Dome

A dome is a common structural element of Architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Domes do not have to be perfectly spherical in cross-section, however; it is sufficient that they simply be curved surfaces.

Characteristics

A dome can be considered as an arch which has been rotated around its vertical axis. As such, domes have a great deal of structural strength. They can be constructed of ordinary Masonry, held together by friction and compressive forces.

The concave triangular sections of vaulting that provides the transition between a dome and the square base on which it is set and transfer the weight of the dome are called pendentives. A less sophisticated version of a pendentive is a squinch.

A half-dome forms the head of an Exedra or its smaller version, a Niche. In Late Antiquity, the exedra developed into the Apse, with separate developments in Romanesque and Byzantine practice.

Many sports stadiums are domed, especially in climates that have widely-variable summer and winter weather. The first such stadium was the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. A major improvement to the domed stadium was accomplished with the construction of SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, the first domed stadium with a retractable roof.

Saucer dome

A saucer dome is the architectural term used for a low pitched shallow dome. Described geometrically as being of circular base and a segmental (less than a semicircle) section.

Gaining in popularity from the 18th century onwards, the saucer dome is often a feature of interior design, viewed from below it resembles the shallow concave shape of a Saucer. The dome itself being often contained in the space between Ceiling and Attic is invisible externally. These domes are usually decorated internally by ornate Plaster-work, occasionally they are frescoed.

They are seen occasionally externally in Byzantine churches and mosques.

Onion dome

Main article: Onion dome.
The onion dome resembles more than half of a sphere, exemplified by Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow and the Taj Mahal. They are found mostly in eastern architecture, particularly in Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, and even India.

Famous domes

Listed in order of their completion:

Xanadu House

The Xanadu House was a home that used the concept of domes heavily in its shape and design. The home was one of the first non-indigenous homes to use curved surfaces throughout the exterior and interior.

See also

Igloo   Index

This page is based on the Wikipedia article ''Dome''. It is licensed under the GNU free documentation license.

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