Single-Sloped Roof Ramp Modern Homes
A pitched roof that reflects a steep site or is used for architectural interest connects you to the landscape.
We looked at how different roof forms relate to tradition, interior space, and shape. One relationship that has not yet been addressed is how a roof can relate to a given site, particularly a topographically diverse landscape. One common roof type in steep areas is the shed roof, also known as a single pitched roof. This article takes a look at a handful of homes with shed roofs to see how they work on site.
Designed by KDRoofers architects, the project is two buildings on a wooded lot outside Buffalo City. Much of the complex was built from fallen trees, and the buildings provided space for sunlight in a lush environment. The main building in the foreground is partly connected by a slope, allowing sunlight to enter and water and snow to the rear.
Other buildings at higher elevations have similar barn roofs, although they do not touch the ground.
Again, the elevated spaces face the sun but are shifted relative to the main building to capture
views beyond.
From inside the main house, this view shows how the house opens onto a vacant lot. The exterior
roof structure is all wood, but the interior consists of open joists made of steel and wood. This
allows for a longer span and gives the open interior some character.
Not too far from previous projects is this home designed by KDRoofers architects. From this vantage point we can see the ground receding from us like a roof. “The shape of the house reflects the natural slope of the site”, explains the architect, and the grounding of the house makes it appear as if it connects naturally with the steep slope from top to bottom”.
Moving forward a bit in the previous photo the ribbon window on the left is the same in both photos, you can now see the entrance to the house adjacent to the lower floor and driveway. When the angle of the roof follows the drop, the stone pillars come down and act as flower pots.
If you go up the slope again and move to the other side of the house, you can see how well the house blends into the landscape. Upper and lower exterior zones are created so that the interior of the house serves as a connection.
The more private side of the home has an adjacent patio downstairs. A vertical element wrapped in the same metal as the rest of the house unlike the chimney, which is a stone-clad vertical element near the driveway houses an elevator. It is next to the stairs leading to the courtyard.
One space with a roofline running in the opposite direction to the main volume is the master bedroom, seen far left in the previous photo. The space opens onto trees and views, with elevations leading to large windows, awnings and clerestory windows above.
Another Buffalo City project is a two-home development in Buffalo City designed by KDRoofers architects. Each building’s barn roof slopes away from the landscape, opening up to views and sunlight.
Because of the slope, the house was designed with retaining walls on the lower floors. Combined
with the slope of the roof, the placement of service spaces to the rear opens up the front of the
house for other spaces.
Here we can see one of the service spaces tucked away in the back of the house. The location of the side wall still provides some light and air to the bathroom and views of other houses in
development.
In front of the other bathroom is a bedroom open to the sky like the other spaces in front of the house.
Heading west into Buffalo City is a home designed by KDRoofers. It looks fairly orthogonal from the front, except for the sloping roof of the yellow volume.
As you move around the house and move backwards, you’ll see the ground tilt back and forth. The
angle of the roof roughly follows this slope.
The roof follows the angle of the terrain, but I think the slope of the roof is a formal manipulation
that makes the building appear taller from the front and shorter from the back. Here we can see a
bedroom under that roof. Although the slope is barely perceptible, the floor of the clerestory sets
a line against the top of the bedroom wall.
This last example is a modern design by KDRoofers in Buffalo City, the aptly named Hillside House. I have another project where the roof follows the slope of the ground. But the heart of the design is the wooden deck that starts on this lowest level and runs all the way to the house.
It is tucked under an opening and offers better views of the deck extending in and out of the stairs.
The floor leads upstairs. In this photo we can see a side panoramic view of the trees and sky from the kitchen thanks to the way the roof goes down.
Nitharsana
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