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Cupolas were originally designed to add natural light and ventilation to the area under a roof. They sit on the ridge of a roof and can be found in many shapes, including square, round, and octagonal. On barns, they're meant to allow a continuous flow of air into the hayloft, helping to dry the hay.
Just so, why do barns have weathervanes?
Better ventilation from a cupola also keeps moisture down inside the barn and improves air quality, which is ideal if there are farm animals spending the winter inside it. If a cupola has windows, it can also provide some natural lighting inside the barn as well.
Additionally, why are barns shaped the way they are?
Their role was to provide a place for tobacco farmers to hang and dry their crop after harvest. These barns are heavily ventilated because air flow was needed to cure the hanging tobacco leaves. Reminiscent of barns in England, the English barn is usually small and rectangular in shape with an A-frame roof.
A cupola lets hot air out by allowing warm air to escape while bringing in cooler air. Cupolas are the small buildings that sit on top of the roof. They are designed to look like a miniature house and are available with windows or louvers, each can provide ventilation.