Architecture Term
Gable
The triangular wall section between the two slopes of a pitched roof. Steep, closely spaced gables are a Tudor and English Manor signature.
Architectural terms describe the massing, materials, and detail that define estate homes in the European vocabularies used throughout Skyecroft.
Gable in Skyecroft practice
Steep front gables give English Manor and Tudor homes their vertical, picturesque silhouette. In a renovation, a new gable must match the existing pitch and trim profile or the addition reads as an afterthought. Gable ends also hold attic vents and decorative trim that need periodic maintenance.
What to verify
- Matching pitch for any new gable.
- Trim and vent condition at gable ends.
- Guideline standards for roof form on the planned work.
Where this term matters in the guide
For the wider treatment of this subject, read Architectural Styles. Definitions here are general editorial explanations of common usage — they are not legal definitions and do not interpret any specific recorded document. See Disclosures.
Nearby Language
Related terms.
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The overall three-dimensional composition of a building — the arrangement and relative size of its volumes. Estate archi…
- Elevation
A scaled drawing of one exterior face of a building. In review, all four elevations matter, not just the street-facing o…
- Four-Sided Architecture
The design standard requiring the same quality of material and detail on every face of a home, rather than a rich front …
- Porte-Cochère
A roofed structure extending over a drive, allowing passage from a vehicle under cover. A recurring motif in French- and…
- Quoin
The dressed stone or masonry units that emphasize a building's outside corners, common in Georgian and French Country vo…
- Dormer
A roofed projection with a window, set into a sloping roof. Dormer rhythm and proportion strongly signal architectural s…
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