A-Frame Roof

An A-frame is an extreme form of steep gable roof in which the two roof planes begin at or near the foundation and rise to meet at a ridge, so that the building's cross-section resembles a capital letter A. The roof is effectively the walls as well, and interiors are often open to the rafters.

History

Triangular, roof-only shelters have existed for centuries across Europe, China and the South Pacific, often as simple utilitarian structures. The modern A-frame house is usually traced to the architect R. M. Schindler, who in 1934 designed a cabin for Gisela Bennati at Lake Arrowhead, California. In 1955 Andrew Geller built the Elizabeth Reese House on Long Island; after it was featured in the New York Times in 1957, thousands of A-frames followed.

From the mid-1950s through the 1970s A-frames became hugely popular in North America and elsewhere as vacation homes and ski chalets. Their appeal was attributed to post-war prosperity, demand for second homes, low building costs and design flexibility. Prefabricated kits, including some sold through department stores, made them even cheaper.

Characteristics

• Very steep pitch, which sheds snow and rain efficiently, making the form well suited to snowy and mountain sites.
• Simple structure of paired rafters or frames on a floor platform.
• Tall glazed gable ends that provide views and daylight.
• Lofts within the upper triangle.

Limitations

• Much of the floor area near the side walls has low headroom, so usable space is smaller than the footprint suggests.
• Placing windows and doors in the sloping sides requires dormers or special framing.
• The large roof area relative to floor area affects the cost of roofing and insulation.

Contemporary use

A-frames have seen renewed interest in the 21st century as cabins, glamping units and small houses, often with metal or shingle roofs.