Cupola

Small dome atop roofs.

Overview

Cupolas, built with wood or metal, crown roofs, providing ventilation or decoration.

Core Characteristics

• Small and domed.
• Functional or decorative.
• Renaissance and vernacular use.

Notable Examples

• Santa Maria del Fiore (Italy, 1436, Brunelleschi’s cupola).
• St. Peter’s Basilica (Italy, 1626, cupola).

Architectural Connections

• Renaissance: Structural focus.
• Religious: Churches.
• Renaissance Architecture: Core movement.

Influence and Legacy

Led by Filippo Brunelleschi, it enhances rooflines.

Related Concepts & Techniques

Masonry (technique), Proportion (theory), Dome (element), Baroque Architecture (movement)