Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c15.13

c15.13

There is usually a verandah to all important buildings, in which case a peculiarity of the roof appears, viz., the change of slope which gives a pagoda-like appearance to many Kandyan buildings. This results from the separate construction and different slope of the main roof and the verandah roof. In some cases the latter is a good deal lower than the main roof, so that the verandah is practically a lean-to against the wall of the main building (Pl. VII., 5) giving the false appearance of a two-storied building; if a window is pierced, the effect of a clerestory is produced. The change of slope is sometimes emphasized by different tiling of the two parts of the roof.