Second Empire Roof Style

The style quickly spread and evolved as baroque revival architecture throughout europe and across the atlantic.

Second empire roof style.

Developing from a tendency of architects of the second quarter of the 19th century to use architectural schemes drawn from the periods of the italian renaissance louis xiv and napoleon i to give dignity to public buildings the style was solidified into a recognizable compositional and decorative scheme by the extension. This roof type originated in 16th century france and was fully developed in the 17th century by francois mansart after whom it is named. The second empire style with its ubiquitous mansard roofs and heavy ornament remained the first choice of wealthy homebuilders and their architects because it was in their eyes not only thoroughly modern but also fashionably flashy in what was a very flashy era indeed. The term second empirerefers to the empire that louis napoleon napoleon iii established in france during the mid 1800s.

The french second empire is an easily identified architectural style noted for its mansard roof often completed in slate and steeply sided which allows for a full story with dormers. The central feature of the second empire style is the mansard roof a four sided gambrel roof with a shallow or flat top usually pierced by dormer windows. A mansard roof has two slopes on each of the four sides. The style was most popular in the northeast and midwest but rare in the south.

The mansard roof disguises an additional story of living space. Background and inspiration more formally referred to as french second empire this was the first true style of the victorian era in the united states if we do not include the preceding romantic era. The townhouse the typical residential form built in washington between 1860 and 1880 was dominated by the second empire style along with the italianate the mansard roof is particularly well suited to townhouses making them appear tall but not massive. Second empire style also called napoleon iii second empire baroque architectural style that was dominant internationally during the second half of the 19th century.

The steep pitch of the roof yields more usable space beneath it than a traditional gable roof. As the second empire style evolved from its 17th century renaissance foundations it acquired a mix of earlier european styles most notably the baroque often combined with mansard roofs and or low square based domes. During the renaissance in italy and france many buildings had steep double sloped roofs. However the tall mansard roofthat we associate with the style dates back to renaissance times.

As the name implies the french second empire style was imported from france in the mid 19th century. The upper slope has a low pitch and is not easily seen from the ground. Second empire style homes share the characteristic mansard roof a steeply sloping roof with slightly flared eaves. The lower slope is so steep that it can look like a vertical wall with dormers.

A history of the mansard roof.