WordValemansard roof
a roof with two slopes on each side, the lower steeper
In more detail
a sloped roof with two different angles on each side, with the lower slope being much steeper, creating extra room inside the building
Examples
- The historic apartment building had a distinctive mansard roof with small windows on the upper steep section.
How to use mansard roof
A mansard roof is an architectural term used when discussing building design, renovation, or historical architecture. It is named after the French architect François Mansart and is particularly common in formal architectural contexts and when describing Haussmann-style Parisian buildings or similar 19th-century constructions. The term is fairly specialized and most familiar to architects, historians, and building enthusiasts.
Common phrases
- mansard roof design
- typical mansard roof
- mansard roof windows
- mansard-roofed building
- mansard roof attic
Synonyms
gambrel roof · curb roof · French roof · broken-slope roof
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse mansard roofs with gambrel roofs (barn-style roofs), though they are distinct architectural forms with different proportions and historical contexts.
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