The A-frame was made its U.S. debut in 1930s Southern California at the skilled hands of R.M. Schindler. A Vienna-born architect, Schindler admired and worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright, who eventually took Schindler from the Midwest to Los Angeles for the construction of the famed Hollyhock House.
While Schindler was certainly an architect of vision in his own right, A-frame homes existed long before he built his first one at Lake Arrowhead. The construction method of A-frames is durable and practical and has been utilized throughout Asia and Europe for hundreds of years.
Given their pitched rooflines, A-frame buildings are ideal in snowy climes, as they're not prone to snow accumulation, which could seriously damage roofs. The majority of A-frame homes in the U.S. were built between the 1950s and 1970s, usually in forested, mountainous regions (think Colorado, Utah, the Pacific Northwest, and so on.
A-frames have been a part of the recent revival of interest because of the tiny home movement and a general shift towards sustainability. The simple design and easy exterior maintenance requirements help to make them an ideal to choose for people wanting to make the move to smaller or to take on a greener way of life.
A big perk for homeowners who live in A-frames is their low-cost robustness. If you're building a new home and you'll notice that their construction is often less expensive than traditional designs. What if you're buying one that was built around 50 or 60 years ago? In terms of interior design it's safe to say that the A-frame has solid bones.
Home that are able to stand up to snow conditions effectively tend to also be able to be able to withstand temperatures that are hot. A-frame roofs that are well lined with insulation will provide great protection against the elements. They can also be easily adjusted to high temperatures.
Like many other things that are real estate related, what one person sees as a disadvantage could be an item on the list of a different person's. So, the drawbacks of A frame homes are a matter of opinion.
