Unless you’re a stranger to Beverly Hills real estate, you’ve likely noticed the trend of circular driveways that seem to presage the city’s most luxurious listings. Often, ornate statues, grandiose water fountains, or meticulously manicured gardens punctuate their centers. In a way, the circular driveway has become yet another symbol of stately status among the houses in Beverly Hills. But there’s also some real sense behind the circle that makes Beverly Hills homes for sale even more attractive.
A European Design Finds New Life in America
In 17th- and 18th-century France, circular driveways were all the rage. Referred to as a porte-cochère, or “coach door”, they were often the introductions to lavish palaces, offering a roofed gateway large enough to allow access to horse-drawn carriages. These gates would often give way to sheltered courtyards, ensuring guests arrived in comfort to match their style.
It wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that the porte-cochère caught on in America, most prominently gracing luxury hotels and mansions. However, the rise of the personal automobile forced an evolution as the horse-drawn carriage slipped into obscurity. While the circular, sheltered design remained, the typical porte-cochère downsized to accommodate cars instead.
Houses in Beverly Hills didn’t start sprouting up until shortly before the city’s incorporation in 1914, leaving Beverly Hills real estate to develop in subsequent decades alongside the circular driveway trend. Europe’s architecture had a clear influence on America’s wealthiest homeowners. You can find it in the countless Mediterranean, Spanish Revival, and Neoclassical homes that pepper the community. And circular driveways were often part of that influence.
The Sense Behind the Circular Driveway
So, what exactly is the sense behind a circular driveway? It largely boils down to convenience. With a looping driveway, a car can enter easily enough from the street and just as easily exit without the hassle of reversing. It’s a particularly useful design in the Beverly Hills real estate landscape where colossal estates are often set back a decent distance from the road. This goes double for estates that regularly host soirees in which valet services may need to manage a multitude of guests’ cars. It’s largely for this same reason that the circular driveway became such a popular solution for hotels in which valet services are customary.
Why the Looping Driveway is So Popular in Beverly Hills Real Estate
As we mentioned, Beverly Hills real estate listings often boast these circular drives. The city stands to benefit from this design more strongly than most other communities across Los Angeles for a number of reasons.
- Huge lots, particularly in areas of Beverly Hills like Trousdale Estates and the sections north of Sunset Boulevard, are sizeable enough to comfortably accommodate a circular driveway.
- Since so many houses in Beverly Hills are obscured by privacy hedges and gates giving way to lengthy setbacks, a gorgeous circular drive can contribute to a grandiose guest arrival.
- With that strong European influence still resonating in several Beverly Hills homes for sale, the architectural tradition of the original porte-cochère remains.
- Decadent soirees and events are often part of the luxury experience, so it’s common to find guest accommodations such as large looping driveways in the Beverly Hills real estate market.
More Than an Aesthetic
A circular driveway is a real selling point among Beverly Hills homes for sale, often regarded alongside lot size, panoramic views, and proximity to shopping on Rodeo. Rarely do such old designs find new lives in the modern world. Yet, the circular driveway has become firmly intrinsic to the complete Beverly Hills real estate experience.
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