Final answer:
The three basic roof designs are gable, hipped, and flat roofs. Each design has been used historically to meet both the aesthetic and practical needs of the building, with variations such as double-eave hipped roofs, pitched roofs, and pointed arches reflecting different architectural styles and functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three basic roof designs are typically known as gable, hipped, and flat roofs. Each design serves a functional and aesthetic purpose, and can be representative of different architectural styles and historical periods. Throughout architecture's history, roof designs have evolved to both accommodate the practical needs of a structure in response to climate, as well as the aesthetic or symbolic intentions of the builder.
For example, the imperial decrees, weddings, and ceremonies indicative of powerful figures in history often used double-eave hipped roofs to signify importance. The function of the sharply pitched roofs of long houses in colder climates facilitated snow falling to the ground. In contrast, Gothic architecture saw the use of pointed arches and ribbed vaulting, which were structural techniques that also contributed to the aesthetic of the building. Lastly, examples like the Casa Batllo, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, illustrate how architects harmonized the roof's design with the building's environment, creating visually compelling structures such as the dragon-back shaped roof.