The Catalan vault (), also called thin-tile vault,
Catalan turn, Catalan arch, boveda ceiling (Spanish ''bóveda'' 'vault'), or timbrel vault, is a type of low
brickwork arch forming a
vaulted ceiling that often supports a floor above. It is constructed by laying a first layer of light bricks lengthwise "in space", without centering or formwork, and has a much gentler curve than most other methods of construction.
[
Of Roman origin, it is a traditional form in regions around the Mediterranean including ]Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
(where it is widely used), and has spread around the world in more recent times through the work of Catalan architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
s such as Antoni Gaudí and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, and the Valencian Valencian can refer to:
* Something related to the Valencian Community ( Valencian Country) in Spain
* Something related to the city of Valencia
* Something related to the province of Valencia in Spain
* Something related to the old Kingdom of ...
architect Rafael Guastavino.
A study on the stability of the Catalan vault is kept at the archive of the Institute of Catalan Studies, where it is said to have been entrusted by Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Though it is popularly called the Catalan vault, this construction method is found throughout the Mediterranean and the invention of the term "Catalan vault" occurred in 1904 at an architectural congress in Madrid.
The technique was brought to New Spain (colonial Mexico), and is still used in parts of contemporary Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
.
In the United States
Valencian architect and builder Rafael Guastavino introduced the technique to the United States in the 1880s, where it is called Guastavino tile. It is used in many major buildings across the United States, including the Boston Public Library, the New York Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal (GCT; also referred to as Grand Central Station or simply as Grand Central) is a commuter rail terminal station, terminal located at 42nd Street (Manhattan), 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York Ci ...
, and many others.[Beau Peregoy, "9 Dazzling Tiled Archways Devised by Rafael Guastavino", ''Architectural Digest'', January 8, 201]
/ref>
See also
* List of architectural vaults
References
External links
* Ramage, Michael.
Construction of a Vault
. details the process of constructing a six-foot by six-foot vault.
Architecture in Spain
Catalan architecture
Spanish Colonial architecture in Mexico
Arches and vaults
Ceilings
Brick buildings and structures
Building engineering
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