What's a Porte Cochere?
The Porte Cocheres in Milton Keynes are the distinctive architectural structures that cover the walkways between the main shopping centre and the other important sites around the city centre. Their name originates from old Latin and French words meaning ‘Coach Gate’. Historically the term refers to a covered area at the entrance to a house or building which welcomes arriving visitors and protects them from the wind and rain.
These structures usually go unnoticed, even though many of you may see them every day. In fact, there are 198 Porte Cocheres in Central Milton Keynes!
Stylistically they are very plain and simple – in keeping with the original ‘Modernist’ style of Milton Keynes when it was first built. The Design Your MKcompetition aims to draw attention to the Porte Cocheres, whilst giving local children and young people a chance to create new and interesting artwork for their own city.
