The A-frame house: wonderfully weird

There is something charming about sloping roofs: this is what residents of an A-frame house appreciate. In this type of house there are only straight gable walls, the rest is dominated by slopes – even on the ground floor.

Two roofs, one ridge, and the A-frame house is complete. Side walls? There are none. The A-frame house is a rare building form in which the gable roof almost extends to the ground. As the name suggests, the house consists only of a gable roof. The two front sides of an A-frame house form the typical triangular gable shape. These are often fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in a lot of natural light and, depending on the location, offer a beautiful view. A-frame houses usually have one to two floors. Thanks to the Tiny House movement, these nature-oriented triangular houses are popular again.

Living under the slope can mean living with the charm of sloping surfaces and living with the charm of beams and the like. Thanks to its unique shape, the A-frame house offers plenty of space inside. The high ceilings and natural materials give the interior a warm and cosy atmosphere, while also feeling open and spacious.

The kitchen, dining and living areas are mostly at ground level. Here, the focus is on the connection to nature. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in light and connect the interior to the natural surroundings. If a gallery is included, the living space can open up into the gable. As the house is mostly a timber-frame construction, the natural building material is also the dominant element inside. The bedrooms are located under the gable on the upper floor. Sometimes there is a third level at the top, where sleeping can take place.

Critics find fault with the fact that the A-frame house's interior is characterised only by its slopes. Although this limits the design possibilities inside the house, it also allows for creative solutions: Open beams or visible staircases, for example, create a modern loft feel.

With custom-made furniture, you can make the most of any slope. For example, bunk beds under the slope create a wonderfully cosy bed for the night and make the most of the space available. If the bed is placed under a skylight, and it's a starry night, you can fall counting shooting stars instead of sheep. With a sense for the overall design, you can create great living environments of the highest quality.

The A-frame house is a special type of A-frame house: It consists entirely of roofs that reach down to the ground. The building has four roofs, all with the same pitch, and the peaks all touch each other.

A tent roof has no ridge. One of the most characteristic features is symmetry. This is why this type of building is also called a pyramid house. One of the most famous buildings of this type is the glass pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre in Paris.

In Scandinavia, these houses are often used as holiday homes on the beach. Here, this type of building is called a Finn cottage or Finland house. There are often entire holiday villages built in this style. This type of roof is particularly popular in ski resorts, as the snow easily slides off the building.

If the house is located in warmer regions, the main living space on the ground floor remains cool because the warm air rises to the top of the building. In Germany, the A-frame house is typically found in the lakeland of Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, the Harz Mountains, Thuringia, or the Ore Mountains.

An A-frame house is largely a matter of taste. It is particularly suitable as a charming holiday or a single person's home. Because of their rural and traditional appearance, A-frame houses are popular with people who appreciate a lifestyle close to nature.