French Mansard Roof Style Usa

Encased with a mix of stone and stucco and sporting a steep mansard roofline and charming shutters this rambling chateau speaks loudly of the country french homes that inspired it.

French mansard roof style usa.

The mansard roof was popularized by the famous french architect francois mansart 1598 1666 who used this distinctive style in many of his works. Mansard roof is also known as a french roof or curb roof is a four sided gambrel style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its side. Installing a mansard roof became a practical way to provide additional living space in the attic level. During the baroque period 1600 1750 he used this technique of roofing extensively to create chateaus and grand townhouses which caught the eyes of the people.

Second empire style dated 1840 1885 was molded after the opulent paris architecture during the reign of napoleon iii. But the imposing nearly perpendicular roofs were not merely decorative. Today mansard style roofs are occasionally used in one and two story apartment buildings restaurants and neo eclectic houses. But an inviting porch nods to classic american ranch homes proving that you can successfully marry architectural influences to achieve your own perfect translation.

During this time the mansard roof style spread across the world and was adopted in buildings in united states canada and many other western countries. The steep roof with windows creates an additional floor of habitable space a garret and reduces the overall height of the roof for a given number of habitable stories. The popularity of the mansard roof kept on growing in france and became even more fashionable during the reign of napoleon the 3rd 1852 1870. The central feature of the second empire style is the mansard roof a four sided gambrel roof with a shallow or flat top usually pierced by dormer windows.

Before long french fever spread to the united states. Hip roof flat roof gable roof design white exterior houses modern exterior mansard roof gambrel roof living roofs dormer windows. A mansard or mansard roof also called a french roof or curb roof is a four sided gambrel style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope punctured by dormer windows at a steeper angle than the upper. This roof type originated in 16th century france and was fully developed in the 17th century by francois mansart after whom it is named.

This style also proved to be practical because of the french style roof named after n f mansard provided additional living space on small city lots by making better use of the top floor. The emblem of the style is the distinctive mansard roof a device attributed to the 17th century french architect francois mansart 1598 1666.