Paris Architecture Roof

The most dramatic new feature of paris religious architecture in the 17th century was the dome which was first imported from italy in about 1630 and began to change the paris skyline which hitherto had been entirely dominated by church spires and bell towers.

Paris architecture roof.

The landscape architect arnaud casaus is creating green spaces wilder and warmer than those found at street level. The domed churches began as a weapon of the counter reformation against the architectural austerity of the protestants. Visit notre dame s iconic frame with 210 tons of lead or the dome of the invalides covered by 500 000 gold leaves. From cathedrals to government buildings the roofs of paris are unrivaled in beauty and ingenuity.

A century later the french architect françois mansart 1598 1666 used double sloped roofs so extensively that they were coined mansard a derivation of mansart s. An enormous sloping roof crowned the original louvre palace in paris constructed in 1546. During the renaissance in italy and france many buildings had steep double sloped roofs. Designed by italian architect mario bellini and french architect rudy ricciotti the highlight of the building is its golden undulating roof.

Made of metal mesh it looks as if a veil billowing in the wind became frozen in time. Yet one of the capital s most impressive features is invisible at street level.