dome
Sign in to saveA dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a matter of controversy and there are a wide variety of forms and specialized terms to describe them.
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A dome is a curved, bowl-shaped architectural structure that resembles the upper half of a hollow sphere and is used to cover or top buildings. Because domes can take many different forms and serve various purposes, there has been ongoing debate about how exactly to define them, and architects use specialized terms to describe their different types.
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Article
39 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Definitions
- Elements
- Materials
- Shapes and internal forces
- Symbolism
- Acoustics
- Types
- Beehive dome
- Braced dome
- Cloister vault
- Compound dome
- Crossed-arch dome
- Ellipsoidal dome
- Geodesic dome
- Hemispherical dome
- Bulbous domes and onion domes
- Oval dome
- Paraboloid dome
- Sail dome
- Saucer dome
- Umbrella dome
- History
- Early history and simple domes
- East Asian domes
- Roman and Byzantine domes
- Persian domes
- Arabic and Western European domes
- Russian domes
- Ukrainian domes
- Ottoman domes
- Italian Renaissance domes
- South Asian domes
- Early modern domes
- Modern period domes
- See also
- Excerpts
- References
- Bibliography
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a matter of controversy and there are a wide variety of forms and specialized terms to describe them.
A dome can rest directly upon a rotunda wall, a drum, or a system of squinches or pendentives used to accommodate the transition in shape from a rectangular or square space to the round or polygonal base of the dome. The dome's apex may be closed or may be open in the form of an oculus, which may itself be covered with a roof lantern and cupola.