A-frame houses have many of these features:
- Triangular shape
- Steeply sloping roof that extends to the ground on two sides
- Front and rear gables
- Deep-set eaves
- 1½ or 2½ stories
- Many large windows on front and rear façades
- Small living space
- Few vertical wall surfaces
About the A-frame Style
Triangular and tee-pee shaped homes date back to the dawn of time, but architect Andrew Geller turned an old idea into a revolutionary concept in 1957 when he built an "A-frame" house in Long Island, New York. Named for the distinctive shape of its roofline, Geller's design won international attention when it was featured in the New York Times. Soon, thousands of A-frame homes were built around the world.The steep slope of the A-frame roof is designed to help heavy snow to slide to the ground, instead of remaining on top of the house and weighing it down. At the same time, the sloped roof provides two other benefits. It creates a half floor at the top of the house which can be used for lofts or storage space, and, since the roof extends down to the ground and doesn't need to painted, it minimizes the amount of exterior maintenance required on the house. On the other hand, the sloped roof creates a triangular "dead space" at the base of the walls on each floor. A-frame houses have limited living space and are usually built as vacation cottages for the mountains or beach.
Read About the A-frame House Style:
Beach Houses: Andrew Geller (compare prices)In addition to the prototype A-frame house, Andrew Geller designed dozens of creative and playful beach houses in the 1950s and 60s. These pictures and drawings will delight anyone interested in Geller's architectural genius. Alastair Gordon (Author). ISBN: 1568983212