Understanding Parapet
The parapet has ancient origins in military architecture, where castle battlements (the alternating high and low sections atop fortress walls) allowed defenders to shoot through gaps while remaining protected behind the raised portions. The word derives from the Italian "parapetto" — "para" (to shield) and "petto" (chest), literally "chest-high shield." In civilian architecture, parapets evolved from purely defensive structures into elegant design elements. Victorian and Edwardian buildings used ornate parapets with balustrades, urns, and decorative stonework to create impressive rooflines. Modern architecture uses clean-lined parapets primarily on flat-roofed commercial and residential buildings, where the parapet wall extends above the roof surface to conceal roofing materials, HVAC equipment, and drainage systems from street view, creating a sleek, finished appearance.
Parapet in Interior Design
While parapets are primarily an exterior architectural element, they significantly impact interior design in buildings with rooftop terraces, balconies, and flat roofs. Parapet height and design determine sightlines, privacy, and the feeling of openness on a rooftop terrace — a glass parapet maximizes views while a solid parapet creates a more sheltered, private outdoor room. In loft apartments and converted industrial spaces, the interior side of a parapet wall is often a prominent architectural feature that can be exposed brick or finished as a design element. For flat-roofed modern homes, the parapet creates the clean, box-like silhouette that defines contemporary architecture, and its dimensions can be manipulated to create varying roofline heights that add visual interest to otherwise flat facades.
