BDCS - Parapet

Parapet Atop King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England

A parapet is a low wall projecting from the edge of a platform, terrace, or roof. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a fire wall or party wall. Historically, parapets were originally used to defend buildings from military attack, but today they are primarily used to prevent the spread of fires. They are also used to aesthetic effect, as in Mission style homes where rounded parapets are often used as decorative features.


The word comes ultimately from the Italian parapetto (parare = to cover/defend and petto =breast). The German term Brustwehr has the same significance. All parapets may be plain embattled, perforated or panelled, which are not mutually exclusive terms:

• Plain parapets are upward extensions of the wall, sometimes with a coping at the top and corbel below.
• Embattled parapets may be panelled, but are pierced, if not purely as stylistic device, for the discharge of defensive projectiles.
• Perforated parapets are pierced in various designs such as circles, trefoils, quatrefoils.
• Panelled parapets are ornamented by a series of panels, either oblong or square, and more or less enriched, but not perforated.
• These are common in the Decorated and Perpendicular periods.

Many firewalls are required to have a parapet, a portion of the wall extending above the roof. The parapet is required to be as fire resistant as the lower wall. It is required to extend at least 30" above the roof. If the roof slopes at a rate of 2 in 12 or greater (16.7-percent slope), the parapet shall extend to the same width as any portion of the floor within a fire separation distance where protection of wall openings is required, but in no case shall the height be less than 30 inches (762 mm).[2] Exterior walls that require to be fire protected are often required to have a parapet, but there are exceptions. *note* If the roofing material is combustible, it must stop 18" minimum from the top of the wall.

A Fortified Parapet at Scotstarvit Tower in Scotland

MIES - Contain It

Container architecture is really recycling at its best.  Napper Architects, based out of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, is highly innovative in this regard.  Using containers from shipping yards, they've found a resourceful way to design LEED accredited buildings.   Needless to say, they've earned many credits in the Innovation portion of LEED.

This 3 story building utilises 37 recycled shipping containers that are to be adapted and reconditioned to create an innovative building solution. The development will provide approximately 10,000 square feet of office space that will be unique to the region. Aimed at sustainable enterprise businesses the modular building itself is incredibly sustainable in that the majority of the structure is recycled, the re-used shipping containers having already transported goods around the world for 20 years.

As can be seen in the light model, the building will be transparent/open in places from above, allowing a natural passive heating and cooling system to take place.  Also of note is how sunscreens block out a majority of these spaces, where light enters.  The facilities designed by Napper are innovative but also resourceful.  LEED recognized Napper's willingness to counter the albedo affect by the placement of these brise soleils.  

All things considered, this may not win design of the year anytime soon, but it does show a willingness to be resourceful.  As driven as star designers may be to avoid this kind of utilization, it's impossible not to respond favorably to this kind of clever wit in architecture.  It really is a smart solution.

MIES - Reservoir Conversion

Exciting plans for the conversion of redundant utility buildings into an exemplar, low-carbon family home will be submitted later this week by Bishopsrock Properties. As winners of a design competition, Ian Simpson Architects developed proposals for the conversion of two disused, adjacent water reservoir tanks located on an elevated site in Barnacre-with-bonds, near Garstang in North Lancashire.

The project will see a large former water tank converted to provide a stunning, contemporary interpretation of the country home containing 6 bedrooms, whilst a smaller tank will be converted to form a 2-bedroom holiday cottage, aiming to stimulate tourism and the local economy. The views out from the site are breathtaking with the sea and the Nicky Nook, a local landmark, both being clearly visible. Daylight will flood into the main building via a series of roof lights and new glazed areas which frame inspiring views towards the sea and surrounding pastures.

From afar the project will be disguised to public view and recognition.  The green roof and local vegetation will help to create this illusion.  But to anyone who goes near, they will discover this hidden gem.