The formal language of architecture today is more diverse than ever. Because in addition to established styles, technical progress and new creative attitudes keep creating new elements or reinterpreting known shapes. Nowhere is this more evident than on the subject of roofs. In the following overview you will find numerous archetypes, but also sub-forms of the most defining and sometimes also the largest component of a building.
Gable roof
That Gable roof is considered in large parts of Germany and the world as the established roof shape that has been used for centuries. Formed from two mostly identical roof surfaces that meet in a continuous ridge, it gives the building a clear direction. It manifests itself in two opposite, triangular gable sides and two mostly longer sides, on which the roof surfaces run upwards towards the ridge and thus usually in the middle of the house.
Characteristics
Usually the same inclination of both roof surfaces, roof inclination seldom less than 10 degrees, usually more from 15 degrees up to 60 degrees and more
construction
either as a rafter roof in which opposing rafters support each other, or as Purlin roof with the rafters on a supporting substructure made of horizontal timber rest
Roofing
traditionally bricks or concrete roof tiles, in the past often slate or wood shingles, today sheet metal or even greening is possible
particularities
very versatile in terms of inclination, roofing and addition to skylights, dormer windows and other structures, on slopes or off special usage requirements, also asymmetrically with an eccentric ridge or different eaves heights to be found
Cross roof
Actually, that's what it is Cross roof not around a roof, but around two gable roofs that cross and overlap at right angles. Thus, a building with a cross roof also has an optical direction, but a clear main direction is only given if one of the gable roofs dominates. With equal roofs, there are ultimately four gable ends of equal value.
Characteristics
Usually symmetrical design of the individual roofs, but deviations in inclination, size and ridge / eaves heights are possible
construction
mostly purlin roof, rafter roof construction can only be used to a limited extent, since the rafters cannot support each other in the intersection area
Roofing
like a gable roof, mostly tile or
particularities
Common roof shape in medieval churches, mostly with a dominant main roof and a subordinate transverse structure
Mid-roof
That Mid-roof is not an independent roof of an entire building, but only the roof of a structure on a different roof shape, i.e. a dormer or a gable. The shape of this smaller, clearly subordinate roof can have the shape of numerous roofs described here, for example the gable roof, the pent roof or the flat roof. Barrel roofs or hip roofs are less common.
construction
usually like assigned main roof
Roofing
no restrictions, often adapted to the main roof, but now also often as a foil roof, with sheet metal covering or greenery
particularities
often a smooth transition between the mid-roof and the side building of a cross roof
Roof-only houses
Even roof-only houses do not actually have an independent roof shape. You usually use a classic gable roof shape. The main feature is that the side walls under the roof are completely absent or reduced to a structurally required minimum. All uses are accommodated around the roof space, while only the gable walls are optically present. Traditionally, a steep roof shape with inclines of 45 degrees and more is chosen in order to optimize the space achieved within the roof areas as much as possible.
Hipped roof
Mostly found in a historical context Hipped roof has the typical gable roof shape, with further inclined roof surfaces taking the place of the outer walls that otherwise run upwards in the gable.
Characteristics
Main roof clearly recognizable, hipped areas clearly subordinate, continuous eaves height in hipped areas and main roof areas
construction
Usually as a purlin roof with a load-bearing substructure, as a self-supporting rafter roof is not possible in the area of the hip surfaces
Roofing
Classically shingles, slate or brick, but technically all types of roofing are possible
particularities
Typical roof shape in historical functional buildings in southern Germany, advantage of the lower outer walls due to the omission of the gable
Crooked hip roof
This is a sub-form of the hipped roof Crooked hip roof. It represents an intermediate form between
Characteristics
pronounced main roof legible, strong subordination of the crooked hip surfaces
construction
only with a supporting substructure in the form of purlins, lying or standing chairs, etc. possible
Roofing
see hipped roof
particularities
Most common roof shape of the typical Black Forest courtyard, often with balconies hanging under the hipped surfaces
Hipped foot roof
The reversal of the half hip roof is the so-called hip hip roof. Here only the "foot" of the roof is provided with a hipped surface. The upper gable triangle, on the other hand, remains visible above the hip surface with a horizontal upper end. This roof shape can also be combined with the mansard hipped roof described below, so that the hipped areas in the Pass through the area of the lower, steeper roof areas, but the upper half of the roof has a legible gable design learns.
Tent roof
Although it initially looks like an extremely pronounced hipped roof, it represents Tent roof represents a very unique typology, which is clearly different from the gable roof. In contrast to him, it is made up of four equal, perpendicularly arranged roof surfaces that meet at a ridge point.
Characteristics
Equal roof areas with the same inclination and identical eaves height on all sides, no orientation of a preferred roof side, above all to be found in pure form in point buildings with a square or polygonal floor plan, roof pitches as with pitched roof variants possible
construction
mostly with a load-bearing central purlin or central ridge post, self-supporting rafter construction not possible as there is no opposition of the rafters
Roofing
Restrictions only due to the chosen roof pitch
particularities
often found in almost square buildings with a minimal ridge, then actually the extreme shape of the hipped roof, but mostly referred to as a tent roof due to its visual proximity
Mansard roof
You should have the thought behind you Mansard roof describe, one would certainly be closest to the description of a gable roof, in which the roof surfaces were bent outwards to increase the volume. Ultimately, a two-part roof is created in this way. The upper area is formed by a flatter gable roof. In the direction of the eaves, steeper surfaces adjoin the roof surfaces. Often an almost full floor is reached in the steeper roof part. This mansard area can therefore also have numerous windows.
Characteristics
straight roof with main direction and ridge, symmetrical structure, lower roof area with a higher slope than the top of the roof, lower roof areas with a high incline of up to almost 90 degrees, upper area significantly flatter, similar to normal ridge roofs,
construction
Due to the two-part rafters, it is mandatory to have a load-bearing substructure, often as a purlin roof on load-bearing inner walls
Roofing
Uniform coverage of the lower and upper roof surfaces, often tiles, but slate and sheet metal can also be found again and again
particularities
especially in the 18th And 19. Roof shape very popular in the 19th century, today often used to add weight to the roof and to reduce the number of legible storeys
Hipped mansard roof
The hipped mansard roof is a combination of the hipped roof and mansard roof shapes already described. In his case, the mansard roof on the gable ends is supplemented by classic hipped surfaces, which are also divided into two roof surfaces with different inclinations.
Attic cripple hip roof
Another combination of these two roof forms is the mansard cripple hipped roof. In contrast to the mansard hipped roof
Here, only the upper roof area with a flatter slope is supplemented by a hipped surface, while the gable walls are retained in the steep roof section below.Monopitch roof
That Monopitch roof represents one of the simplest roof shapes ever. It consists of a single, inclined plane. The opening in one direction gives the building a clearly legible orientation despite the missing ridge, while the missing Roof surfaces enable good use of space and the incline allows natural and technically simple rainwater drainage enable.
Characteristics
Inclination of a few degrees up to 45 degrees can be found, the higher the inclination, the greater the differences in the room height achieved
construction
Depending on the span, either as a self-supporting plate or with medium support from an inner wall or joist
Roofing
Depending on the roof pitch, foil, bitumen or sheet metal roof, from approx. 10 degrees, tiles or concrete roof tiles are also possible, often greened in new buildings
particularities
Used for a long time in smaller functional buildings, for residential buildings and other representative objects only in the modern era (approx. from 1920s) "discovered"
Offset pent roof
The offset monopitch roof is a special form of the monopitch roof. Two pent roofs are placed against each other and shifted against each other with regard to the ridge height. The result is almost a gable roof shape, with a wall strip remaining on the "ridge" between the roof surfaces. This roof shape is often used to get natural light into a building from a central point.
Flat roof
Though that Flat roof Actually represents the simplest imaginable shape of a roof, it offers a lot of design freedom. The flat roof can virtually float above the building as a light pane, or it can remain invisible behind the outer walls that run upwards. As different as the optics can be, the challenges that arise in terms of construction and detailed training are just as different.
Characteristics
Flat surface as the upper end of the building with minimal slope, design visible with protruding roof edge, or with rising surrounding walls as an attic possible
construction
Carrier layer made of wood or steel, alternatively reinforced concrete slab, depending on the span with or without additional support
Roofing
Foil or bitumen, greenery or additional coverings made of gravel, plates or sheet metal are possible
particularities
Despite the name, never completely flat to ensure rain drainage, according to the flat roof guidelines at least 2% gradient required
Barrel roof
That Barrel roof is a quite new roof shape, which only appeared in relevant size and number in the context of industrialization and the associated steel structures. It shares numerous features with the dome, but in contrast to the dome has a clear direction, similar to a ridge. The barrel roof is often used in industrial buildings or infrastructure structures.
Characteristics
Arched, ridgeless roof surface with two parallel eaves, no uniform roof pitch
construction
mostly as a series of load-bearing arches made of metal with struts between them, more rarely made of wood or concrete, in individual cases also as a flat structure made of concrete or masonry
Roofing
mostly metal as a material that can be easily adapted to the curve, classic coverings such as bricks, on the other hand, are unsuitable
particularities
distinctive, rather unusual appearance, as it is primarily large and, above all, long Buildings, such as train stations etc., are known, but nowadays in individually planned residential building construction again and again to find
