Architectural Vaulted Ceiling Definition

Dome

• Domes represent the earliest known examples of vaulted ceilings, dating back to 6000 B.C. These vaults are found in the Neolithic village Khirokitia in Cyprus. In appearance, domes resemble the hollowed-out upper half of a sphere. One of the more famous examples of a dome is in Rome, at St. Peter's Basilica Cathedral. It features a dome ceiling with a cupola on top. Domes were also popular in the Islamic world between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Barrel Vault

• A barrel vault is the simplest form of vaulted ceiling. It gets its name because of the fact that it resembles a barrel cut in half lengthwise. The Sumerians are responsible for the earliest known examples of the barrel vault. They were used extensively in ancient Egypt and are a staple of Roman architecture.

Groin Vault

• The groin vault consists of two semicircular barrel vaults crossing one another and forming an intersection. That intersection is referred to as the groin. While it was the Romans who popularized the groin vault, this style of vaulted ceiling endures up to the present day; a recent example can be found at the Hauptbahnhof, the largest European train station, in Berlin. It was completed in 2006.

Rib Vault

• Rib vaults are similar to groin vaults in that they involve intersecting semicircular barrel vaults; the difference is, in rib vaults, the intersecting vaults are not of the same diameter. This complicated design scheme can be seen in London, at the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, as well as in France at Reims Cathedral.

Fan Vault

• The fan vault came into being thanks to the development of the four-centered arch. It is rooted in centering one curve for all the ribs, rather than containing separate centering for the transverse, diagonal wall and intermediate ribs. One prominent example of a fan vault can be found in Cambridge, UK, at King's College Chapel. The divinity schools at Oxford also have vaulted ceilings in the fan vault style.