All roofs, even ones that look flat, need to slope to some degree so that snowmelt and rainfall can drain off. But beyond that basic requirement, architects and builders have a lot of leeway, and they've used that creative freedom to invent a wonderful array of roof designs.
Mansard roofs are a type of hip roof where each sloping section is divided in two. To create maximum space under the roof, the section near the walls rises steeply. Then the roof continues at a milder pitch toward the center. Standing on the ground, you see only the steep section and may think that the house is flat on top. Mansard roofs are common on buildings with styles borrowed from France.
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