First the French taxed real estate based on the number of rooms but attic rooms were not counted. Builders started making Mansard roofs to create more untaxed rooms. The French government (Parisian?) then started taxing the rooms behind Mansard roofs. Eventually the builders responded by making Faux-Mansard roofs; for people liked the look of Mansards but it was cheaper to make boxy buildings with a fake slant of roof atop.
In the same way, at one time the French levied real estate based on closets. The people responded with armoires.
I assume all this is true. My old boss and real estate appraiser, James Mason, told me these facts.
I like the way LARGE words were sometimes painted on French buildings of Atget's time.
