Cupolas And Weather Vanes

A cupola (pronounced "kyoo'-puh-luh")  is a relatively small structure built on the ridge or peak of roof. These were originally used to ventilate the building, allowing hot air to escape. It would have its own little roof to shed water .......

and its walls would have louvered and screened vent openings. Warmed, stale air would flow by convection up and out of the upper interior or roof space allowing cooler air below to flow into the building. Ventilation cupolas were and still are important to interior space air quality in agricultural and industrial buildings or many types.

Weather vanes were often placed on the peaks of cupolas because of their being the highest visible point of the building where it could directed by air movement to show its direction. They were often just placed on a stancheon atop a roof or chimney. Wind direction was really important to farmers and outside workers watching the weather.

Both cupolas and weather vanes were built simply functional or as ornamental, architectural features of a building. In fact, they were often quite expressive of a style or symbolism important to the owner. Touring older towns, cities and rural regions you can see how common and important they were in their time.

Cupolas today are usually decorative. Weather vanes are also treated as decorative architectural ornaments but they usually are functional. Both will add delightful (and today, unusual) visual interest to a garage or other building type. My list below presents some exceptional examples of  ready-made products available today.

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