What is Dogtrot?
Dogtrot is a house design that occurs in many areas around the rural southern part of the United States. The concept of the Dogtrot house includes an open area in the middle of the structure. This open area extends from the front of the house, which allows to circulate the air through the uninhabited space. FaniFul name for this wide center pass comes from the fact that pets could easily use the space to cross the front to the back of the house with ease.
on the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Dogtrot cabin was one of the most popular home options during the 19th century. The cabins built with this basic floor plan usually had to sleep and sit in one large room on one side of the center passage. On the other hand, a kitchen and dining area would be placed. Depending on the preferences of the owners, the central passage was either left open to allow traffic or doors would appear at each end. Open design was often more popular in ruralh the environments.
Dogtrot houses are associated with several advantages. One has to do with ventilation. In the damp south, with open passage, it meant that the breeze could circulate with a greater degree of structure. From a practical point of view, the space to be earmarked to remove food preparation from sitting and sleeping areas meant that these spaces would remain cooler even in the heat of the summer months. Because the central dogtrot was covered, the wide central corridor was also an ideal place to sit in the evening when the day passed.
The open passage was also practical for pulling firewood and water into the house. Without the door to deal with, it was a simple task to pull fresh water on the water barrel, which was sitting in the passage near the entrance to the kitchen. As a way, cut wood could be neatly stacked along one wall in the passage, effectively maintained wood from the rain and so it is readyo for use for cooking or heating purposes.
Dogtrot House plans are still popular for weekend cabins. While Dogtrot House plans today may or may not divide two large rooms into smaller areas, the wide center passage is still present in the design. In some cases, each end of the passage can be equipped with a free door, allowing the area to be closed if necessary. However, many people enjoy the open feeling that Dogtrot's cabins tend to provide.