Thursday, September 17, 2009

Pent Roofs and Petticoats

Hooked on Houses is hosting her "Hooked on Fridays" blog party; I hope y'all will click here and have look. I'm hooked on new a new house that's that doesn't look new and has a feminine twist.

Last weeks post, It's a Teardown," Cote de Texas' post: "Male vs. Female: It’s a Size Thing", and Dan Curl's email about a pent roofs reminded me of this house. It's a new house in an old neighborhood, it has pent roofs and, it has a feminine twist to the exterior.

PB181268-Harrison-Drewry

This is a new spec house in Virginia Highlands, Atlanta designed by Harrison Design Associates. This is my current favorite new house in neighborhood. Why?
  • It looks more in keeping with the neighborhood that the neighboring houses.
  • It's big but conceals it's bulk with different veneers, different window types (check out the 6 over 9 windows), and by breaking up long lines. The wall dormers give the rear a 1 1/2 story look. I'd bet there are 2 floors of 10' ceiling back there.
  • It doesn't look at all new.

I could imagine that it:

  • Began as a shallow brick Cape Cod.
  • Added a shingle-sided second story.
  • Added a shingle-sided wing toward the back.
  • Added a garage.

And it has a feminine side: a petticoat.

Most homes would have nearly invisible drip caps instead. Here the drip cap becomes a charming pent roof. If that's not feminine. I don't know what is. It's decorative, practical, and girly.

PB181270-Harrison-Drewry-Pent-

Update: I asked Architect Katie Hutchison at House Enthusiast for the correct term. Thanks Katie: Here is what she said:

"I think the shingle flare in the photo on your site is more of a water table than a pent, though. I call such flares 'skirts' too."
I intended to use this post to explain pent roofs so I guess I'd better:

My friend Dan Curl is a home inspector, and fellow Architecture Tourist. Dan lives and breathes water damage. He wrote this:

Note the Pent Roof over the deck. It shelters openings (door/windows) in exterior walls. Note that the upper soffit is too small to effectively shelter the windows below it. Pent roofs are a great idea: they combine function (sheltered openings in the exterior wall) and design ('breaking up" monolithic sidings). Too bad there are so few and that they are used in a design sense only
Dan
The "Eco Inspector" at Comprehensive Home Inspections
The is a new town home complex. There are many of these in Atlanta. See the pent room sheltering the windows and doors to the deck?

Dan-Curl-Pent-Roof-Web

Dan-Curl-Pent-Roof-Web-Detail

The pent roof idea is really old. Water has been damaging homes for 1000's of years. Here is one only a few hundred years old:

Restoration of the Pent Roof at IndenHofen House ca. 1725 in Pennsylvania.

Thanks to Hooked on Houses' "Hooked on Fridays" blog party..

18 comments:

  1. Oh - this post is an inspiration for me. I need a pent roof off the French doors to the kitchen! I replaced those doors a few years ago because of rot/water damage, and again I see evidence of rot and water damage because the water just wears on the doors on the north facing side.

    Old new houses - pretty much my ideal.

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  2. That first house is nice because it doesn't scream new. It does look like it would fit into an existing neighborhood.

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  3. I love blogs like this where I can learn something I didn't already know! Thanks for the tweet about hooked on Houses, I just posted on her blog party!!

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  4. That's a lovely house. I really like house exteriors that combine different materials. There's one in our neighbourhood that has red brick, cedar shingles, and stone. I admire it every time I go by.

    Thanks for the lesson on pent roofs -- I didn't know about them before.

    Thanks for your comments on my Bluenose post. For sure building a ship like her takes amazing skills and know-how.

    Kelly

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  5. Perfect. I love learning new words. Have seen pent roofs but didn't know the name.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

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  6. I love that house, would love to be able to see the inside. Thanks for helping me learn about pent roofs - can't wait to share with my husband.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog - have a great weekend.

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  7. Beautiful home! I love homes that look old but are brand new! The Crabapple Cottage featured in Southern Living by the Atlanta Architect John Tee is my absolute favorite! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Love the first home too!!! And I am with Kelly on fusing different materials. Great look. Great post.

    xo,
    cristin

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  9. what a gorgeous home. i can see why it is your favorite in the neighborhood.

    so glad you stopped by my blog and took the time to leave a comment. thanks!!

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  10. I love how the house is nestled in the trees. Thanks for the little lesson, and for your comments. Terry, I love hearing what you have to say!
    -Angela

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  11. I received a wonderful education about pent roofs. Thank you so much!

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  12. That house is beautiful. I'm not normally a fan of new construction, but it looks like it's been there for a hundred years or so.

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  13. Terry,
    I agree this home is wonderful. I love all the layers it has. Interesting explanation on the pent roof. Is this something that is common in your area? I have not noticed them before so maybe its regional.
    Cathy

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  14. I have many pent roofs on my house. Didn't know the name until now but I knew I wanted them as they help to define the lines so well.

    Every time I visit your blog I learn something new!

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  15. Michelle, if you have a lot of pent roofs that your house will last much longer that most. Dan Curl would be proud of your house for sure.

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  16. Great post! I learned something here. Thank you.

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  17. I do like that house too, Terry and I really like it's "skirt." I'm a big fan of architectural details like that. Great post!

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  18. Beautiful house in the top photo. Thanks for explaining the pent roof. I'd never heard the term and I love learning new things.

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