A saddle roof is a roof form which follows a convex curve about one axis and a concave curve about the other. The

hyperbolic paraboloid In geometry, a paraboloid is a quadric surface that has exactly one axis of symmetry and no center of symmetry. The term "paraboloid" is derived from parabola, which refers to a conic section that has a similar property of symmetry. Every pla ...

form has been used for roofs at various times since it is easily constructed from straight sections of lumber, steel, or other conventional materials. The term is used because the form resembles the shape of a

saddle A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not know ...

. Sometimes referred to as a hypar, the saddle roof may also be formed as a

tensegrity Tensegrity, tensional integrity or floating compression is a structural principle based on a system of isolated components under compression (physical), compression inside a network of continuous tension (mechanics), tension, and arranged in s ...

structure. Mathematically, a saddle shape contains at least one

saddle point In mathematics, a saddle point or minimax point is a Point (geometry), point on the surface (mathematics), surface of the graph of a function where the slopes (derivatives) in orthogonal directions are all zero (a Critical point (mathematics), ...

. The historical meaning is a synonym for a gable roof particularly a ''dual-pitched'' roof on a tower, also called a ''pack-saddle roof''.Passmore, Augustine C.. "Saddle Roof". ''Handbook of technical terms used in architecture and building and their allied trades and subjects'',. London: Scott, Greenwood, and Co.;, 1904. 303. Print.

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Image:Church Army chapel 042.jpg, A hyperbolic paraboloid saddle roof: Church Army Chapel, Blackheath Image:Pengrowth_Saddledome.jpg, A hyperbolic paraboloid saddle roof: The

Scotiabank Saddledome Scotiabank Saddledome is a multi-use indoor arena in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Located in Stampede Park in the southeast end of downtown Calgary, the Saddledome was built in 1983 to replace the Stampede Corral as the home of the Calgary Flames ...

in Calgary, 1983 Image:Dorton Arena West Side.JPG, Dorton Arena designed by

Maciej Nowicki Maciej Nowicki (born 28 September 1941) is a Polish politician, manager and scientist. Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Poland in the cabinet of Donald Tusk (from 16 November 2007 to 1 February 2010). Career Nowicki graduated of ...

Raleigh Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

, United States, 1952 Image:London Velopark, 16 April 2012.jpg, A hyperbolic paraboloid saddle roof: the

London Velopark Lee Valley VeloPark is a cycling centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England. It is owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, and it was opened to the public in March 2014. The facility was one of the pe ...

Image:Gothia Towers, Mässan och Scandinavium 02.JPG, A hyperbolic paraboloid saddle roof:

Scandinavium Scandinavium () is an indoor arena located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, and was inaugurated on 18 May 1971. Scandinavium has been selected as a championship arena at least fifty t ...

Image:W-wa Ochota PKP-WKD.jpg, A

roof of Warszawa Ochota railway station in

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

, Poland, 1962 Image:Wrexham Waterworld Leisure and Activity Centre.JPG, Wrexham Swimming Baths, now Wrexham Waterworld Leisure and Activity Centre, feature a hyperbolic paraboloid roof in

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

, United Kingdom, 1969 File:Canada Place - Vancouver 052.jpg, Multi-semi-hyperbolic-paraboloid roofs on

Canada Place Canada Place, co-named Komagata Maru incident, Komagata Maru Place, is a building situated on the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is home to the Vancouver Convention Centre East Building, the Pan Pacific Hotels and Resor ...

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, Canada

References

External links

Kansas State Historical Society newsletter featuring house with hyperbolic paraboloid roof.

Architectural elements Roofs {{Architecturalelement-stub

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See also

References

External links