Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-11-13
THF MASS,BDcoor

People who have hsd regent occasion 70 visit
he Iesding cifI-s OF the country will hsya
noticed the extent 20 which the STYLE of roof
called The vi inSard roof Is gaming ground
New buildings arr very Generally supplied
with this roof. and the roofs OF old buildings
are beng demolished to bs replaced by IL In
Portland. Maine. the burnt district swept bv
the great fire there has been rebuilt by fine
structures 80 uniformly crowned by the Man
ssrd roof that the place has very much the
look OF a French city; with this exception. that
the roof 50 used IN this country lacks the bal.
us'rsde used generally in these roofs nv the
French. In Washington. the Msns4rd roof
hiss made some heaiway, and we shall he glad
70 see more of II. 20 give relief the rather mo-
notonous and formal style prevailing ha-a
The Agricultural Department Building on l2,h
street. the new building of the Young Mems
Christian Association on 9th street. the Frank
lin School House. the May building on IN
street. the Brown building on 15.h street and
other buIldiu -. public and private. aford sor,s
opportunity 70 iudga OF the ornamental effects
this style of root Is capable o: sappIvin-
though used here thus far mostly IN t:s palmer
forms
This rcof-vsrrously known hv the titlas.
Orb roof. French roof, ami Nansard roof-was
he Invsution of q celebrated French archi,sc:
u
barn n Paris IN 1877. 1, is reIated OF him TIA:
his ItICsyncTacy wss such. that IN practice.
aiming IT ;he most absolute perfection, he was
constantly STEERING bis most elaborate and mas
r@rlv designs. and often actually tearinc down
wsaf was already so well done rs 70 be aln0s:
un-uIpassabie- This peculiarly prevented
him from being entrusted with the supervision
C he erection of buildings upon his own
cesigp-. IL i rslsied that Anne o. Aus.ria
took e " hs hands The erection Of the Abby
Oval e. Grsee sf,er il had reached the frs,
story. le-t be should alter his superb designs
TO- that structure and pull down wha, had
alresdy goue up.
The Mansard roof has undergone mauy
modineAiions since its invention in the six
tenth century. The original form as frs.
introduced vas generally one story. but occs-
sionaily OF two or more stories in height In
the latter c,se the upper stories In 1: were con.
sisnily lower in proportion. ascending towards
the peak Of the roof: and the windows were
small dormers, not much better than loop-
holes meant for a clImmering ligh: IN. and the
Ventilation OF, stowage chambers, or mere lofts
The lower story in the roof, that is, the frs.
story above the main body of the structure
vss always equal 70 and quite as desirable As
ei'her Of those immediately beneath IL Tia
form and construction CT these old French
roofs are always such as 70 secure a plumb or
perpendicular wall within the rooms, with a
very ;rifiinS loss of space the in clinaton from,
aNeTiical line. in the entire altitude OF a story.
being scarcely more than the thickness Of the
vSIis
Ihis ancient style Of the Mansard has haan
improved and modified 20 the point OF eonhin-
ing great architectural beauty, externally.
WIN economy OF space aud neatness OF naish
thternaly- Departing from the original tdss
OF an aoCiilonal range of rooms with horizon tai
ceiiings ard walls ddplomb, this roof 4. now
frequently carried mp In the same material ,s
forms the walls, with highly flashed h.Ins.
trades &c. The smaller windows are ov,,
and sometimes round, with exterior Io,p- h,l..
for ornament The chimney stacks. c.rr,., M
20 n considerable height, are usually a m,,,as
f-sture OF the Partisan modern Mans,rd 20,
SIs'e is commonly employed for the covering
with tin for all cutters and weatheripr Raj.
usirades. as elsewhere mentioned. are seldom
omitted In these roofs by the French. This, one
OF the most salient and indispensable charac-
teristies. Is entirely overlooked in most Of the
Msnsards IL this country. 1t has been intro
duced or some OF the Mazsard roofs In this CITY
IN lts less elaborate forms with good effect In
this Connection we may add, that very many
OF the buildings erected in Washington during
the year display degree OF nnish. style, and
ornamental good Iste, showing a marked stem
ssen IN the way of city improvements