Why do houses front face the street?

Question

I’ve noticed that most, if not all, houses I’ve passed by front face the road. Why not face away from the road?

In: 0

Answer 1

First and foremost, most houses are designed so that people can easily enter and leave the house and onto the street – and the shortest path is typically through a door that is on the street side. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to avoid putting doors on the street front and make the occupants and visitors go around to the back, which is less welcoming and in some cases more threatening.

It’s also the only way you’re going to fit a lot of houses together on a small street or terrace.