A Second Empire style townhouse with an ogee Mansard roof.
The Mansard roof form that turns an Italianate style house into a Second Empire style house comes from France and was typically called a “French roof” during the 19th century – when all things Parisian were in vogue. The lower slope of the character-defining Mansard roof can be a straight plane, a convex or concave curve, or an ogee (s-shaped) curve, as on this example in the Old Midtown Historic District in Harrisburg, PA.
Without the Mansard roof, these houses would be Italianate in style. All their other features are shared with that style. The roof type is what distinguishes the Second Empire style and defines it.
Understanding the style of a house will help you understand which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Second Empire is one of 25 historic architectural styles described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
The 720 page award-winning and best-selling hardcover book is available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
Signed and personalized copies are available directly from the author in the shop on this site, https://yourhistorichouse.com/shop/.
Your local bookstore can order copies from W.W. Norton.
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