Kinds Of Vaulted Ceilings

Vaulted ceilings can be seen in all types of structures, from modern homes to ancient churches.

Vaulted ceilings, which are created by a series of arches, make rooms feel grander and more spacious. The vaulted ceiling, which has been used since the discovery of the basic arch in ancient Egypt, is still used in modern architecture to draw more light into a room and make the space appear more open. The first vaulted ceilings were barrel vaults, a style that is still used today, but over time, architects invented and perfected different types of vaulted ceilings.

Barrel Vault

The first type of vault used in architecture is the simplest form of vaulted ceiling. A barrel vault is formed by a continuous stretch of arches that are built one after the other to cover a three-dimensional space. A barrel vault must be supported by heavy walls with limited openings, meaning that a room built with a barrel-vaulted ceiling cannot sustain large or frequent windows.

Groin Vault

A groin vault is formed when two barrel vaults intersect at a right angle. The groin vault, which was discovered by Roman architects, allowed for new innovations in architecture because the groin vault is supported by four pillars instead of only two. Because of this, the walls that support a groin vault do not need to be as large and only need to be buttressed where the vault is supported, allowing for more windows.

Rib Vault

Made from the intersection of two or three barrel vaults is the rib vault. The supporting arches of rib vaults are often carved or decorated to make them more noticeable. The rib vault functions much in the same way as the groin vault, distributing the weight of the ceiling into four corners of support, which allows for large windows closer to the ceiling.

Modern Materials

The innovation of modern, lightweight building materials has allowed architects to use the classic vault structure in new ways. With new, lighter materials, the weight of the vault has become less of a problem, allowing designers to revert to the simple barrel vault. In many modern buildings, vaulted ceilings are used for design instead of for structural purposes.

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