Triangular Roof Family Room Decorating

10 Gable Roofs That Praise the Triangle

Interesting design solutions using a simple triangle can define the overall form and architectural style of a building

Dominic Bagnato

November 30, 2015

Houzz Australia Contributor. Director at Bagnato Architects. I have a passion for architecture and building, and I love creating spaces that are well planned and simple, using natural materials to create warmth and luxury.

When designing a new home or extension where simplicity is key to all design considerations, I am always drawn towards the wonderful attributes of the humble gabled roof. There is no doubt, however, that many clients see this type of roof form as being mundane. But the beauty of a gabled roof form lies in its versatility.

The simple triangular shape, where two roof panels meet at a ridge, creates internal volumes in its vaulted ceiling, allowing for attic or mezzanine floors to be added to a home. Most importantly, the shape provides a blank canvas in its external wall that can offer fascinating design scope. This space can be punctuated with windows, or used to create stunning eave overhangs. Here are 10 gabled roofs that showcase an exciting variety of architectural features.

1. Fenestration and transparency
The versatility of the gable roof seen here has allowed architects at A Parallel Architecture to accommodate not only an extra internal floor, but also an additional attic space. This was achieved by steeply pitching the roof from a wide base to a high-degree, meeting at the ridge and creating a vast internal volume.

As there are no traditional external walls to penetrate with windows, the gable end becomes the only wall to let sunlight in. Glazing the entire triangular shape lightens the roof form and prevents it from appearing top-heavy and out of proportion with the ground floor.

2. An appreciation of volume
A gable roof can be designed so it doesn't have intermediate supports. In other words, it is just supported at its base and at its ridge. With no cross bracing or ceiling joists in between where a traditional ceiling would be hung, the volume of the roof can be exposed to create additional height. This gives architects the ability to clad the internal roof with whatever material they like.

In this home designed by Andrew Simpson Architects, the exposure of structure is the predominant theme throughout. It was a natural choice for the gable to be clad in timber, with the pitched shape emphasising the rafters.

3. Providing protection
A simple triangular roof can allow the blurring of the lines between the inside and the outside of a space. In this home designed and constructed by Cambuild, timber lining boards clad the underside of the gable roof and extend outside, where they become part of a large eave overhang which protects a first-floor balcony terrace.

There are in fact two gable ends here. One gable end is set back quite a distance from the external perimeter of the house – its fully transparent glazing protecting inhabitants from the external elements. The other is an open-end gable at the edge of the terrace. This allows homeowners to sit outdoors while still under the protection of the roof.

4. Delivering a connection
A gable roof is an interesting way to create a link and define an entry point between two competing building forms. Room 11 have designed an entry point set in a gable end, and this has been recessed back to draw the viewer's attention into the welcoming courtyard, while at the same time providing glimpses of what lies within the home. The pitched roof almost acts like an arrow, leaving no doubt that this is the way in.

5. Defining the main body of the house
If your home consists of a series of pavilions or annexes gathered around a central form, such as this home designed by Surround Architecture Inc, consideration should be given to accentuating the main body of the house. This is done so that it stands out from the sum of the other parts. The dominant shape here is the simple gable-ended box on the left. A two-storey component stands out, making it clear that it is the main and focal point of the house.

Simplicity is the key attribute here, so the roof form is deliberately kept to a simple gable-end design in order to contrast with the flat roofs in the other components of the house.

6. Putting a stamp on shape
A great way to appreciate a gable-roof form is to keep the shape of the building as simple as possible. Sometimes creating simplicity and showing restraint is harder than it looks. However, the architects at Jamie Falla Architecture have shown great skill by allowing the form to stand alone – without embellishment and unnecessary detail to detract from its simple shape.

Instead, they have carefully carved away components of the box-like building. This allows the house to be functional (in regards to allowing light and people to enter) without destroying the overall form. You can still recognise the shape even though the architects have introduced a small circular window in the gable end, removed the lower corner and created a glazed entry on one side.

7. Offering cover
A gabled roof is a great way to provide a very simple and utilitarian form of cover over your home. This very cost-effective gable roof is stripped of all its skins to reveal the underlying structure which supports it and the metal roof cover. The extended eaves not only provide shelter from the sun but they also mark the entry. Here, Skyring Architects celebrate the simple characteristics of a gabled roof form as both a means of protecting the building from the outside elements and providing internal volume for the home.

8. Showing artistic expression
The simple triangular shape of a gable roof can show what happens on the inside of the home as well as what happens on the outside. Defining a gable roof as a series of triangles that meet at a ridge point, FMD Architects decided to celebrate this characteristic by exploring how these elements can be used in a very creative way.

Like a set of dinosaur ribs devoid of any cover, the roof and wall structures extend behind the gable face and into the garden to form an exciting pergola, while throwing interesting shadows onto the paving.

9. Explaining architectural history
In our own architectural office, we had an opportunity to transform a 100-year-old timber church into a contemporary home. However, we soon discovered that to preserve history and tell a story, we had to find a way to explain the architectural history of the existing building along with the proposed new contemporary additions.

Our solution was to preserve the gothic timber gable roof, restoring it back to its original condition, while proposing a contemporary gable roof adjacent that would leave no doubt as to the age of each section. The older gable was made of timber and contained architectural fretwork and eaves, while the new gable has no eaves, is smaller in proportion and devoid of detail.

See more of this project

10. Creating an artistic identity
These two wonderful pavilions make up a home designed by Auhaus Architecture. They are located in a coastal setting, and contain sleeping quarters in one and living zones in the other. In essence they are two simple architectural boxes sitting in a garden. However, their identity is assured with the bold use of colour on each gable end.

Contrast is created on each gable face wherein one half is solid and the other contains windows, looking almost like a split personality. Detail is kept to a minimum, elevating the importance of the simple triangular forms.

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