Second Empire Style (sometimes called Mansard) imitated the latest cosmopolitan building fashions of France during the reign of Napoleon III (1852 - 1870) which is regarded as France's Second Empire. The distinctive roof shape is named after its inventor Francois Mansart
The height of the roof combined with elaborate dormers, provided a full upper storey of usable space. For this reason, the Second Empire style became popular for remodeling earlier buildings, (particularly Italianate) as well as for new construction.
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