Dome

A hemispherical or related curved roof that covers a broad space.

A dome distributes forces around its curved surface, enabling large interiors with few columns. Examples range from Roman concrete and Byzantine masonry to modern steel, glass, and ETFE.

Classical masonry domes are dominated by compression, while modern domes may combine tension, cables, and gridshells. Oculus, drum, pendentive, and squinch describe openings or transitions to supporting geometry.

The Pantheon and Hagia Sophia are key examples. Material and construction method can often be inferred from the form.