Roots of Style: Dutch Colonial Homes Settle on the Gambrel Roof

What is a gambrel roof? Think about a shallow gable and a steep gable, then put the shallow atop the steep. Insert dormers, frequently just one long one, to the steep portion, and you have a configuration commonly known as Dutch colonial.

The gambrel structure permitted a broader roof length, which provided additional habitable space in the attic. This type evolved over a few decades of adapting authentic 18th-century Dutch colonial structure to the necessities of the moment. Though easy gable roofs also sheltered some Dutch homes, the unique gambrel form became popular to the purpose of ethnic definition.

Restricted to regions within and near New York’s Hudson River Valley, colonial Dutch settlements finally became outpaced by those of English colonists, who constructed their own domestic structures in Georgian and Adam styles. Dutch colonial homes we see now are now revivals concurrent with historic revival in general. For this reason, the gambrel roof has been shared and mixed across a number of styles, such as shingle and Georgian. Conversely, classically motivated Georgian and Adam details frequently show up on Dutch colonial revival homes.

Siding & Windows Group Ltd

You cannot venture a lot before arriving upon a house like this . Dutch colonial revivals inhabit neighborhoods from shore. They show up frequently, being a particular type among the long-lived archaeological revival era that extended from approximately 1880 until about 1955.

Concentrate on the quaint entry . An elliptical arch punctures the classically referenced pediment supported by decorative brackets. Sidelights extend halfway , implying a halved Dutch door. Other conventional components include clapboard siding, double-hung windows with shutters, window boxes and a frieze above every lower-level window. The defining roofline breaks apart the two-story house, giving it a romantic and human scale.

Siding & Windows Group Ltd

Similar in scale and detail to the previous case, this house includes a constant shed dormer that is defined by the expansion of the upper roof shape and extends across almost the whole elevation. Unique here is your eyebrow porch cover, a detail found in several examples. It extends slightly forward of the adjoining eave and inconspicuously signs the entry. Also notice the double-hung windows with a split light sash on top and also a single-pane sash about the lower half. This detail is also seen in shingle-style homes.

J.Sweitzer-Architects LLC

In another similar house, the identity is defined by an asymmetrical lower altitude. Notice how the Georgian-inspired entry is balanced by a tiny arched window to the left. The other upper and lower windows remain in proportion, providing additional equilibrium. Finally, a small single-car garage stays out of attention and doesn’t overtake the theme.

PCDF Architecture

The addition here tenderly respects the remodeled and upgraded first Dutch colonial revival house. Note that the garage currently hosts its own gambrel roof onto another degree, though with gabled dormers. Also, the setting back of the garage enhances the qualities of the primary first arrangement. A single-level accession to the ideal balances and complements a unique single-level expansion to the left, providing more space without distracting from the original intimate scale and theme.

Westover Landscape Design, Inc..

Enrolling in size, this New York–region Dutch colonial revival keeps the inviting human scale inherent in this fashion. In authentic Hawaiian revival style, dividers are grouped into sets and sunrooms flank the lower levels. Significant here is the flare to the bottom eave line. This detail surfaced in first colonial designs; it was probably brought directly from the Netherlands. Notice how the form of the front porch follows the fan light above the entry door with sidelights and contrasts appropriately with the other linear components.

Brickhouse Architects PLLC

This variant has a front-facing gambrel that contrasts with the flared gable at the ideal end of the house. A shed dormer is concealed in the crease, fulfilling the two roof forms.

Intersecting formations and other even more complex configurations show up in different styles, especially shingle. Consider the comparison in symmetry from the last examples, and you can understand the association to shingle style. Substantial brackets support an attenuated flared eave that creates a front porch protect.

Ron Brenner Architects

Within this modern interpretation, the conventional flared lower eave line crosses a full-width front porch. The paired gable dormers with grouped double-hung windows deliver additional innovative expression. Note the circular windows involving the dormers and in the gambrel end to the lower right. These cleverly equilibrium and add interest to the theme, while the whole composition alludes to the more freely formed shingle style.

Bill Ingram Architect, LLC

Concentrate your attention on the primary gambrel roof section of the Alabama house. The rock body with parapet gambrels illustrates a significant configuration in first Dutch colonial homes. Many Dutch colonists constructed with rock and probably brought the parapet layout in the Netherlands. Contrasting hip roof appendages highlight the prominent gambrel shape . Also notice the bookend chimneys, yet another very wonderful allusion to Dutch originals. Independent shed dormers contrast previous examples.

Union Studio, Architecture & Community Design

The entrance faces from this gambrel end of the elegantly remodeled historic residence. Note the equal proportions of the bigger and larger double-hung windows. Little touches such as the shallow eyebrow across the oval window as well as the configuration of the front porch narrow this layout toward shingle design.

Andreozzi Architects

This yummy and expansive Rhode Island home develops upon the gambrel form almost into artisan style, yet its symmetry keeps it in the colonial revival spectrum. Other identifying characteristics include an elliptical entry porch roof, grouped double-hung windows, rock chimneys and a flared lower eave line. At right is the constant slope of the upper roof shape, extending down past the steeper roof to create the dormers. The based roof eyebrow between the two chimneys is unique.

Siemasko + Verbridge

See the mixture of dormer shapes in this one of a kind and comfortable example of Dutch historical inspiration. The flanking roof forms hold conventional gambrel roof dormers, but the classically detailed entry porch with pediment underlines two gabled dormers and a single elliptical one. Pay attention to this cleverly balanced oval window beside an offset double-hung set about the lower-left elevation. Once again independent dormers divide the scale of the large residence.

Eskuche Design

This comfortable new Minneapolis house has some modern twists on the gambrel roof theme. A large round arch collection within a front-facing gambrel highlights the main entry. The standing-seam metallic roof of this wrapped porch and garage skirt comparison and highlight the primary shingled parts of the roofs. Note the independent shed dormers and how the cross gambrel roof above the garage generates its own dormer impression.

Tommy Chambers Interiors, Inc..

A gambrel roof establishes a focal point for this sprawling and tasteful makeup in Southern California. It’s a intricate equilibrium of forms and components blended unassumingly behind the gambrel. Notice the marvelously detailed lower-level triple window grouping happily topped by a Palladian window scheme, further emphasizing this focal point.

Whether not , the Dutch colonial gambrel roof shape has lived through several hundred decades of American home-building fashions. The first gambrel provided additional habitable space, while modern versions are more flexible, provide greater visual interest and are a beautiful homage to all those pioneering Dutch colonists.

More: Trace more roots of home designs

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