What is an attic - a forced saving or a successful decision?

Their inhabitants are known to many by their literary and musical works from the life of the creative bohemian of Paris: poor artists and musicians lived on the uppermost floors of buildings, led by dark and narrow stairs where there was not enough light and there was no heating. What is the attic in the very first meaning of this term? The space under the roof of multi-storey buildings, which was used for household needs and where people settled who could not afford a decent housing.

From the history of architecture

The roofs of the buildings of medieval towns, covered with tiles, had a steep roof slope, and spaces of quite significant volumes formed under the roof. In cities, the living space was always scarce, each residential floor was taxed, and the height of the building was measured to the cornice. So, what is an attic for urban homeowners of the XVII century? This is the way to get a net profit.

The idea of using space under the roof for living quarters was born before François Mansart (1598-1666), but it was this architect who widely used such a technique, building buildings with roofs in Paris with characteristic fractures. It was after his buildings that every architect remembered what an attic was. The roof, which has ramps on both sides of the skate from two planes with different gradients, made it possible to create a maximum space for a roof, where it was possible to accommodate two residential levels.

Definition

In many countries, the roof form itself is the most common form of the roof, most often used by Mansar, and the mansard refers to the whole space from the ceiling of the top floor to the roof, if it is used for housing, that is, the walls and roofs are insulated, natural lighting is provided, convenient access from the lower level (Usually a ladder), decorative finishing of surfaces is executed.

Normative documents also clearly define what an attic is. The definition, which contains SNiP 2.08.01-89, gives the floor designation in the attic space formed by the roof planes - inclined or broken - while the intersection line of the vertical wall of the facade and the sloping roof plane is 1.5 meters from the floor of the attic.

Design Considerations

The possibility of using the attic floor is calculated by the formula:

• A> b + 0.7 x s, where
  
  A - the area of the room with a height of more than 2.5 m,
  B - the area of the room with a height of 1,1-2,5 m,
  C - the area of the room with a height to the ceiling of 0.8-1.1 m.

It is under these conditions that the use of the attic is considered permissible, although such figures are contained in documents that have a recommendatory character.

Lighting the attic - a very important issue in which it is better to trust the specialist. The peculiarity is to correctly calculate the glazing area: the extra openings will contribute to a particularly impressive heat loss. After all, what is the attic in the house, how not the place where warm air rises from the lower levels? In calculating the area of light aperture, it is necessary to take into account the difference in the efficiency of conventional windows installed in vertical walls - in the case of a mansard it is usually the front of the facades - windows in luquarna, aural and roof windows installed in the roof slopes.

It is necessary to adhere to such proportions in the ratio of the floor area and the area of the light apertures:

• When placing windows in vertical structures - should not exceed 1: 5.5, the minimum ratio is 1: 8;
• At application of mansard windows the ratio 1:10 is supposed;
• When installing windows in the lucarne because of deep slopes, up to 2/3 of light is lost compared to the vertical window.

The nature of the attic space requires special attention to the solution of ventilation problems. Modern materials for the construction of roofing "pies" and engineering networks will help to solve this particular problem.

The use of wooden structures in the construction of the attic rationing documents are quite acceptable, but subject to antipirating treatment of wood and at a building height of not more than 75 m.

Advantage of the attic

Usually, the advantages of the attic floors are indicated by economic considerations, reasonable use of space and high architectural qualities of such a constructive solution. The high aesthetic qualities of the well-arranged under-roof space are visible from the illustrations explaining what an attic is. Photos of the magnificent interiors of bedrooms, children's and study rooms located at the highest level, are impressive.

The importance of these factors is affected by two main factors: an attic is being constructed during the reconstruction of an existing building or its use in a projected building is envisaged.

Reconstruction of existing housing

If the attic is being erected on an existing building, the enlargement factor of the area used is particularly attractive, while it is possible to use light and inexpensive materials and structures that do not require the use of heavy equipment, so there is no need to resettle the tenants. This direction in improving the residential infrastructure of cities can be very attractive.

For example, what is the attic for Khrushchev? This is a completely different level of comfort and visual appeal, and if not for a heavy system of approvals, making such investments unprofitable by long-term and minimizing the economic benefits for builders, many obsolete buildings could acquire a large amount of additional comfortable living space.

Spectacular architectural reception

There are many options for the architectural use of space under the roof. The very understanding of what an attic is. At home, photos of which can be seen on construction sites, show that under the roof can be located the most attractive and comfortable rooms, the most different destinations. The loft of housing for the poor has turned into a special "chip" - a detail of the house that enhances its architectural appeal.