Why Were Stone Vaults Covered With A Timber Roof

The basic barrel form which appeared first in ancient egypt and the middle east is in effect a continuous series of arches deep enough to cover a three dimensional.

Why were stone vaults covered with a timber roof.

In architecture a vault french voûte from italian volta is a self supporting arched form usually of stone or brick serving to cover a space with a ceiling or roof. Because the gravel holds and releases heat the layer of gravel on a bur flat roof can both help water evaporate and keep heat away from the underlying roof structure. The nave of pilgrimage churches such as saint sernin at toulous and saint james were covered by. The earliest roofs constructed by man were probably thatched roofs that were made of straw leaves.

Vault in building construction a structural member consisting of an arrangement of arches usually forming a ceiling or roof. While most early medieval churches were covered with timber ceilings many romanesque buildings have either stone barrel vaults i e semi circular or groin vaults i e bays of barrel vaults crossing at a right angle their walls are necessarily thick to counter the outward thrust of the vault and they allow only small windows. The introduction of stone vaulting below the timber roof revolutionised the appearance of major churches. Steeper roof pitches are necessary for higher vaults while lower pitched roofs will only accommodate shallower vaults.

The gothic style of architecture with its vaults flying buttresses and pointed gothic arches developed in the twelfth century and in the centuries that followed ever more incredible feats. Romanesque buildings of the period 600 1100 ad clarification needed were entirely roofed in timber or had stone barrel vaults covered by timber roofs. Traditional stone masons who knew how often used timber confining elements and bands to give ductility to a building. Still vaulted ceilings were all the rage in mid to high end custom and.

Stone vaults had the advantage of being fireproof but also traditionally possessed symbolic significance as a way of marking the site of an especially sacred space such as tombs or relic chambers in crypts. Added benefits of bur flat roof gravel. In its three stories in the nave and timber roof saint etienne at vignory resembles. At saint sernin the.

Roof covering of the top of a building serving to protect against rain snow sunlight wind and extremes of temperature roofs have been constructed in a wide variety of forms flat pitched vaulted domed or in combinations as dictated by technical economic or aesthetic considerations. Served as the module for the proportions of the entire church. The gravel provides a better grip for foot traffic when conducting maintenance or repairs.