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Modern Mansard - The Neo-Mansard Roof

Throughout the mid-century, the Mansard roof was popular in Ottawa housing design. 

First popularised in France during the 17th century, and then revived in the 19th century, the roof style re-appeared in Ottawa during the 1960s. At first the roof was used on historically-inspired houses, but was eventually altered in a variety of ways to have a more modern take on tradition.

Campeau was the builder who used the roof the most in the mid-century, but other builders also followed suit.
A traditional use of the Mansard roof. Playfair Park North/South, Russell Heights, c. 1965.
This plan had a traditional Mansard option as well as 2 Dutch Colonial options with a Gambrel roof. Beacon Hill and South Keys, c. 1967.





Here is a great example of a modern take on the Mansard roof. Instead of protruding dormer windows with arched tops, these houses have an inset window and an asymmetrical facade. From the side, the roof actually has more of a Gambrel-style silhouette.
These unique courtyard houses were built in South Keys,  Beacon Hill (Loyola Court), Sawmill Creek (Wedgewood), and Beaverbrook (Salter Square) during the mid 1970s.
A wonderfully modern take on the Mansard roof. Sadly the asphalt shingled roof above takes away from the rather appealing cedar shingled section. I suspect the top part was added as the roof may have been flat when built. Ridgewood complex by Campeau, near Mooney's Bay. c. 1970s.
This was a sort-lived plan that was not built in great numbers. c. 1968

The most common Campeau house to have the Mansard roof was their Bonnechere design. Over the years, there were various versions of the Bonnechere, as shown in the plans below. Beacon Hill and South Keys, c. 1967
This version of the Bonnechere has a Mansard option and a Gambrel roof option. Notice the very large unfinished attic space. Early 1970s.



In Hunt Club, the Bonnechere plan was called the Monterey, but is based on the same plan. In this version the usual unfinished attic space is now a very large Master Bedroom. Late 1970s.


The builder Macval, which later joined Campeau, used a modern take on Mansard roofs in some of their houses built in Craig Henry. c. 1976.

 Likewise, Teron used a modern interpretation of the Mansard roof on some houses Beaverbrook (Kanata), during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
As a Canadian spin on the Mansard roof, it was often clad in cedar shingles. Teron houses in Beaverbrook, c. 1967.


One of the options on many Teron designs in Beaverbrook was for a modern interpretation of the Mansard roof. Mid 1960s.



Costain Homes offered Mansard roof options on many of their houses in Convent Glen. C. 1977.




This is one of the most unique takes on the Mansard roof I have seen...and I love it! The angled projections around the windows are a great modern twist. Blackburn Hamlet, early 1970s.

This design has a similar framing around the windows, only without the angled projection. Cadillac Fairview, Barrhaven, 1975.


This roof is a hybrid of a Neo-Mansard and Grambrel roof with inset windows. A number of Minto designs have this hybrid roofline from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Having the roofline roll down the front of a house can help to make a 3-storey house look less tall. Beacon Hill North, early 1970s.
Minto-built Canadian Housing Design Council award home in Qualicum.

These condo townhouses have a very modern take on the Mansard roof with a cedar shingle roof that extends down the upper two stories. McKellar Park, Late 1970s.


By the end of the 1970s, the Neo-Mansard roof became less common on newly-built houses in Ottawa. Here is a late example from 1980. Tartan Homes, Hunt Club.

While based on tradition, the use of the Mansard roof in mid-century Ottawa often had a modern twist. Creativity abounded with the varied way that roof line was interpreted by designers across the city.


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  1. EllenJanuary 21, 2012 at 10:32 PM

    Thanks for your blog and all of the floor plans. I just found our 1968 built Campeau Bonnechere (reversed from the 2382 sq ft plan you posted) that we bought in South Keys about 18 months ago. Having moved from rural far west of Ottawa, we find this a great, leafy and walkable neighbourhood with great transit access. The floor plan helped us see how the previous owners tinkered with upstairs and main floor layout about 15 years ago. The changes were an improvement (patio doors directly to a deck off the eating area); removal of walk-in closet (added a nice sized and well-organized closet on wall adjoining the bedroom across the hall, and changed the entry to the ensuite to wall facing the door to bedroom. We have toyed with the idea of developing the massive attic (with windows already installed over dining/living area), but really the house is big enough as-is... even with three kids and a grandmother (bedroom is the den). The small kitchen has proven the most difficult thing to get used to, but we may one day open it up to the dining area... Thanks again!

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