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
