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

This is somewhat definitional; the front *is* the side facing the street.

The street is where the house will normally be seen from by most people. With that in mind more care is taken in its appearance from that angle. People entering from the street would come into a dedicated entryway as opposed to the kitchen for example.

Overall the house is designed with the expectation of being approached from the road, and the “front” pointed in that direction. You as a regular resident may prefer to approach from the rear but that is your choice.