Mansard roof
A mansard roof, also known as a French or curb roof, is a roof characterised by that fact that each of its four sides has two pitches, the lower pitches being steeper than the upper pitches. It is similar to a gambrel roof but differs in that it displays the same profile on all sides (whereas a gambrel roof has vertical gables at either end). The lower slope is commonly fitted with dormer windows.
Mansard roofs allow for increased space beneath their steeper sides. They maximise headroom inside the upper storey of the building whilst lowering, what would if it were simply-pitched, be a very tall roof. The mansard form can also help water runoff, as the pitch increases towards the eaves, where the runoff is likely to be at its greatest.
When viewed from near the building at ground level, the upper slope is often not visible.
The commonly-attributed earliest example of a mansard roof is the Louvre, designed by Pierre Lescot around 1550. It was popularised in the French Baroque period by Francois Mansart and became widely used during the Second French Empire (1852-1870) as well as in the United States and Europe. One of the factors attributable for its popularity in France was that houses were taxed by height or the number of storeys below the roof. The design of the mansard enabled the creation of an additional floor without having to pay additional tax.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
London Build: A festival of construction
Co-located with the London Build Fire & Security Expo.
Tasked with locating groups of 10,000 homes with opportunity.
Delivering radical reform in the UK energy market
What are the benefits, barriers and underlying principles.
Information Management Initiative IMI
Building sector-transforming capabilities in emerging technologies.
Recent study of UK households reveals chilling home truths
Poor insulation, EPC knowledge and lack of understanding as to what retrofit might offer.
Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment
Overview, regulations, detail calculations and much more.
Why the construction sector must embrace workplace mental health support
Let’s talk; more importantly now, than ever.
Refurbishment for net zero; the BSRIA white paper
The everyday practice of tackling energy efficiency, fabric first, ventilation, air quality, and occupant wellbeing.
Ensuring the trustworthiness of AI systems
A key growth area, including impacts for construction.
Foundations for the Future: A new model for social housing
To create a social housing pipeline, that reduces the need for continuous government funding.
Mutual Investment Models or MIMs
PPP or PFI, enhanced for public interest by the Welsh Government.
Stress Awareness Week ends but employer legal duties continue.
A call to follow the five Rs for the business and for the staff.
Key points and relevance to construction of meeting, due to reconvene.
Cladding remediation programmes, transparency and target date.
National Audit Office issue report on cladding remediation.
HBPT and BEAMS Jubilees. Book review.
Comments
I love this design!!! I have a home with a mansard roof and I am trying to renovate the front. I am wondering if you know the dimensions of the two windows on each side of the door?