Vault (architecture)

A Vault (French. voute, Italian. volta, German. Gewölbe, Polish. sklepienie, Spanish. bóveda) is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof.

Vault (architecture) Media

• 

  Gothic rib vault ceiling of the Saint-Séverin church in Paris

• 

  Interior elevation view of a Gothic cathedral, with rib-vaulted roof highlighted

• 

  Assyrian bas-relief from Nimrud showing domed structures in the background

• 

  In a pitched-brick vault the bricks lean (are pitched) against an existing wall.

• 

  St Paul's Cathedral Choir looking east, London

• 

  Pointed barrel vault showing direction of lateral forces

• 

  A groin vault viewed from the underside, showing the arris or 'groin'

• 

  Plan of a groin vault from above showing resultant outward thrust

• 

  Groinvaulttop

• 

  The rib vault of Reims Cathedral, France