Mansard bleu

This is kind of a reverse screwed up mansard.  Usually the building itself is good and the roof is bad.  I love what happened here:  the mansard looks great, but the building is goofy.  In Kirkwood on Monroe near Kirkwood Road.

Depressing Hannibal Mansard

Hey St. Louis- you think you have problems with your old buildings going to hell? Go to Hannibal and prepare to be say "pour quoi." This is Hannibal's former federal building. Lovely cresting, tower and mansard. Built in the 1880's in the 2nd Empire Style and designed by Mifflin Bell. Read its application for National Register of Historic Places here.

This building has been mostly empty since a new federal facility was built. The courtrooms are still intact and evidently you can get a tour if you ask the right people. And, the bottom of the building is what every historic sight should have- a tacky bar. The Down Under Lounge, where according to the cheap signage, you can got to taco OR pasta night and drink some Baccardi rum.

I love Hannibal. It's a nice town with lovely buildings. Someone please help this mansard.

I would like to point out Hannibal's regular courthouse was renovated about 7 years ago and it is drop dead gorgeous. I'm not sure of the exact date of remodeling, but I do remember the dockets were moved to the courthouse in Palmyra where cell phone coverage was so spotty that I had to use the payphone on the corner. I must have looked like Palmyra's only prostitute hanging out on the corner making phone calls.

This is the dome of the Hannibal courthouse. Locals tell me the dome was covered by a drop ceiling and was relatively intact when remodeling started.

Last random thought: the Hannibal courthouse is one of the cleanest in the state. Also, it is one of the few courthouses with a ladies lounge in the bathroom with electrical outlets (in case your carrying a Medela Pump in Style).

Nice trim....

Lafayette Square

Love the color patterns in the mansard itself.  Houses on Lafayette near the Highway 44 on-ramp.  

Cinq etats!

Yes, badmansard now features the flattest rooflines from 5 states (MO, ARK, IL, WI and CA)!  My dear friend Erika recently visited from Madison, Wisconsin.  She brought with her some wonderful artisanal cheeses and this photograph of a mansard on Madison's west side.  

This mansard is quite pleasing to me.  I like the green and the alternating square/oval pattern on the roof.  

Send your pictures to badmansard@me.com