Discussion: Protection and Function - Flat Roofs as Living Space
In early history, man sought shelter in caves. The first step towards a freely designed dwelling - before the invention of the house - was the erection of a roof. For a long time, man reacted instinctively to his environment, internalizing the regional climatic conditions. That is why one finds similar built forms in similar environments around the world. The flat roofs of the Mediterranean and other areas with a comparable climate are accounted for by the hot summers and mild, snow-free winters of these regions. Roofs of that kind could never bear snow loads. During warm summer nights, the roofs also served - and still serve - as sleeping quarters, as a retreat from the daytime heat stored in the walls of the houses.
