Squinch
Encyclopedia
A squinch in architecture is a construction filling in the upper angles of a square room so as to form a base to receive an octagonal or spherical
dome
. A later solution of this structural problem was provided by the pendentive
.
led courses, by filling the corner with a vise placed diagonally, or by building an arch or a number of corbelled
arches diagonally across the corner.
. It was used in the Middle East
in both eastern Romanesque and Islamic architecture
. It remained a feature of Islamic architecture, especially in Iran
, and was often covered by corbelled stalactite
-like structures known as muqarnas
.
of western Europe
, one example being the Normans' 12th-century church of San Cataldo, Palermo
in Sicily. This has three domes, each supported by four doubled squinches.
Sphere
A sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a round ball. Like a circle in two dimensions, a perfect sphere is completely symmetrical around its center, with all points on the surface lying the same distance r from the center point...
dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
. A later solution of this structural problem was provided by the pendentive
Pendentive
A pendentive is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room. The pendentives, which are triangular segments of a sphere, taper to points at the bottom and spread at the top to establish the continuous circular or...
.
Construction
Squinches may be formed by masonry built out from the angle in corbelCorbel
In architecture a corbel is a piece of stone jutting out of a wall to carry any superincumbent weight. A piece of timber projecting in the same way was called a "tassel" or a "bragger". The technique of corbelling, where rows of corbels deeply keyed inside a wall support a projecting wall or...
led courses, by filling the corner with a vise placed diagonally, or by building an arch or a number of corbelled
Corbel arch
A corbel arch is an arch-like construction method that uses the architectural technique of corbeling to span a space or void in a structure, such as an entranceway in a wall or as the span of a bridge...
arches diagonally across the corner.
History: the Middle East
The squinch was probably invented in IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. It was used in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in both eastern Romanesque and Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....
. It remained a feature of Islamic architecture, especially in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and was often covered by corbelled stalactite
Stalactite
A stalactite , "to drip", and meaning "that which drips") is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone...
-like structures known as muqarnas
Muqarnas
Muqarnas is a type of corbel used as a decorative device in traditional Islamic architecture. The term is similar to mocárabe, but mocárabe only refers to designs with formations resembling stalactites, by the use of elements known as alveole.Muqarnas takes the form of small pointed niches,...
.
History: Western Europe
It spread to the Romanesque architectureRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
of western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, one example being the Normans' 12th-century church of San Cataldo, Palermo
San Cataldo, Palermo
The Chiesa di San Cataldo is a church of the Sicilian city of Palermo, on the central Piazza Bellini. It is a notable example of the Arabian - Norman architecture which flourished in Sicily under the Norman domination of the island...
in Sicily. This has three domes, each supported by four doubled squinches.