The change usually comes only with a kitchen.

Not because it's practical to have a grill outside, but because that's when a reason to stay first appears. Food preparation naturally extends the time spent there. Someone is chopping, someone is bringing glasses, someone is just standing by the countertop and chatting. Dinner stops being a moment and becomes a process.

Interestingly, the size of the kitchen plays almost no role. Its position matters much more. When placed along the main path between the house and the garden, it becomes a point everyone passes through. When moved to a corner, it is used only functionally.

That's why contemporary outdoor space projects increasingly treat the kitchen as an architectural element. Something that defines how the patio is used, not just how food is cooked on it.

Only then does the space gain permanence.
It is no longer just a place to sit, but a place to stay.