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Setback (architecture)
Step-like recession in a wall / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about step-like recessions in walls. For minimum distances between buildings and the lot line, see Setback (land use).
A setback, in the specific sense of a step-back, is a step-like form of a wall or other building frontage, also termed a recession or recessed story.[1] Importantly, one or more step-backs lowers the building's center of mass, making it more stable. A setback as a minimum one-bay indent across all stories is called a recessed bay or recess and is the more common exterior form of an alcove.
![A series of five setbacks, each of decreasing size, result in the pyramid being much narrower at its peak than at its base.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Zoser_Pyramid_%282347235367%29.jpg/640px-Zoser_Pyramid_%282347235367%29.jpg)
Notable upper stories forming a step-back may form a belvedere ā and in residential use are considered the penthouse. If part of the roof, then they are a loft or attic/garret.