voûte

Voûte is an architectural term for a curved masonry ceiling or roof that spans an interior space. It consists of an arch or system of arches and the stones (voussoirs) that transfer weight to supporting walls or piers. The form and construction affect space, light, and acoustics.

Voûte en berceau, or barrel vault, is a simple semicylindrical shell extended along a space. It was common in Roman architecture and remains efficient for long bays.

Voûte en croisée d'arêtes, or cross (groin) vault, results from the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. The resulting groins define the vault’s edges and strengthen the interior.

Voûte à nervures, or ribbed vault, uses a framework of ribs to carry the load, with the masonry web filling between them. This becomes characteristic of Gothic architecture, allowing higher and more flexible plans.

Voûte en cul-de-four describes a vault formed by four arches meeting at a central apex, producing a rounded, sometimes fan-like interior surface.

Construction uses stone or brick, with voussoirs, a keystone, and proper buttressing. In modern practice, reinforced concrete can realize similar vaults across large spans.

Historically, vaulting evolved from Roman and Byzantine precedents to medieval innovations that enabled taller interiors and more windows. Today, vaults remain common in churches, hallways, and transit stations, valued for their structural and aesthetic qualities.