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Ask the Architect
I didn’t really know where to go to ask and through some website with “ask an architect” might be the place to go. My husband and I just came back from a road trip. While riding the scenic routes through Indiana, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont… We noticed several homes with what looked like a room built on the top; mostly square shaped, with a few hexagon sides. Is there any significance to this space?
Thank you for your time, AliciaHello Alicia:
This architectural feature is commonly referred to as a “Widow’s watch” or “Window’s Walk”. Originally these were railed rooftop platforms designed to observe vessels at sea. It was most common along the sea coasts where a wife could look seaward for the safe return of her sea going spouse. In some instances, the ocean took the lives of the mariners. Leaving the women as widows. The woman would often thereafter gaze out to sea wishing beyond hope that their loved ones would return home and hence the name widow’s walk was born.
Many of these roof platforms were later enclosed or built new as an enclosed feature to take advantage of a view. If you visit Seaside, Florida you will see a lot of these structures on houses that are inland to try and gain a view of the ocean.
They can be incorporated into the design of most houses, but are a fairly expensive type of construction.
Ric mixon, AIA LEED AP |
