Roof forms developed for practical
and visual reasons. In many instances,
those forms became associated with
specific styles. Sadly, this has led
designers to choose a roof form because
it "looks authentic" or because it creates
a particular effect.
I prefer to look at roof forms as a kit
of tools, there for our use, with nothing
to prevent us from mixing and
recombining them, as the designers of
the late 19th century were wont to do.
In this column I'll address how to
design a roof to enclose living space, in
contrast to a roof that simply sits
above the top floor like an inappropriate
hat.
Roof Form Follows Wall Height
When designing multistory homes, I
often found