Often cathedrals have ornate vaulted ceilings.
A vaulted ceiling may refer to many different designs in which curves or angles create a raised ceiling, often supported in creative and aesthetically pleasing ways. Many vaulted ceilings use a traditional structural form, such as a barrel vault or a dome. In residential building, a vaulted ceiling may also refer to a less historical or traditional type of vault and simply to the use of unusually high ceilings.
The barrel vault is a relatively simple example of the vaulted ceiling. It consists of a series of arches arranged in parallel to create a form similar to a half cylinder. The barrel vault is evident in ancient Roman architecture and is a relatively simple form to build, structurally, using the same principles as an archway spread over a broader area. In contemporary residential construction, a barrel vault can add character to a room. It works especially well for long, narrow rooms. In basements, it can add a cozy, enveloping atmosphere. A barrel vault may also refer to a type of ceiling that uses brick or other materials to form "barrel" arches between individual rafters. Across a whole ceiling, this has the effect of creating many parallel barrel vaults.
Dome
A dome is another fairly simple example of a vaulted ceiling. If the barrel vault's structure is essentially a row of arches, the dome is basically an arch, rotated around a central axis 360 degrees. It can resemble a half-sphere in shape, though it may also be taller or wider than a true sphere shape. Domes are especially common as the ceilings in cupolas, small turret-like architectural elements that are often found on churches. In contemporary residential architecture, domes can open up small, round rooms and lend interesting character. They work especially well for grand, formal dining rooms or for elegant entryways.
Nontraditional Vaulted Ceiling
Ceiling vaults have traditionally referred to the classical architectural canon, including such elaborate structures as Romanesque rib vaults or groin vaults. However, vaulted ceilings in homes and other contemporary buildings needn't necessarily use these traditional approaches to ceiling and roof structure. With advancing technology and modern construction materials, vaulted ceilings are more free-form, adapting to the architect's vision of the ideal room configuration. For example, a simple vaulted ceiling might raise a central part of the room's ceiling by several feet and border this raised area with sections of ceiling that slope downward gently to meet the wall. This type of vault would give the effect of spaciousness without requiring much structural variation from a regular, flat ceiling.
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