Patio
derives from the Spanish word "patio," and means courtyard, forecourt,
or yard. The modern patio is an outdoor space adjoining or partly enclosed by
the house. It is usually a flat area covered by a hard surface. The
patio is used for dining or recreation.
Historically
the patio derives from the Roman atrium. The atrium in ancient Rome was an open
central court containing the impluvium, a pool for collecting rain water.
The atrium evolved to become the Italian cortile. The cortile was an enclosed inner
courtyard typically roofless, surrounded by an arcade, and inside of or
attached to a building. The cortile typically was found inside large dwelling
houses or other large distinguished buildings.
From
Italy the patio evolved into the Moorish and Spanish patio. Moorish patios are
known for their enhanced privacy. A Moorish patio is typically an inner
courtyard with a beautiful tiled surface, and might contain a central pool
suitable for bathing.
The patio was also a major feature in Spanish architecture.
Perhaps derived from the Moorish tradition, the Spanish patio was open to
the sky, and had a greater amount of seclusion. Due to the hot climate in
Spain, patio arcades took on greater importance as places of shelter from the heat and were richly ornamented. By the era of the Spanish renaissance, the patio had
become a standard element of residential architecture. It was exported
from Spain to Latin America, where it became a standard part of large ecclesiastic
structures as well as larger secular and domestic buildings.
Unlike
the Spanish patio, the contemporary American patio is typically a small paved
outdoor area that adjoins or is partially surrounded by the home and often partially sheltered. Patios are
typically found in the backyard of modern houses and well suited for sitting and
relaxing. They often sit between the residence and the garden.
Modern patios
are often constructed from paving slabs, referred to as paving flags Patios may
also be constructed with bricks, block
paving, tile, concrete, natural paving stones, or cobblestone.
Synonyms
for patio include terrace, veranda, sundeck, deck, close,
courtyard, enclosure (also inclosure), court,
quad, quadrangle, yard. Related words include atrium,
galleria, parvis
(also parvise), peristyle; forecourt, place,
plaza, square;
deck, terrace and curtilage.
Reference: The Turf Barbers is a Yorktown Heights, NY landscaping firm that specializes in masonry work including outdoor patio construction ; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; Call 914 302 2469 or visit our website at http://www.theturfbarbers.com
