn’t cool Southern homes until the 1950s and 60s, and porches provided a place to cool off during Charleston summers.

Some downtown homes lean sideways simply due to age, but sloped porches are often designed that way. The slanted structure, tilting away from the home, prevents rainwater from pooling during storms + allows water to run off the porch.

These slanted piazzas are part of the Holy City’s historic charm, often featuring bench swings, gas lanterns + haint blue ceilings. Next time you step out on a porch in Charleston and find yourself walking downhill, you’ll know why.

More from CHStoday
Charleston has a packed list of races to get prepared for throughout the year
Deep dive into this guide and learn how to navigate the annual two-day music festival loaded with live music and food inspired by the Lowcountry.
Dining in the Holy City is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
The Swedish car company is celebrating 70 years, and it has sold more than 5 million cars in the US.
The annual festival will be back on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. The Charleston Beer Fest will offer tastings from 75+ breweries, live music, and a variety of local vendors.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
The acclaimed Filipino restaurant, Kultura, will expand its operations to a larger space on Rutledge Avenue, just a few blocks away from its original Spring Street spot.
The new coastal Italian concept is set to open in the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood, offering rooftop dining, all-day coffee, and gelato.
Use this list to see if you can spot the Lowcountry scenes featured in movies and TV shows filmed around town.
We crunched the numbers for you.