In architecture, a vault is a self-supporting arched form, typically constructed from stone or brick, designed to cover a space with a ceiling or roof. It serves as a robust and often visually impressive structural element capable of spanning large areas without the need for numerous intermediate supports.
Understanding the Architectural Vault
A vault represents a sophisticated evolution of the basic arch, extending its principles to create a three-dimensional enclosure. The term itself, vault (French: voûte, from Italian: volta), highlights its European architectural heritage.
The fundamental characteristics of a vault include:
- Self-Supporting Arched Form: Unlike flat ceilings that rely on beams or trusses, a vault distributes its weight and forces outwards, requiring strong buttressing or continuous walls to counteract the thrust. This inherent stability, once completed, makes it self-supporting.
- Materials: Vaults are predominantly built using durable masonry materials such as stone or brick, known for their compressive strength.
- Primary Function: Its main purpose is to enclose and cover interior spaces, forming a robust ceiling or roof. This allows for vast, open interiors in structures like cathedrals, basilicas, and large halls.
Construction Essentials of a Vault
The construction of a vault shares a critical similarity with building a single arch: it requires temporary support during its assembly. This temporary framework, often called centring or formwork, is crucial while the individual components are being set.
- Voussoirs: Just like an arch, a vault is composed of wedge-shaped stones or bricks known as voussoirs. These are meticulously placed in rings or courses.
- Temporary Support: As the rings of voussoirs are constructed and placed in position, the centring holds them in place until the final keystone (or series of keystones in a vault) is inserted, locking the structure together and allowing it to become self-supporting. Once the mortar cures and the structure can bear its own weight, the temporary support is removed.
Key Characteristics of Architectural Vaults
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Structure | A self-supporting, curved structural form spanning a space. |
| Primary Material | Traditionally stone or brick, leveraging their compressive strength. |
| Function | To form a ceiling or roof, covering the space beneath. |
| Construction Method | Requires temporary centring to support voussoirs until completed. |
Significance and Applications
Vaults have been a cornerstone of architectural innovation for millennia, from ancient Roman engineering to the soaring cathedrals of the Gothic era. They enabled architects to create impressive, column-free interiors, providing both structural integrity and a sense of grandeur.
While the fundamental principle remains, vaults have evolved into various types, each with unique structural and aesthetic qualities:
- Barrel Vault (Tunnel Vault): The simplest form, essentially a continuous arch forming a tunnel-like space.
- Groin Vault (Cross Vault): Formed by the intersection of two barrel vaults at right angles, allowing for openings and directing weight to four corner points.
- Rib Vault: A Gothic innovation where a framework of arched ribs supports lighter panels, reducing the overall weight and allowing for larger windows.
- Fan Vault: A characteristic of English Perpendicular Gothic, where ribs spread out like a fan, creating a highly decorative and intricate ceiling.
The strategic use of vaults allowed for the construction of monumental buildings, demonstrating an advanced understanding of structural mechanics and aesthetic design.
