DIY Chinese houses. How to build a Chinese roof with your own hands? How to make a Chinese roof: stages of construction

Despite the difference in teachings and beliefs, the presence of unusual sacraments and exotic rituals, European countries in one way or another gravitate toward eastern traditions, which attract attention with their mystery and sophistication, uniqueness and brightness. The described trend is typical for almost all spheres of life and, first of all, for architecture. The buildings erected by the hands of oriental architects are distinguished by their originality and attractiveness, and the first thing you involuntarily pay attention to when looking at them are Chinese roofs, which can be single or multi-tiered. Regardless, the roof Chinese house It is a massive structure, characterized by the presence of curved edges and giving the Chinese building majesty and, at the same time, elegance. The curved shape of the Chinese roof is not only a design delight, but also a way to reduce the weight of the roof structure, making it possible to equip it without rafters, based on a post-and-beam structure. Unusual geometry is not the only advantage of Chinese roofing. Individual elements of this architectural sophistication are distinguished by their elaborate patterns and rich mosaic decoration and are often found in traditional European buildings. They unusually harmoniously combine the severity of wooden ornaments and almost weightless, fragile decorative elements. Despite the apparent complexity of the Chinese roof design, even an inexperienced craftsman, following the advice presented in the article, will be able to build it himself. At the same time, it is important to pay attention not only to the main details of construction, but also to small nuances that facilitate the installation process.

Chinese roofs: a little history

The traditions of the East that have developed over several millennia determine the features of architectural landmarks and their elements. The Chinese roof was no exception. As a finishing element in Chinese homes and religious buildings, it is characterized by a variety of decorations and curved corners. There are even ancient legends that explain the design features of this architectural element. According to one of them, at night dragons descend from rooftops with the aim of harming people. Thanks to the curved corners of the roof, they fail to do this and are forced to fly back into the sky. However, this is far from the only and not the most popular reason that today explains the presence of raised corners on Chinese-style roofs. Modern architects offer a more prosaic and explainable, from the point of view practical features, version. In accordance with it, the presence of raised curved corners at the roof in the Chinese style is explained by the large amount of rainfall in the area where the construction of houses most often ends with the arrangement of such architectural elements. These design features of the Chinese roof contribute to more efficient removal of precipitation at a distant distance from the walls of the building. In addition, the protruding overhangs of the Chinese roof protect the internal space of the building from excessive amounts of sunlight.

Chinese roofs photos

Design features of Chinese architecture

Due to fairly frequent earthquakes, Chinese buildings are designed in such a way that they can effectively withstand the high seismic activity of the area. This is achieved by the design features of the building and, in particular, the roof, which rests on a central pillar, often not even dug into the ground and designed to absorb vibrations of the earth's crust, which is aimed at protecting the building. In ancient times, the roofs of poor houses were covered with bamboo, while wealthy people decorated their homes with yellow glazed tiles made from clay. In addition, to decorate such roofs, decorative images of animals were used, according to the eastern inhabitants, protecting the house from evil spirits, and carvings; some elements were painted with oil paint.

Despite the similarity of the traditions of China and Japan, the construction of Japanese houses is carried out according to a completely different principle. In most cases, they are a frame covered with paper, and therefore they are more reminiscent of a structure without windows and doors. All vertically oriented planes serve as partitions, thanks to which the building is quickly restored in the event of frequent earthquakes, and if the building is destroyed, the debris will not cause damage. great harm to a person. Lack of foundation and powerful load-bearing walls made of wood or stone only helps to increase the safety of the building.

The nuances of building a Chinese roof: what to pay attention to?

Before installing a Chinese roof, it is necessary to highlight its main differences from European roofing systems. The main element of the Chinese roof is the pagoda, characterized as a stepped square roof with raised edges. For the manufacture of Chinese roofing, wood is used - larch, pine, oak, spruce or bamboo, and facing material- stone tiles, metal or natural tiles.

The presence of several levels is a distinctive feature of the Chinese roof, which not only gives it a special charm, but also imposes certain obligations on the appearance of the house and its architectural concept.

Important! If you are planning to install a gazebo, complemented by a Chinese roof, the structure should be open and light, while the conceptual design of a residential building should clearly show the features of traditional oriental style. Choosing overall design building, pay attention to the combination of its individual elements, since a massive stone house with European features, complemented by a Chinese-style roof, is unlikely to delight even a simple layman who knows nothing about architecture.

Spectacular openwork design roofs with edges directed towards the sky are the main element of the building, attracting attention when looking at works of Chinese architecture. Despite the fact that recreating the design of a Chinese roof is fraught with certain difficulties, if you follow the basic nuances, you can easily avoid them. Let's look at what these nuances are.

The main parameters of roofs made in the Chinese style, distinguishing them from works of European architecture:

Unlike European buildings, works of Chinese architecture are built on the basis of a gutter-beam structure. The rafter system, which serves as the basis for European houses, rests on load-bearing walls, while the basis of Chinese buildings is a central pillar that takes on all the loads. The design of hanging rafters, which take place in European architecture, implies the presence of struts, rafter legs and puffs. The support beams, ceiling beams and other elements characteristic of European construction are intended to give the structure rigidity and strength, but works of Chinese architecture lack these elements. If in European houses the arrangement rafter system is carried out according to the principle of a triangle, then the load distribution in eastern houses is carried out according to the principle of a rectangle;
For the installation of Chinese roofing, cylindrical tiles are used, the unique shape of which is determined by the need to fasten them at the corner joints. To give the roof a special flavor, it is necessary to use a special profile and figures with fantastic images, called “qiang shou”. The installation of the roof ridge is carried out according to a similar scheme, with the Qiang shou being replaced with ceramic clamps, the specific “horned” configuration of which attracts attention when looking at a Chinese roof;
Distinctive feature Chinese roofing is the use of large eaves that extend far beyond the building and thereby protect the building from excessive climatic influences, such as excessive ultraviolet radiation, strong wind and others. Due to the large weight of the eaves, the entire mass of the roof is distributed in such a way that the entire structure of the building acquires increased stability. As for the dougong cornice system, it completely takes on the weight of the cornices.

Important!Specific characteristics Chinese roof:

Uniform distribution of load in the horizontal and vertical planes of the frame;

The design of the Chinese roof assumes the presence of corners curved upward;

The upper part of the roof is characterized by the presence of a steep slope, which becomes gentler downwards.

An integral element of the Chinese roof are massive eaves that extend far beyond the external walls Houses;

To ensure timely removal of precipitation from the external surface of the roof and effective protection her inner surface from excess sunlight, it is equipped with overhangs, which also protrude over the external walls at a considerable distance;

Chinese roofs, characterized by a multi-tiered structure, are not uncommon in oriental architecture.

Chinese roof diagram: original or imitation?

If you still prefer a Chinese roof, you need to pay special attention to its design, since already at this stage It is important to decide whether you will preserve its unique design during the construction process or limit yourself to its external imitation. The construction of a unique structure is a rather expensive undertaking, whereas by performing only its external imitation, you can not only save money, but also build a building that is more practical for the middle zone.

Important! The main difference in the design of European and traditional eastern roofs is the presence or absence of a rafter system. The construction of houses in Japan and China involves the absence of rafters, since they are replaced by a support-beam system that is more resistant to frequent seismic activity. In this regard, in the case of erecting a structure in an area where there is no such danger, you can remain faithful to the structural systems traditional for the middle zone.

If you carefully study the photographs showing Chinese roofs, you will notice that they have many similarities with some structures familiar to the European continent, the most striking example of which is summer gazebo- a pagoda that fits well into the surrounding landscape.

First of all, decide on the configuration of the future roof and develop a roofing project. Experts believe that the construction hipped roof is associated with certain difficulties, and therefore they recommend choosing a more simple designs, giving preference to a gable roof with two gables. Although this option is one of the simplest, you can still satisfy your desire to become the owner of a building, complemented by an exotic roofing structure.

The next stage involves designing a supporting system. Special attention it is necessary to pay attention to the rafters and sheathing, since they determine the reliability and appearance roofs. However, do not forget that the use of traditional frame technology not typical of eastern architecture, and therefore the usual walls must be replaced with a support pillar located strictly in the middle and fully taking on all the loads. In traditional European construction, this function is performed by load-bearing walls.

Important! If the European roofing structures familiar to us are characterized by a “triangular” load distribution, then this principle is alien to eastern architecture. The roof load in Chinese buildings is distributed over the surface of the building in the form of a rectangle, according to general form designs. In addition, Chinese roofs are characterized by a multi-tiered structure, and therefore they often consist of several roofs laid one on top of the other.

If you are planning to build a multi-tier structure, contact a professional architect who will tell you how to implement this idea correctly so that it effectively protects from rain and, at the same time, is resistant to earthquakes.

Before starting work, draw a detailed plan that shows the structural nuances of the rafter system in great detail. Thanks to this, you will be able to assemble it as accurately as possible and calculate the required amount of material. Most suitable material for arranging the covering under the roofing material, moisture-resistant plywood is used, the use of which will allow you to repeat all the roofing bends as accurately as possible. All wooden elements, included in the roof structure, including moisture-resistant plywood, it is advisable to impregnate them with antiseptic compounds that prevent them from being damaged by insects.

The design of the rafter system is carried out in accordance with the prepared sketch, while trying as much as possible to achieve the distinctive feature of the Chinese roof - its concave profile. To accomplish this, two versions of Chinese roofing have been developed.

How to build a Chinese roof: possible options

A rafter system based on a pyramid with a rectangular base

If you prefer this arrangement option, know that the supporting system, in this case, is the rafter quadrangle. By placing them on top of each other, you will get the desired pyramid.

If you are setting up gable roof, the length of both quadrilaterals will be the same. To obtain a parabolic roof curve, it is necessary to select the height of the racks and the width of the trusses. It is important to note that the most suitable material for the manufacture of sheathing elements are 20 mm thick boards. Starting from the ridges, they are attached towards the eaves, and therefore the number of segments located on the same line corresponds to the number of rafter quadrangles.
The arrangement of the sheathing boards is carried out in such a way that their joints are located in the middle edged boards included in the sheathing.

Rafter system in the form of hanging rafters

To arrange such a rafter system, you will need following materials :

Boards characterized by a section of 15x3 cm;
Boards required for arranging the sheathing, the thickness of which is 2 cm;
Sheets of moisture-resistant plywood no more than 1 cm thick.

How to make a Chinese roof: making a rafter system

Trying to clearly maintain a right angle (90 degrees), secure the stand exactly in the middle of the support beam;
Divide the distance obtained between the stand and the support beam in half and fix one of the ends of the rafter leg at the resulting point. Secure the second end to the free edge of the stand;
Determine the center of the rafter leg, then secure one end of the board at this point. The second end must be attached to the edge of the support beam;
To get a smoother curve of the roof during the work, add an additional strut;
In a mirror image from the central pillar, repeat all of the above operations on the other side of support pillar;
Upon completion of the work you will receive a complete roof truss. Their number varies depending on the size of the roof. It is important to remember that the acceptable distance between trusses is 50-70 cm;
The next stage of arranging the truss structure is the installation of the sheathing, which should be positioned horizontally. It is important to remember that the sheathing pitch is determined by the width of the plywood sheet;
Having finished arranging the sheathing, you can begin installing the plywood. On a sheet of plywood, make cuts to 3/4 of its thickness, which is necessary to ensure a tighter fit of the plywood to the sheathing. The number of cuts performed is variable and depends on the bend of the roof slope. Their number is directly proportional to the radius of curvature of the slope (the larger it is, the greater the number of cuts that need to be made);
Having installed the plywood in place, proceed to the actual installation of the roof. Experts recommend using for this rolled materials or piece flexible roofing material, for example, bitumen shingles, slate tiles small size or European tiles.

Important! If you want to fully realize your artistic vision, use soft bitumen shingles, which are characterized by their low weight, the ability to follow all the curves of a Chinese roof and an attractive appearance.

For roofing, you can also use copper, which is one of the best and, at the same time, most expensive materials for Chinese roofing.
The curved ends of the Chinese roof are formed using ready-made metal or wooden structures.
The specific coloring of a Chinese roof can be realized with the help of decorative figurines of dragons and other animals, for the manufacture of which materials resistant to corrosion are used. high humidity and temperature changes.

If you think that you are not able to implement the traditional Chinese roof design yourself, but still want to build a building made in oriental style, you should know that there are simplified versions of similar designs.

You can take a half-timbered roof structure as a basis and supplement it with specific elements to achieve the desired result;
Or supplement the roof truss system metal profiles increased flexibility, thanks to which the roof configuration will acquire the necessary airiness.

The structure of the entire Chinese style house is created in such a way that they can withstand even earthquakes, since they occur quite often in their area. The Chinese roof rests on a central pillar and most often it is not even dug into the ground. As a result of this, the pillar restrains all vibrations of the earth's crust, and neither the house nor the roof can be destroyed.

A few dozen years earlier, the roofs of poor houses were covered with bamboo, and glazed tiles were only on expensive houses, and such roofing material was most often made from bright yellow clay. In addition, the roof was decorated with various images of animals playing the role of protectors of the house from evil forces. And besides, the roofs could be decorated with carvings, and its individual elements were decorated with oil paints.

Difference between Chinese and Japanese roofs

The Chinese style roof is somewhat different from traditional Japanese roofs. The fact is that in Japan, houses are built using a slightly different technology, there it is basically a frame covered with special paper. In our understanding, there are no windows or doors. And there all vertical planes are used exclusively as partitions. Such buildings are built for the reason that they are easily restored after an earthquake and do not cause much harm to people when a house collapses under the influence of underground forces. Also in the case of Japanese houses, a strong foundation is not used, and load-bearing walls are made of stone or brick.

If we take a closer look at Chinese roofs, then in essence they are a certain hipped roof with well-known corner shapes. But this is an exclusively external property. Internal structure The roof and its rafter system are significantly different from traditional European-style models.

Before you start creating a Chinese-style roof, you need to decide whether it will be a real Chinese roof or an imitation of it. If you create a real roof with a Chinese slope, then it will be an expensive pleasure, and if you are willing to spend a considerable amount of money on creating such a roof, then this option is for you. But if you want to make a summer gazebo in the Chinese style, then it is quite possible to use an imitation of a Chinese roof, since it will also blend harmoniously with the landscape.

Chinese roof - how to create it correctly?

The fashion for things in oriental style spreads all over the world from time to time and gains its fans. But there are also those people who do not succumb to such temporary fashion, since they are constant adherents of the East in literally everything, from food to architecture.

How is a Chinese roof created, can it be used to create a roof in a residential or utility room with your own hands, you can find out a little below.

A building built in the style of Far Eastern architecture can be easily distinguished from afar and literally at first glance, since such structures have an original and somewhat unusual appearance.

The main reason is the pronounced Chinese-style roof, with smoothly elongated upward corners. For any non-specialist in oriental-style roofing, such a roof is absolutely distinctive and original.

But upon closer examination of the roof, it can be noted that it has analogues in traditional architecture European style, these can be so-called half-timbered or “Dutch” roofs. And the main difference is the bend at an angle and the complete absence of reverse bending of the ribs.

And therefore, in appearance, for Western classification, the design of a Chinese roof is not something special, since it is ordinary hip roof with a broken slope (here different parts of the slope have different angles of inclination) or half-hip. But the half-hip is used only when there are skylights(there may be gables).

But the fact is that this will only be correct for the shape of the roof, since the fact is that load-bearing structures in Japan or Asia are specifically different from each other. And, therefore, before you start building a roof in the Chinese style, as already mentioned, decide what it will be original design a Chinese roof or simply an imitation of it, since there are a lot of differences.

Creating an original Chinese roof is much more difficult, and in fact it is necessary to create a building exclusively according to the Chinese canon. But in the case of an imitation of a Chinese roof, it will be possible to create it using familiar design solutions. But still, only professionals and experts in this matter can cope with the creation of both the first and second versions of the roof, because it has many features and difficulties

Before you build such a stylish roof with your own hands, you need to decide why it is so different from others. Its main element is a pagoda, that is, a stepped square roof with slightly curved edges. This kind of roofing is made of wood; pine, larch, bamboo, oak, spruce are excellent for this; natural tiles, metal, and stone tiles are used for cladding.

Such a Chinese-style roof can have several levels, which gives it a special charm, but also imposes certain obligations on the appearance of the entire house or building.

In this case, the gazebo should be light and open, and the residential building should have features similar to the traditional Chinese style. A stone and massive mansion with European features and such a roof will look ridiculous, so when choosing the overall design, pay attention to the consistency of its individual elements.

The roof, made in the oriental style, is a hipped structure, the corners of which are greatly changed, although its internal structure is quite traditional. Its unusual appearance is due precisely to the corners that are curved upward. During construction, this most often causes difficulties. Difficulties arise in covering it with roofing materials and arranging the under-roof space.

You can build such a roof with your own hands, but this requires consultation with professional builders who will tell you the intricacies of Chinese architecture.
Nuances of construction

Why did roofs in China take on these particular shapes? What prompted the architects of that time to give them such unusual features? The answer, in general, is quite simple: this region is subject to increased seismic activity, so all buildings had to be not only durable, but also withstand any tremors that could destroy the roof and walls.

Therefore, this particular form of roof was chosen, which in the center would rest on a load-bearing pillar fixed at depth. The roof of houses of this shape became very reliable and durable, similar to an umbrella that sways in the wind but does not tip over. Almost every adult local resident could build such a structure.

When building a Chinese roof, you must immediately take into account all the nuances, which include:

feasibility of construction;

· availability of materials suitable for the work and, in general, the possibility of installing just such a design;

· availability of financial resources, since the construction of such a structure is quite expensive.
We analyze the complexity of the work and carry out installation

So how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands? Particular attention should be paid to the rafters and sheathing, since the reliability and appearance of the roof will depend on them. It is worth recalling that eastern architecture does not know what traditional frame technology is, that is, instead of the usual walls, there should be a special support column strictly in the middle, taking on the entire load. In European construction, load-bearing walls take on a similar load.

The roof load is distributed throughout the building in the form of a rectangle, according to the general shape, while the roofs we are used to have a triangular distribution. In addition, the design of a Chinese roof is often multi-tiered, consisting of several roofs stacked one on top of the other.

When constructing such a building, you need to contact an experienced architect who can tell you exactly how to implement such an idea correctly. The result should be a building that will protect from rain and will not suffer from earthquakes.
Roof installation

Let's now consider how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands. First, select the desired roof option and make a drawing of it. Do not forget that our climatic conditions allow us to make only an imitation of such a building. When constructing a simple structure, you can do it yourself. If you want something on a larger scale, then the work should be entrusted only to trusted specialists. An inexperienced team of workers who have only seen such a roof in pictures is unlikely to help you do anything worthwhile.

After calculations, we purchase materials and begin installation. First, we attach boards with a length of one and a half meters and a width of thirty centimeters in the center. We place the rafter leg in the center of the resulting base, that is, we get a support beam connected to the middle. Now we repeat the same with the other side of the structure. We thus obtain a quadrangular figure in the form of a cone with edges and a slightly curved base.

The sheathing is very simple: we nail it onto the rafters and supporting side beams. wooden boards, which should go perpendicular. So, the main structure, so to speak, the skeleton of the roof, is ready. Now let's take plywood sheets, which we give flexibility with a number of notches, and fasten them to the sheathing.

As roofing soft bitumen shingles are excellent, they are light in weight, perfectly follow all the curves of the roof, and have an attractive appearance. You can also cover the roof with copper, but this option is very expensive; before you decide on it, you need to carefully weigh the need for such a step, although Copper coating is considered the best. So, we’ve looked at how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands, now let’s move on to the tips.
Tips for building a Chinese roof

Most often, for Chinese roofs, bitumen shingles are used as roofing.

As we can see, the design is distinguished by its complexity and some simplicity, which greatly distinguishes it from traditional structures. We offer some advice from our experts that will help you independently figure out the construction of the simplest modification of an eastern roof and completely transform any structure that it will crown.

Before starting work, draw a thorough plan that will display the entire rafter system, which will allow you not only to correctly assemble, but also calculate the material. As a covering for roofing material, it is best to use moisture-resistant plywood, which will allow you to completely follow all the curves of the roof. It is advisable to thoroughly impregnate plywood, and indeed all wooden elements, with special antiseptic compounds that will help protect the structure from insects.

Chinese roof drawing

All roof elements are set according to a certain template, so before starting work, prepare such a full-size template. This will help reduce construction time and make it of better quality.

The roof is the first thing you notice when you see a house made in the Chinese style. It can be single- or multi-tiered, but in any case, its massive design with curved edges gives the Chinese house, on the one hand, a kind of majesty, and on the other, elegance. The curved shape contributed to a significant reduction in the weight of the roof (by almost a third), which made it possible to build Chinese roofs of houses without rafters based on a post-and-beam structure.

The design of the Chinese roof is characterized by an angled bend and the absence of a reverse bend at the ribs. In terms of the internal structure and design of the rafter system, in certain details it differs significantly from European standards. For example, in contrast to the Western version, the absence in the Chinese version of a rafter system resting on load-bearing walls or the absence of rafter legs and struts, and tightening of hanging rafters.

Note that the load experienced by the roof, according to Chinese technology, is distributed throughout the structure, in contrast to the “European” triangle, in the form of a rectangle.

The construction of a Chinese roof in accordance with the relevant rules of traditional oriental architecture is a rather expensive undertaking. Therefore, it may be more advisable to start constructing its imitation or limit yourself to erecting a small pagoda on your site.

How to make a Chinese roof: stages of construction

Development of a roof project

First of all, you need to understand the configuration of the future roof and make a sketch. It should be noted right away that the construction of a hipped roof is associated with great difficulties. Therefore, it is better to opt for a simpler option - gable roof with two gables. This option will satisfy the desire to have an exotic roof, and the work will be quite simple.

Support system design

The rafter system is designed according to the prepared sketch. In this case, it is necessary to achieve the resulting distinctive feature of the Chinese roof - its concave profile. There are two possible options for this.

Rafter system in the form of a pyramid with a rectangular base

At similar device The main element of the supporting structure is the rafter quadrangle. Installed on top of each other, they will form the desired pyramid.

In the case of a gable roof, the quadrangles will have the same length. The parabolic curve of the roof is obtained by selecting the width of the trusses and the height of the racks.

The material for the sheathing elements is boards with a thickness of 20 mm. They are fastened starting from the ridge towards the eaves, so the number of these segments on one line corresponds to the number of mounted rafter quadrangles.

The sheathing boards are positioned so that their joints are located in the middle of the edged boards of the rafter system.

Hanging rafter system

To install the rafter system, you will need the following materials:
boards with a section of 15x3 cm,
2 cm thick boards used for lathing,
plywood, the thickness of which is no more than 1 cm.

How to make a roof truss
The stand is fixed strictly in the middle of the support beam, while clearly maintaining a right angle (90⁰);
the distance between the stand and the edge of the support beam is divided in half. Next, one of the ends of the rafter leg is fixed at the resulting point, and the second is attached to the free edge of the rack;

find the center of the rafter leg and at this point fix one end of the board, and the second, accordingly, attach it to the edge of the support beam;
to obtain a smoother bend of the roof, add an additional strut;
All these operations are repeated once again on the other side of the central pillar - in a mirror image relative to it.

Thus, the result will be a single truss truss. Number of such structural elements determined depending on the size of the roof. It should be noted that the optimal distance between trusses is 0.5 - 0.7 m.
The next step after installing the rafter structure is the installation of the sheathing. The sheathing should be positioned horizontally, with its pitch determined by the width of the plywood.

Roofing device
After installing the sheathing, the next step is to begin installing the plywood. Cuts are made on the sheet to approximately ¾ of its thickness. This is necessary to ensure a tight fit of the plywood to the sheathing. The number of cuts is determined based on the bend of the slope: the larger the radius of its curvature, the greater the number of cuts required.
After installing the plywood in place, they proceed directly to installing the roof. It is recommended to cover such a roof either with roll materials or with individual flexible roofing materials, for example, bitumen shingles.

Tiles, of course, are more suitable for realizing the overall artistic design.

The Chinese style roof has curved ends. Which are decorated using ready-made metal or wooden structures.

Modern architects offer a more prosaic and explainable version, from the point of view of practical features. In accordance with it, the presence of raised curved corners at the roof in the Chinese style is explained by the large amount of rainfall in the area where the construction of houses most often ends with the arrangement of such architectural elements. These design features of the Chinese roof contribute to more efficient removal of precipitation at a distant distance from the walls of the building. In addition, the protruding overhangs of the Chinese roof protect the interior of the building from excessive amounts of sunlight.

Design features of Chinese architecture

Despite the similarity of the traditions of China and Japan, the construction of Japanese houses is carried out according to a completely different principle. In most cases, they are a frame covered with paper, and therefore they are more reminiscent of a structure without windows and doors. All vertically oriented planes serve as partitions, thanks to which the building can be quickly restored in the event of frequent earthquakes, and if the building is destroyed, the debris will not cause much harm to a person. The absence of a foundation and powerful load-bearing walls made of wood or stone only helps to increase the safety of the building.

The nuances of building a Chinese roof: what to pay attention to?

Before installing a Chinese roof, it is necessary to highlight its main differences from European roofing systems. The main element of the Chinese roof is the pagoda, characterized as a stepped square roof with raised edges. For the manufacture of Chinese roofing, wood is used - larch, pine, oak, spruce or bamboo, and stone tiles, metal or natural tiles are used as facing materials.

Important! If you are planning to install a gazebo, complemented by a Chinese roof, the structure should be open and light, while the conceptual design of a residential building should clearly show the features of traditional oriental style. When choosing the overall design of a building, pay attention to the combination of its individual elements, since a massive stone house with European features, complemented by a Chinese-style roof, is unlikely to delight even the average person who knows nothing about architecture.

The spectacular openwork roof structure with edges directed towards the sky is the main element of the building, attracting attention when looking at works of Chinese architecture. Despite the fact that recreating the design of a Chinese roof is fraught with certain difficulties, if you follow the basic nuances, you can easily avoid them. Let's look at what these nuances are.

The main parameters of roofs made in the Chinese style, distinguishing them from works of European architecture:

· Unlike European buildings, works of Chinese architecture are built on the basis of a gutter-beam structure. The rafter system, which serves as the basis for European houses, rests on load-bearing walls, while the basis of Chinese buildings is a central pillar that takes on all the loads. The design of hanging rafters, which take place in European architecture, implies the presence of struts, rafter legs and tie rods. The support beams, ceiling beams and other elements characteristic of European construction are intended to give the structure rigidity and strength, but works of Chinese architecture lack these elements. If in European houses the arrangement of the rafter system is carried out according to the principle of a triangle, then the load distribution in eastern houses is carried out according to the principle of a rectangle;

· For the installation of Chinese roofing, cylindrical tiles are used, the unique shape of which is determined by the need to fasten them at the corner joints. To give the roof a special flavor, it is necessary to use a special profile and figures with fantastic images, called “qiang shou”. The installation of the roof ridge is carried out according to a similar scheme, with the Qiang shou being replaced with ceramic clamps, the specific “horned” configuration of which attracts attention when looking at a Chinese roof;

· A distinctive feature of Chinese roofing is the use of large eaves that extend far beyond the building and thereby protect the building from excessive climatic influences, such as excessive ultraviolet radiation, strong wind and others. Due to the large weight of the eaves, the entire mass of the roof is distributed in such a way that the entire structure of the building acquires increased stability. As for the dougong cornice system, it completely takes on the weight of the cornices.

Important! Specific characteristics of Chinese roofing:

Uniform distribution of load in the horizontal and vertical planes of the frame;

The design of the Chinese roof assumes the presence of corners curved upward;

The upper part of the roof is characterized by the presence of a steep slope, which becomes gentler downwards.

An integral element of the Chinese roof are massive eaves that extend far beyond the external walls of the house;

To ensure timely removal of precipitation from the external surface of the roof and effective protection of its internal surface from excess sunlight, it is equipped with overhangs that also protrude over the external walls at a considerable distance;

Chinese roofs, characterized by a multi-tiered structure, are not uncommon in oriental architecture.

Chinese roof diagram: original or imitation?

If you still prefer a Chinese roof, you need to pay special attention to its design, since already at this stage it is important to decide whether you will preserve its unique design during the construction process or limit yourself to its external imitation. The construction of a unique structure is quite an expensive undertaking, whereas by performing only its external imitation, you can not only save money, but also build a building that is more practical for the middle zone.

Important! The main difference in the design of European and traditional eastern roofs is the presence or absence of a rafter system. The construction of houses in Japan and China involves the absence of rafters, since they are replaced by a support-beam system that is more resistant to frequent seismic activity. In this regard, in the case of erecting a structure in an area where there is no such danger, you can remain faithful to the structural systems traditional for the middle zone.

If you carefully study the photographs showing Chinese roofs, you will notice that they have many similarities with some structures familiar to the European continent, the most striking example of which is a summer gazebo - a pagoda that fits well into the surrounding landscape.

First of all, decide on the configuration of the future roof and develop a roofing project. Experts believe that the construction of a hipped roof is fraught with certain difficulties, and therefore they recommend opting for simpler structures, giving preference to a gable roof with two gables. Despite the fact that this option is one of the simplest, you can still satisfy your desire to become the owner of a building, complemented by an exotic roofing structure.

The next stage involves designing a supporting system. Particular attention must be paid to the rafters and sheathing, since they determine the reliability and appearance of the roof. At the same time, do not forget that the use of traditional frame technology is not typical of eastern architecture, and therefore, the usual walls must be replaced with a support pillar located strictly in the middle and fully taking on all the loads. In traditional European construction, this function is performed by load-bearing walls.

Important! If the European roofing structures familiar to us are characterized by a “triangular” load distribution, then this principle is alien to eastern architecture. The roof load in Chinese buildings is distributed over the surface of the building in the form of a rectangle, according to the general shape of the structure. In addition, Chinese roofs are characterized by a multi-tiered structure, and therefore they often consist of several roofs laid one on top of the other.

Before starting work, draw a detailed plan that shows the structural nuances of the rafter system in great detail. Thanks to this, you will be able to assemble it as accurately as possible and calculate the required amount of material. The most suitable material for arranging the covering under the roofing material is moisture-resistant plywood, the use of which will allow you to repeat all the roofing curves as accurately as possible. It is advisable to impregnate all wooden elements included in the roof structure, including moisture-resistant plywood, with antiseptic compounds to prevent damage by insects.

How to build a Chinese roof: possible options
A rafter system based on a pyramid with a rectangular base

· If you prefer this arrangement option, know that the supporting system, in this case, is the rafter quadrangle. By placing them on top of each other, you will get the desired pyramid.

· If you are installing a gable roof, the length of both quadrangles will be the same. To obtain a parabolic roof curve, it is necessary to select the height of the racks and the width of the trusses. It is important to note that the most suitable material for the manufacture of sheathing elements are 20 mm thick boards. Starting from the ridges, they are attached towards the eaves, and therefore the number of segments located on the same line corresponds to the number of rafter quadrangles.

· The arrangement of the sheathing boards is carried out in such a way that their joints are located in the middle of the edged boards included in the sheathing.

Rafter system in the form of hanging rafters

To arrange such a rafter system, you will need the following materials:

· Boards with a cross-section of 15x3 cm;

· Boards required for arranging the sheathing, the thickness of which is 2 cm;

· Sheets of moisture-resistant plywood no more than 1 cm thick.

How to make a Chinese roof: making a rafter system

· Trying to clearly maintain a right angle (90 degrees), secure the stand exactly in the middle of the support beam;

· Divide the distance obtained between the stand and the support beam in half and fix one of the ends of the rafter leg at the resulting point. Secure the second end to the free edge of the stand;

· Determine the center of the rafter leg, then secure one end of the board at this point. The second end must be attached to the edge of the support beam;

· To obtain a smoother bend of the roof during the work, add an additional strut;

· In a mirror image from the central pillar, repeat all of the above operations on the other side of the support pillar;

· Upon completion of the work you will receive a complete roof truss. Their number varies depending on the size of the roof. It is important to remember that the acceptable distance between trusses is 50-70 cm;

· The next stage of arranging the truss structure is the installation of the sheathing, which should be positioned horizontally. It is important to remember that the sheathing pitch is determined by the width of the plywood sheet;

· Having finished arranging the sheathing, you can begin installing the plywood. On a sheet of plywood, make cuts to 3/4 of its thickness, which is necessary to ensure a tighter fit of the plywood to the sheathing. The number of cuts performed is variable and depends on the bend of the roof slope. Their number is directly proportional to the radius of curvature of the slope (the larger it is, the greater the number of cuts that need to be made);

· Having installed the plywood in place, proceed to the actual installation of the roof. Experts recommend using rolled materials or piece-meal flexible roofing material for this, for example, bitumen shingles, small slate tiles or European tiles.

Important! If you want to fully realize your artistic vision, use soft bitumen shingles, which are characterized by their low weight, the ability to follow all the curves of a Chinese roof and an attractive appearance.

· For roofing, you can also use copper, which is one of the best and, at the same time, most expensive materials for Chinese roofing.

· The curved ends of the Chinese roof are formed using ready-made metal or wooden structures.

· The specific coloring of a Chinese roof can be realized with the help of decorative figurines of dragons and other animals, for the manufacture of which materials are used that are resistant to high humidity and temperature changes.

If you think that you are not able to implement the traditional Chinese roof design yourself, but still want to build a building made in the oriental style, you should know that there are simplified versions of such designs.

· You can take a half-timbered roof structure as a basis and supplement it with specific elements to achieve the desired result;

· Or supplement the roof truss system with metal profiles of increased flexibility, thanks to which the roof configuration will acquire the necessary airiness.

Asian style roofs
Fashionable trends in the architectural traditions of the East are increasingly winning human hearts. This is seen all over the world and in the construction of houses. And the first thing that attracts attention when looking at Chinese-style architecture is the roofs, which are distinguished by their mystery, unusualness, sophistication and, of course, uniqueness.

The main feature of the Chinese roof is its interesting, but not at all simple geometry of curved roof lines, with corners bent upward.

The history of the Chinese roof

Historians date the appearance of the classic type of Chinese roofing to 206-220 BC - the time when the Han dynasty ruled. It was then that single- and multi-tiered roofs with a sloping silhouette and curved corners began to be erected. Initially, such roofs appeared on the homes of people close to the emperor, and then spread throughout China.

There is a mythical explanation for this architecture - the Chinese believed that dragons rode on their roofs at night in order to harm people. And so that when descending they did not fall into the yard, but flew into the sky, the edges were bent upward.

But there is a more practical reason for the appearance of such a roof - the eastern climate is characterized by heavy rainfall, and the presence of raised corners allows water to be moved further away from the facade of the building.

Chinese roofs were painted in bright colors (red, green, blue, etc.). The color of the roof indicated the status of the owner of the house. Until recently, to have a roof yellow color Only members of the imperial family were allowed.

Distinctive features of a Chinese style roof

1. The roof has a steep slope at the top, which becomes much smaller at the bottom.
2. Corners turned up.
3. Loads frame structure distributed only horizontally and vertical plane, this is explained by the absence of load-bearing walls in Chinese buildings.
4. Plumb lines protruding far beyond the building, protecting the internal space from excessive light and precipitation.
5. The roof rests on a central pillar, which absorbs earth vibrations and protects the structure from possible earthquakes.
6. Multi-tiered buildings are often found.
7. Roofs are usually covered with glazed clay tiles. But depending on the design, thin sheet metal (rebate, checker) and, in rare cases, ondulin can be used.

Features of the structure of the Chinese roof

Before erecting such a roof, you need to weigh the pros and cons. At a minimum, you need to analyze the following:
- is this roof suitable for the local climate, specifically consider wind and snow loads;
- will it be possible to install the necessary thermal insulation on it;
- calculate the cost of roof construction and maintenance;
- take into account significant differences in the design of the rafter system compared to the usual European one.

The rafter system in European buildings rests on load-bearing walls, while in Chinese construction the basis is the central post or purlins, which bear all the loads. The European style roof consists of rafters, slopes, tie rods, support beams, ceiling beam etc. Everything that gives the structure stability and reliability. And the roof Chinese type deprived of this.

In this regard, it would be more rational to use a model of a European rafter system, supported by walls, and achieve the “floating” effect like on a Chinese roof with the help of decorative elements. This will not only save time and money, but also strengthen and standardize the design. However, if you install a roof on a gazebo that does not have load-bearing walls, then it is quite possible to use Chinese construction technologies.

But if there are still more advantages to building a classic Chinese roof than disadvantages, then it is better to pay attention to metal structural elements rather than wooden ones. This will make it much easier to implement your plans.

Unusual cultural traditions, exotic rituals and sacraments, a variety of religious beliefs and teachings - all this, taken together, very much distinguishes the countries of the East from European ones. However, it is increasingly possible to observe elements of Eastern culture in design projects for houses and buildings in Western countries, in decoration interior design premises in Europe.

Introducing oriental style elements into the design of house facades or apartment decoration makes them look unusual, attractive and fresh. This probably explains the increasing prevalence in construction of such unusual, at first glance, elements as the Chinese roof. But, of course, the design of a Chinese roof is a decoration for private houses; it will significantly distinguish a private building from other buildings of the same type.

A beautiful legend or a desire for practicality?

If we consider the origin of roofs of such an unusual shape, then there are many legends that explain their occurrence.

Here's just one of them. In ancient times, dragons lived on the roofs of houses and guarded human homes so that evil spirits could not harm the owners of the house. And when their little dragons were born, they had to somehow learn to fly.

For this purpose, people built such roofs with steep and curved slopes in the form of springboards. When the time comes to learn to fly, the dragons will slide down the trampolines and thus, thanks to the curved shape of the roof, will be able to fly up instead of falling down. Throwed into the air, they would be able to remain in a state of free fall longer, which would allow them, working with their wings, to quickly learn to fly.

A wonderful legend, isn't it? Who knows, maybe once upon a time it was not a legend at all, but had real grounds? But seriously speaking, this roof shape is determined, first of all, by the geographical features of the region.

After all, Chinese territories are very often subject to very heavy rains, so the construction of a roof of this shape was of purely practical importance. If goes strong rain, then you need to somehow protect your house from flooding. Roofs with a strong angle of inclination and curved slopes allow water to drain very quickly without stopping, and thanks to the bends, “fly away” far from the house, thereby preventing flooding of areas adjacent to the house.

So the appearance of such a roof shape is not only unusual and beautiful shapes that attract attention, but, above all, it urgent need for this place of residence.

Are there any analogues?

The house, which was built in the oriental style, cannot be confused with any other. The main feature that distinguishes it from European buildings is the characteristic roof with curved edges that seem to look into the sky. This form of roof is quite common not only in China, it can also be found in Japan and Korea.

For ordinary people, a Chinese-style roof will seem very interesting, original and amazing. Many believe that it simply has no analogues or competitors.

But in reality this, of course, is far from the case. A long time ago in European culture, there were hip roofs with different slopes, as well as half-hip roofs, the so-called “Dutch” roofs. They also have a very large slope, but lack that original bend of the ribs inherent in Chinese roofs.

However, this is where all the sameness ends. And although they may be very similar in shape, they have significant differences in the structure and shape of load-bearing walls and structures. Therefore, you first need to decide for yourself whether it will exactly comply with all the canons of constructing Chinese roofs or whether it is worth just imitating one.

If the construction of the roof is the last stage in construction, then it is best, of course, to resort to imitation of this roof shape. Since exact adherence to the canons of Chinese roof construction involves the construction of walls and other structural elements according to completely different principles, significantly different from European ones.

Another decisive argument in favor of imitation is the high cost building materials during the construction of a real Chinese pagoda, as well as quite complex installation work, for which it is best to invite specialists.

To construct a roof that is shaped like a Chinese roof, certain roofing materials must be used. Today they are mainly used for these purposes. soft materials from bitumen. Most often, bituminous shingles are used or, as an option, use the popular euroroofing felt.

Imitation of a roof based on a hanging rafter system

This is the most suitable option for erecting a roof in oriental style. Hanging rafters include the following elements:

rafter leg;
puff;
trimmer;
strut;
support beam;
overlay;
fastening bolts.

First of all, in the design of the rafter system, tightening is a very important part. The purpose of its installation is to prevent the rafters from moving apart. The entire roof load must be taken by the struts. It is worth noting that in the traditional eastern construction of roofs there were no struts at all, and the load was transferred to two tie rods installed horizontally and with vertical posts attached to them.

The Chinese version of the ties work mainly on bending, and the use of materials such as bamboo, under the weight of denser materials (for example, tiles), naturally bend the roof corners upward.

The difference from the principles of roof construction in Europe is that when distributing loads, Europeans more often used triangular shapes in rafter systems, while in the east they prefer rectangular ones.

Features of the design and construction of eastern roofs

The “classical” roof, but in the Chinese style, has the following very characteristic features:

frame structure in which all loads are distributed only in vertical and horizontal planes;
the corners of the roof are curved upward;
the roof overhangs are moved away from the external walls of the house (outside the perimeter) to protect the walls from rain, and the rooms inside from excess sunlight;
the Chinese-style roof has a very steep slope in its uppermost part, and the angle at the bottom decreases very sharply;
part of the overhangs, which are located between the corner ribs of the roof, is used for quick removal precipitation;
Multi-tier solutions are also very often used.

Chinese roof, how to make a structure that will not only decorate your home, but will also reliable protection from bad weather? The construction of original eastern roofs has its own characteristics and difficulties.

Let's look at some options for how to create a Chinese roof with your own hands:

the original structure of the building is copied in great detail from the very foundation to the highest point of the roof;
a truss of the required shape is installed (supported on the main walls);
the roof is given a corresponding characteristic shape using decorative elements (on standard hanging rafters);
make load-bearing bent structures not from wood, but using more flexible and technologically advanced metal beams.

If compliance with the original Chinese roof is more important to you than the upcoming costs and some inconveniences, then it is worth starting construction according to all the old canons. Although such a house will most likely become less durable the latest technologies. Surely, insulation and strengthening of the walls will be required.

The rise in cost and complexity of work when constructing a complex rafter system for such a roof is inevitable, but the roof will turn out almost identical to a real Chinese one. Decorative elements(ridges, gaskets, etc.) will allow you to create a roof appearance that is truly close to the oriental with Chinese characteristics.

The disadvantage can be considered that metal structure the supports are quite expensive, and there are also difficulties when covering the roof roofing material. However, by using light alloys, it is possible to obtain any roof shape with a fairly high degree of strength.

If you nevertheless decide to make an eastern roof, then the Japanese version will cost much less than the Chinese one, since the main difficulty is the curved edges of the roof, which are not found in the Japanese roof. At the same time, the possibility of choosing the material for its coating also expands.

Eastern owners of beautiful pagodas and small Chinese houses created them in accordance with their natural and national characteristics. And today the builders different countries successfully cope with the task of constructing complex, unique and reliable Chinese roofs.

So, having become familiar with how to build a roof in the Chinese style, we ask you not to neglect the advice and weigh all the arguments in favor of building an oriental roof for your home. Think about the cost and whether it will suit our Russian climate, and specifically, the weather conditions of your area. If the arguments in favor and the desire to amaze others outweigh, then feel free to get down to business and start creating a project.

Why are the roofs of Chinese pagodas curved?
Pagoda (bhagavat, “sacred, glorious”; Japanese Too; Chinese bao-ta, “tower of treasures”) is a Buddhist or Hindu building of a religious nature. In different countries, pagodas are classified as different types structures.
In Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Laos, and Cambodia, Buddhist stupas are called pagodas, often serving as repositories of sacred objects or memorial complexes.
In Nepal, northern India, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, as well as in Western countries, multi-tiered towers used as temples are called pagodas.
The pagoda, with its curved roof edges, is one of the most famous and widespread symbols of Asian architecture. China, Japan, Thailand and other Asian countries. It is like a business card of oriental architecture, which you can look at without a signature and immediately recognize. Roofs with curved edges, many tiers and carved decorations amaze with their beauty and mythology. And of course, such ancient architectural objects simply cannot exist without their beliefs and legends. Here are a few of them.
The most common Chinese belief is that evil spirits can only move in a straight line. It was for this reason that images of a labyrinth were hung at the entrance to the home, or obstacles were created that were supposed to confuse the spirits and not let them inside the house. But the spirits were insidious and tried to enter people’s homes not only through the usual entrance, but also through the roof. Then one wise man came up with the idea of raising the edges of the house slightly. Thus, the evil spirit did not roll down in a straight line, but along a curved path, flying back into the sky, where it dissipated. In addition, on the cornice were placed stucco images of guardian animals, dragons, lions, phoenixes, unicorns, which were supposed to
additionally protect the house. The significance of the structure was determined by the number of mythical creatures. Dragons were especially revered in Chinese culture and architecture. According to legends, they were able not only to drive away evil spirits, but also to cause rain, saving wooden building from fire.
Another belief about the curved roofs of pagodas is associated precisely with dragons. There are legends that air dragons were great pranksters and lovers of entertainment. More than anything else, they loved to ride from the roofs of houses. And so, one peasant named Liu Tian began to have air dragons fly in and ride from the roof every night. Since a vegetable garden was planted near his house, the dragons, rolling down, certainly fell into his beds and spoiled the crops. The peasant was very angry, but knew that it was not worth spoiling relations with the dragons. Engineering savvy helped him solve the problem. Liu came up with the idea to slightly change the trajectory of the dragons rolling down the roof. He took and bent the edges of the roof of the house so that when the dragon moved down, it would fly back into the air, or at least fly away not to his garden. Thus, Liu Tian saved his crops, and the dragons received additional entertainment. Now they had a springboard to take off into the sky.
The Chinese also believed that an evil spirit could be caught and locked in a specially built pagoda so that it could never harm people again. That is why small pagodas were built in almost every seedy village.
In Feng Shui, right angles are believed to create negative Chi flows, so one of the purposes of upturned roof corners is to break up negative Chi flows. Against the penetration of energy, sculptures of mythological animals were placed under the slopes, which, sitting one after another, form a continuous line of defense. Also in Feng Shui it is believed that the pagoda completely harmonizes the energy in the surrounding space. And each tier represents the stages of enlightenment that lead to the world of the gods.
It is believed that the traditional Chinese pagoda was borrowed from Buddhism, where its prototype was the sacred stupa, symbolizing the mind of the Buddha. It is believed to be able to open the path to enlightenment. Perhaps it is precisely because of the history of its origin that the pagoda is a recognized means of improving the concentration of consciousness and conducive to mental work.
During the Han Dynasty, these graceful roofs, sometimes multi-tiered with upward-pointing eaves, were the most beautiful structures. They were supported by tetrahedral brackets that were placed on top of the columns. The roofs, like other building elements, were built without the use of nails; everything was held together thanks to the connecting structures of the fasteners. Over time, they became a unique feature of classical Chinese architecture. Later, the beautiful sloping roofs became even more expressive with the addition of painstakingly made decoration: multi-colored tiles, carvings, drawings and even sculptures. Important buildings were often decorated with clay figures, which reflected the status of the owner and were allowed only in the official residences of the empire. The figures most often illustrated mythical animals; they were supposed to protect the resident of the house from evil spirits. Their number also depended on the number of tasks performed in the house, but there could very well be no more than 9 sculptures. And only in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City there were eleven of them, with the extraordinary addition of an immortal guard placed in front of the dragon.
There is also a legend associated with the emergence of the first stupas and pagodas in China.
Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty (reigned 58-75 AD) once had a dream in which there was a huge gilded man about three meters in height. The golden man shone with light and flew around the palace. The Emperor was overcome with a feeling of delight and grace. A halo shone around the head of the golden man and the Emperor realized that this man belonged to another world. The next morning, Emperor Ming called his ministers and asked them what his dream might mean. One of the advisors named Fu Yi told him about a strange god in the West. He spoke of a god named Buddha who was very similar to the golden spirit in the emperor's dream. The ruler immediately sent officials to India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to find out about the mysterious religion. In Central Asia, a group of the emperor's aides met with two Buddhist monks, who offered to help the advisors in their quest and gave them some religious scriptures and Buddha statues. In order to follow the new religion and to show his devotion and love for Buddha, Emperor Ming built the first pagodas in China.

Alexandrova Anastasia, especially for Myth Week.
Use of the material is prohibited without permission from the author or a link to the Mythological Encyclopedia website