Mansard roofA mansard roof has two slopes on each of the four sides. The lower slope is steeper than the upper slope. Dormers are often set in the lower slope. The upper slope is usually not visible from the ground.
A dormer is a window which is set vertically on a sloping roof. The dormer has its own roof, which may be flat, arched, or pointed.
The term "mansard" comes from the French architect Francois Mansart (1598-1666) of the Beaux Arts School of Architecture in Paris, France.
Another revival of the mansard roof occurred in the 1850s, when Paris was rebuilt by Napoleon III. The style became associated with this era, and the term Second Empire is often used to describe any building with a mansard roof.
Mansard roofs are considered especially practical because they allow usable living quarters to be placed in the attic. For this reason, older buildings ARE often remodeled with mansard roofs.
There are many types of mansard windows:
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