Design Shed Roof
This popular and versatile form straddles the line between contemporary and traditional styles.
Few architectural elements in a house suggest as strongly of being “traditional” or “modern” as the
shape of the roof. Ask your children to draw a house and they will most likely get a box with a
classic gable roof. The same goes for flat roofs and their association with modern architecture. A
shed or single-slope roof is in between. Neither completely modern nor entirely traditional, the
building evokes images of a wood shed or tool shed.
For architects, the choice and design of a roof shape is not about being modern or traditional, but
about determining what role the roof can play in the interior space and how it can actively respond
to the local climate and site conditions. The specific needs of the landlord. A barn roof is a
particularly adaptable solution and here’s why.
Structural simplicity
The barn roof form is inherently simple from a structural point of view. Roof loads are transferred
to exterior walls that act as bearing walls or, as in this example, are supported by simple beams
and columns. Depending on the desired interior space shape, a barn roof can support these loads
using trusses, a combination of beams and purlins, or simple roof rafters that run from eaves to
eaves.
Each variant offers more or less interior details. A series of regularly spaced rafters across the
ceiling spaced approximately 24 inches in the center display structural logic and give the room a
richly textured cap. Also great for room acoustics.
Here, the architects hid the structural frame to create a clean, minimalist aesthetic that helps
maximize the amount of reflected light.
The choice of representation of the internal structure also affects thermal insulation. In this
example, the depth of the framing members can be filled with insulation and masked by the ceiling
finish. Exposed framing requires insulation to be placed above the interior ceiling plane, resulting
in a thicker roof.
Site response
When architects talk about site responsive buildings, they mean that the shape and layout of the
building is determined by the characteristics of the given site. The meaning may vary from site to
site. Sloping terrain, distant views, large rocks or trees, climate and sun exposure are all factors we
can counteract, and barn roofs offer unique opportunities for each.
Topography. Mirroring the surrounding terrain in the form of a roof, as in this project, reduces the
scale and visual impact of the house on the site. It fits the overall idea of fitting a house into a
place.
Using the roof form to oppose the slope distinguishes the building form and opens up other spatial
opportunities. Here it is used to insert a full second floor on the downhill side.
Passive solar. The barn shape is an efficient means of solving the solar problem for a given
latitude. In northern climates, placing the shed’s low eaves toward the north minimizes the
building’s surface area and heat loss from the cold. The tall wall at the top of the barn faces south
to collect the sun and passively heat the space.
In hot climates, sheds can be oriented to minimize heat gain from south and west exposures while
allowing plenty of indirect sunlight.
If there is a lot of south-facing glazing, special care must be taken to prevent overheating. This is
true for all climates. This is because these windows can introduce a large amount of heat into a
home all year round.
Adding louvered slats to the exterior, as in this project, allows for careful control of heat gain. The
slats here are designed for a specific latitude, blocking out the high angles of the summer sun and
allowing in the low angles of the winter sun.
Indoor lighting racks with shed roofs allow you to control both daylight and heat gain. Shelves
help reduce the size of tall exterior walls and provide a comfortable frame of reference near eye
level inside.
Overhangs are another passive design element that helps prevent heat from reaching the interior.
They can be sized to let in and see light while blocking direct heat gain during the hottest hours of
the day. This large overhang with an expressive frame is a thoroughly modern, honest and
functional aesthetic.
Daylight. Daylight window bands with pointed ends are one of the most common types of glazing
used on barn roofs. Activate passive solar heating and mining strategies.
Floor-to-ceiling glass makes the roof appear suspended in mid-air and the entire room appears to
be part of the outdoors. The more daylight we can capture, the less we have to rely on artificial
light sources.
Weather protection. Although roofs can be designed to provide adequate weather protection,
sheds have some advantages that other shapes do not. The wedge shape has clear fronts and backs
that can be used to mitigate prevailing wind patterns and direct water and snow away from
sidewalks, inlets and rally points. In this way, the roof form bears its name by removing undesirable
elements from the places we use it most often.
The depth of the roof overhang also affects the weather to which nearby interior spaces are
subjected. Deep overhangs can help mitigate the risk of flooding. Especially in the more fragile
large glass areas seen in many of these examples.
Rainwater harvesting. A roof can provide both protection and protection. Rainwater is efficiently
collected and directed to a single collection point, where it can be used for irrigation or simply
moved away from the building foundation.
Orientation (view). The shape of the roof viewed from the inside naturally directs the gaze
upwards and outwards. Here, the roof is used as a dynamic directional element, focusing us
towards the stunning views. Contrast this with gabled and flat roofs that are inherently more static
and inward looking.
This directional effect can be utilized to refocus an interior space from a less desirable view or
neighborhood to a more optimal view.
Roof slope
The slope of a barn roof has a significant impact on its design. For a given horizontal room
dimension, there is a delicate balance between shorter structural members required for lower slopes
and longer structures required for steeper slopes. Longer spans require deeper framing members,
heavier sections, or both. A thick roof plane can feel too heavy and like a hat. The project maintains
lean sections in proportion to the thin architectural elements used elsewhere.
The slope of the roof affects the headroom of the high and low eaves inside and how grand the
space feels.
As discussed earlier, it is recommended to consider the slope along with the latitude of the building
to achieve optimal sun exposure. A steeper pitch is better in higher latitudes. Low pitch at low
altitude.
Steep sheds require careful interior planning to maintain headroom spacing from eaves. The slope
of the snow country is steep, so snow falls even if the roof is covered. Take this into account and
don’t forget to shovel using the shape.
In this warehouse, the attic space is replaced by a living space, opening up several opportunities
like the attic seen here.
Ingredient
Roof slope directly affects the material that can cover the barn roof. All slopes less than 2 inches
by 12 inches are considered flat and must be waterproofed. An incline between 2:12 and 4:12 is
generally considered a low incline while an incline between 4:12 and 12:12 is generally considered
an incline. Each roofing material has its own limits on roof pitch, and if you exceed that limit, you
must either not use that material or follow special procedures for installing that material. With the
right budget, almost anything is possible.
Modern and traditional
The formal vagueness of a barn roof can be a real advantage for those who prefer a more modern aesthetic but don’t want to fully embrace the idea of a flat roof. The warehouse form is a widely accepted and versatile design element because it has both a traditional identity and a modern feel.
Learn rooftop terminology https://kdroofers.com
Nitharsana
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