doublearch

Doublearch is a term used to describe any structure or natural formation that features two arches, either adjacent or connected, forming a paired arch configuration. The concept spans architecture, geology, and cultural contexts where two arches are a dominant visual element.

In architecture, a double arch refers to a pair of arches used together in a single opening, doorway, vault, or bridge. These can be symmetrical or vary in span and height. Double arches are valued for visual balance and rhythm and may also help distribute loads more evenly across a doorway, passage, or bridge. They appear in religious, civic, and residential design across various historical periods and styles, sometimes serving purely decorative purposes as well as structural roles.

In geology and natural landscapes, a double arch describes rock formations in which erosion creates two adjacent openings within the same rock mass. The arches may share a foundation or connect at some point along their courses, resulting in a distinctive paired silhouette. Such formations are often found in desert or cliff environments where wind, water, and gravity shape the rock over long timescales.

Notable usage includes the Double Arch in Arches National Park, Utah, a famous natural formation consisting of two arches that share a common rock mass and together create an expansive, paired opening. The term can also appear in architectural guides and regional feature lists to describe similar paired-arch elements or landscapes.

See also: arch, arch bridge, natural arches.