Cupola

For other uses, see Cupola (disambiguation).

Cupolas on the towers of Montefiascone Cathedral, Italy

In architecture, a cupola (pronounced /ˈkjuːpələ/) is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building.^[1] Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome.^[2][3]

The word derives, via Italian, from the lower Latin cupula (classical Latin cupella from the Greek κύπελλον kupellon) small cup (Latin cupa) indicating a vault resembling an upside down cup.^[4]

Cupolas often appear as small buildings in their own right. They often serve as a lantern, belfry, or belvedere above a main roof. In other cases they may crown a tower, spire, or turret.^[3] The chhatri, seen in Indian architecture, fits the definition of a cupola when it is used atop a larger structure.

The cupola is a development during the Renaissance of the oculus, an ancient device found in Roman architecture, but being weatherproof was superior for the wetter climates of northern Europe.

See also

• Daylighting
• Roof lantern
• Chhatri

References

1. ^ "Glossary of Architectural Terms - C". Archiseek: Online Architecture Resources. http://www.archiseek.com/guides/glossary/c.html. Retrieved 3 January 2009. 
2. ^ "cupola". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. Dictionary.com. 2010. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cupola. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Just what is a cupola anyway?". Cupola Consulting. Cupola.com. http://www.cupola.com/whatscu1.htm. Retrieved 3 January 2009. 
4. ^ In Italian cupola simply means dome, and the ornamental top element is called lanterna.