The View from the Verandah: Prospect,Refuge and Leisure

The verandah, a characteristic feature of Australia architecture, is commonly found in many parts of the world. Introduced into Australia by the British at a time when verandahs were popular both in England and the colonies, these structures were not merely practical responses to climatic conditions. It is argued that beyond the functional considerations of comfort and convenience, verandahs and similar structures are a response to and an expression of landscape aesthetic preferences for which Appleton has offered an explanation in terms of prospect-refuge theory. The overlapping prospect-refuge and information processing theories are discussed in relation to the survival value of leisure to provide a possible explanation of the widespread popularity of verandahs.