Dormer Windows and history
This architecture feature contributes form as well as function and can help pinpoint what style a house might be.
Dormers have been featured in architecture since the late 1600s. Although they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all dormers are windows with their own roof, which is set vertically into the roof of the building itself.
To see examples of what dormers look like, go to Dormer Types in the Architecture Guide.

Being able to recognize different types of dormers will give you a big clue to a home’s architectural style—and will likely impress your partner in the process. Here are some of the most important points to remember for dormers, so the next time you see one of these “roof” windows you’ll be able to call it by its true name.
Its History

The origin of dormers goes back centuries to French architect Francois Mansart (1598-1666), who introduced the Mansard style—known for its four-sided, double-pitched roof that has a lower slope that is especially steep. The deep rooflines embraced tall attic spaces that could serve as an additional floor of sleeping areas without exceeding prevailing Parisian height restrictions—if light and ventilation could somehow be introduced.

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