Vestibule (architecture)
**Ancient Usage:**
– Vestibules were common in ancient Greek temples due to construction limitations.
– Prothyra outside ancient Greek houses often had altars or statues.
– Elaborate Greek homes had prothyra, thyroreion, and proaulion.
– Vestibules in Greek homes provided security and privacy.
– The need for privacy in Greek society led to the design and use of vestibules.
**Church Architecture:**
– Churches from the 5th century utilized vestibules.
– Roman Catholic churches use vestibules for church information and holy water.
– Orthodox churches have exonarthex instead of vestibules.
– Early Christian architecture simplified atriums into vestibules.
– Vestibules replaced more extravagant atriums in early Christian architecture.
**Palace Architecture:**
– Genoese palace architecture transformed vestibules into ornamental structures.
– Genoese vestibules featured fountains or statues and were large and exaggerated.
– Genoese vestibules became prominent in Italian palace architecture.
– Genoese vestibules satisfied the aristocracy and influenced Italian palaces.
**Modern Usage:**
– Vestibules act as antechambers between exterior and interior structures.
– They are common in opulent buildings like government offices.
– The White House’s vestibule showcases grandeur and anticipation.
– Government buildings often mimic classical architecture with vestibules.
– Utilitarian use includes creating airlock entries for energy conservation.
**ATM and Railway Use:**
– ATM vestibules are enclosed areas attached to buildings with security devices like panic alarms and CCTV.
– Railway passenger car vestibules are enclosed areas at car ends with power-operated doors.
– They create weather-tight seals when cars are coupled and ensure safety and comfort for passengers moving between cars.
– British usage refers to the part of the carriage with passenger doors.
– Commercial buildings and railway cars incorporate vestibules for energy conservation, comfort, and safety.
A vestibule (also anteroom, antechamber, or foyer) is a small room leading into a larger space such as a lobby, entrance hall or passage, for the purpose of waiting, withholding the larger space view, reducing heat loss, providing storage space for outdoor clothing, etc. The term applies to structures in both modern and classical architecture since ancient times. In modern architecture, a vestibule is typically a small room next to the outer door and connecting it with the interior of the building. In ancient Roman architecture, a vestibule (Latin: vestibulum) was a partially enclosed area between the interior of the house and the street.
