Mansard Roof Paris

What is a mansard roof and why it is so attractive.

Mansard roof paris.

In cross section the straight sided mansard can appear like a gambrel roof but it differs from the gambrel by displaying the same profile on all sides. It forms a low pitch and mostly known as a curb roof. The concept of this roof is said to be originated in the 16th century. The mansard or second empire style of architecture has its beginnings in the 1600 s in france.

The mansard roof was popularized by the famous french architect francois mansart 1598 1666 who used this distinctive style in many of his works. You can consider gambrel roof to be a modified version of a gable roof. However they gained popularity in the 17th century by francois mansart. A mansard roof on the château de dampierre by jules hardouin mansart great nephew of françois mansart 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.

17th arrondissement of paris france top view paris france. A four sided or french roof with double slopes on each side is called a mansard roof. It was named after a talented and egotistical architect françois mansart 1598 1666 who popularized the distinctive roofline in his many buildings. A century later the french architect françois mansart 1598 1666 used double sloped roofs so extensively that they were coined mansard a derivation of mansart s name.

Simply put the mansard roof also known as the french roof or curb roof is a hybrid between a gambrel roof and a hip roof. Paris rooftops in summer with their roof gardens mansard and french roofs. 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. It also has additional unique characteristics that significantly distinguish it from the traditional gambrel roofs.

What is the mansard roof. The mansard style features an elegant sloping and it was extremely popular in france and bears the name of a french architect françois mansart. In a very simple sense the mansard roof is the hybrid of the hip roof and the gambrel roof. The mansard roof is also commonly referred to as the curb roof or the french roof.

If you are not familiar with a gambrel roof then let us first explain its architecture in brief. Perhaps the most famous mansards in the world are in paris and reveal the magnificent panorama of the city.