gambrel cottage

The gambrel roof has contributed a cottage to the history of the vernacular house. Because of the shape and pitches of both sections of the roof, the gambrel encloses a great deal of second- or third-floor space. The house proper has the largest roof of the cottage types in which the roof is a principal design element. The shape of the roof is so forceful that it separates itself from the lower level, obliging builders to find ways to make sure that the roof did not overpower the entire structure. They did this by intersecting the roof, which broke the form down yet expanded the square footage. The intersection also produced cottage-type elevations where fenestration could be varied and changes in color and materials could be accommodated. These later changes in color and materials helped to layer the gambrel cottage. Clapboard lower stories and shingled upper stories were common. Clapboards contributed horizontal lines in the design. The cornice line and belt or string courses between floors also pulled the house away from the compaction implied by the roof…