ABSTRACT
Riding halls were essential to military training schools during the second half of the 19th century in Switzerland. The required wide span and the fact that their roof structures were left visible resulted in fascinating timber constructions and state-of-the-art technology. Nine well-preserved halls, built in the 1860s and 1870s, were analysed, and three were chosen to exemplify the building practices of this period. The buildings were documented by on-site surveys, using a laser scanner and hand measurements. Although the halls were planned by different architects, their roof constructions are strikingly similar and were mostly executed as purlin roofs with queen-post trusses. Furthermore, the timber roofs were studied in their historical and geographical context setting them in relation to 19th-century publications. This study reveals the development of these constructions and gives an insight into their international and regional influences.
