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The Barrel Vault I

The arcade, like the colonnade, does not in itself roof interior spaces. But the arcuated principle can be used to create different kinds of vaults to cover space. The simplest of these is the barrel vault which is in effect one arch placed behind the other to create a tunnel-like covered area which can be extended infinitely.

Build a barrel vault by clicking each of the stages, then scroll down to look at the photograph below before moving on to page 6.

above nave of St. Sernin at Toulouse, France (11th - 12th centuries)

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