Rib Vault

Arched ceiling with supporting ribs.

Overview

Rib vaults, built with stone, use ribs to support vaulted ceilings, common in Gothic architecture.

Core Characteristics

• Ribbed and structural.
• Light and height-enhancing.
• Gothic prevalence.

Notable Examples

• Notre Dame (France, 1345, rib vaulting).
• Reims Cathedral (France, 1290, rib vaults).

Architectural Connections

• Gothic: Structural focus.
• Religious: Cathedrals.
• Gothic Architecture: Core movement.

Influence and Legacy

Led by Gothic masons, it enables lofty interiors.

Related Concepts & Techniques

Vaulting (technique), Structuralism (theory), Vault (element), Neo-Gothic (movement)