Stapped Gables
–Art déco–
A stepped gable is a roof edge that follows a stair-step shape instead of a simple triangle. They have been popular all throughout Europe during the Medieval age.
In 1920s architecture, stepped gables made a small comeback as a reference to historic traditions. They were simplified and stripped of ornament, reduced to geometric outlines that fit the new aesthetic. While most buildings of the decade had flat roofs or simple gables, stepped gables were occasionally used for representative buildings such as town halls or fire stations.
They appeared especially in buildings with Art déco influence, where the geometric rhythm of the gable could be combined with other decorative elements in a modern, stylized way. The form also fit with the ideals of Neue Sachlichkeit, which emphasized horizontals and verticals over curves and ornament. [1]
Town hall from 1928/29RückmarsdorfWikimedia Commons
Apartment house with a prominent stepped gable facing an intersectionLeipzigArchitektur Lichtblick
