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Identifying feature

Dome

A rounded roof shaped as half a sphere, often raised on a drum (a circular wall). Domes cover large central spaces on Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Renaissance and Neoclassical buildings.

a sign of these styles

Pantheon, Rome, Italy: an example of Ancient Roman Ancient Roman c. 500 BCE–476 CE Round arches, concrete domes and vaults, and half-columns decorating huge public buildings. Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Vagharshapat, Armenia: an example of Armenian Armenian c. 300–1400 Compact stone churches with a drum and conical dome, carved relief walls and upright cross-stones called khachkars. St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City: an example of Baroque Baroque c. 1600–1750 Theatrical classicism: curved facades, giant columns rising through several stories, and dramatic staged light. Palais Garnier, Paris, France: an example of Baroque Revival Baroque Revival c. 1860–1915 The 1800s turning the volume up: domes, paired columns, sculpture crowding the roofline, and staircases built for grand entrances. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey: an example of Byzantine Byzantine c. 330–1453 A central dome floating over a square room, round arches, plain brick outside, gold mosaics inside. Westminster Cathedral, London, England: an example of Byzantine Revival Byzantine Revival c. 1840–1930 Central domes on round-arched churches, red brick banded with white stone, bell towers, and mosaics, built after 1840. Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem: an example of Islamic Medieval Islamic Medieval c. 700–1500 Domes and minarets over courtyards, pointed and horseshoe arches, and dense geometric and calligraphic ornament. Dohány Street Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary: an example of Moorish Revival Moorish Revival c. 1840–1930 Horseshoe arches, striped brick or stone, onion domes and slender minaret-like towers on synagogues, theatres and hotels. Taj Mahal, Agra, India: an example of Mughal Mughal c. 1526–1857 Bulbous marble or red sandstone domes on drums, pointed arches, small domed pavilions, and inlaid stone patterns. Panthéon, Paris, France: an example of Neoclassical Neoclassical c. 1750–1850 Buildings modeled closely on Greek and Roman temples: grand columned porches, domes, and plain, symmetrical walls. Fallingwater, Stewart Township, Pennsylvania: an example of Organic Architecture Organic Architecture c. 1930–present Buildings fitted to their site in local stone and concrete, with cantilevered terraces and curved or domed forms. Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey: an example of Ottoman Ottoman c. 1300–1900 Cascading gray domes and pencil-thin minarets: mosque complexes stepping down like mountains over light-filled halls. Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: an example of Polish Cathedral Style Polish Cathedral Style c. 1880–1930 Large brick or stone parish churches with two towers, a dome, and heavy exterior ornament and statuary. Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia: an example of Russian Orthodox Russian Orthodox c. 1000–1900 Onion domes in gold and candy colors clustered over white walls and steep tent-roofed towers. Church of the Savior on Blood, Saint Petersburg, Russia: an example of Russian Revival Russian Revival c. 1830–1917 Onion domes, steep tent-roofed towers, kokoshnik gables and patterned red brick or colored tile on churches and secular buildings. Shah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran: an example of Safavid Safavid c. 1501–1736 Large tiled domes, vaulted iwans around courtyards, seven-color tile surfaces and muqarnas vaulting in portals. Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran: an example of Seljuk Seljuk c. 1040–1300 Tall carved stone portals with stacked-niche muqarnas, brick minarets with turquoise tile, domed tombs and fortress-walled caravanserais. Gur-e-Amir, Samarkand, Uzbekistan: an example of Timurid Timurid c. 1370–1507 Huge tiled portals, ribbed turquoise domes on tall drums, and facades covered in glazed brick and mosaic tile.

also seen on

Beaux-ArtsChurrigueresqueExpressionismHigh Renaissance / PalladianMediterranean RevivalQajarVienna Secession

often seen with

Round arch An arch shaped as a half circle, often built from wedge-shaped blocks called voussoirs. Arcade A row of arches carried on columns or piers (thick square supports), often forming a covered walkway along a… Carved stone relief Figures or patterns carved into stone so they project from a flat background, called low relief when shallow… Courtyard An open-air space enclosed by the walls of a building or group of buildings. Minaret A tall, slender tower attached to or near a mosque, usually with one or more balconies near the top. Decorative tilework Glazed ceramic tiles, fired clay with a glassy coating, used to finish walls, floors and fireplace surrounds. Geometric ornament Decoration made of zigzags, chevrons (V shapes), stepped forms and other repeated geometric shapes instead… Symmetrical facade A facade, or main front, whose left and right halves mirror each other, usually with the main door at the…