Extend the Roof for Shade and Shelter
Block the sun and rain with a modern brow-like extension of your roof
John Hill
February 1, 2012
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor... More
We've seen how pitched roofs with gable ends can appear modern, even though they are rooted in vernacular buildings and construction. A departure from that traditional form are "brows" — roofs that extend well beyond the exterior wall.
These dramatic extensions shade the interior, define outdoor spaces, provide exterior lighting, and offer other uses. The following examples show this technique to be a fairly contemporary expression that is nevertheless rooted in the modern architecture of Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others.
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These dramatic extensions shade the interior, define outdoor spaces, provide exterior lighting, and offer other uses. The following examples show this technique to be a fairly contemporary expression that is nevertheless rooted in the modern architecture of Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others.
Browse more modern designs | Find an architect
Feldman Architecture's Caterpillar House is sited on the rolling hills north of San Francisco. The design opens itself up to the south with expansive glass walls shaded by the deep overhang of the curving roof.
This roof, supported by slender columns at the exterior porch, gives the Caterpillar House a strong expression, swooping like the gentle pitch of the hills.
From inside we can see how the roof's extension shades the interior when the sun is high, letting it in during the winter, when the sun is low. The pitched roof also serves to capture rainwater that is used for irrigation.
The photo of this energy-efficient house in Austin, Texas, shows not only the extension of the roof but also how it aligns with the patio below. The roof shades but it also helps define a large outdoor space that wraps around to a seating area adjacent to an outdoor fireplace.
Roof "brows" can also work to frame and direct views, such as this large residence that overlooks the San Francisco bay.
This "Sixties Solarium" in Washington, DC was renovated to improve the thermal performance of a 1969-era addition to a 1929 house. Translucent panels comprise the second floor wall above glass doors, all capped by a projecting roof that offers some shade but also incorporates down lighting for the patio below.
Inside, the Sixties Solarium is punctuated by skylights along the translucent-panel wall.
The dusk shot of this house in Seattle illustrates another aspect of "brows": the ceiling and eave often appear continuous, tying outside and inside together. That effect is particularly evident here given the full-height glass exterior walls, which most likely necessitate the large overhang.
This house, also in Seattle, features a dramatic overhang on the second floor that extends over a patio adjacent to the open living space below. Note how the lighting is placed on the exterior wall, highlighting the roof's wood structure.
Another Seattle residence illustrates how roof overhangs are often linked to abundant glass at the exterior wall and outdoor space below. This example is pint-size compared to the previous two Pacific Northwest ones, so it's good to see that these roofs can happen at various scales.
The desert of the American Southwest is a context that is ideal for deep overhangs, particularly when the client and architect opt for large glass walls to capture desert views.
This photo angle gives the impression that the roof overhang is more dramatic than it is, but it's apparent that it's deeper than the roofs to either side. This center roof defines an outdoor seating area linked to the interior via a wide opening with folding doors.
Underneath the brow, we can sense the enclosure created by the deep overhang.
More: Modern gable-style homes
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