" The masonry arch, vault and dome."

Historical Perspective.

Due to the fact that the only materials available to builders in the Middle Ages apart from timber, were stone and brick. These materials were capable of withstanding little or no tensile stresses and it is as a result of this we see the widespread use of the masonry arch, vault and dome.

The Arch.

The method of spanning openings with a flat beam has being use throughout early history. The problem arose in relation to large spans where if a flat beam was to be used it would be of considerable size and weight to resist the tensile forces resulting from bending.This problem was solved as in the Temple of Apollo where the opening is bridged by resting two inclined beams against each other.

This brick arch at Susa is one of the earliest examples of semi-circular brick arch construction. It dates from 1300 BC.

The Romans used the semi-circular arch for spanning openings, relieving arches and for vaulting. The idea of the joggled voussoir was developed by the Romans, it made the construction of arches by preventing stones from sliding from their positions.

A famous example of semi-circular arch construction can be seen at the aquaducts at the Pont du Gard near Nimes in France.

Click on the Icon for more information on how an arch works and a look a modern arches.

The Vault.

The round vault first featured in Roman construction was said to be an imitation of an natural grotto. Barrel vaults were used in buildings such as the public baths at Pompeii, many examples of the use of groined vaults can be seen in the Baths of Trajan and the Basilica of Maxentius.

The vault was also used in churches especially of the Gothic period, the pointed arch and vault were typical of this period.

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The Dome.

Domes as well as arches and vaults have been used since ancient times. There are many different examples of domed construction but the church of Santa Sophia in Istanbul (constructed in 532-7 AD) is one of the most famous. The span of the main dome is 30 meters and due to the fact that it is supported by semi-domes there is a floor area of 69 meters that is unbroken by columns.

Two famous examples of dome construction in Europe during the Renaissance are St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and St. Paul's in London.

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