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Overview
Atop some of the most famous buildings in the world sit cupolas of varying sizes and shapes. These seemingly purposeless ornaments have been appearing in architecture for over a thousand years, and they are still being fashioned on top of buildings and homes even today. If you look around, you may notice more cupolas than you even realized were there. Their styles may be as varied as the different countries in which they reside, but their universality is undeniable.
History
The earliest cupolas are thought to be Islamic in origin, dating to the eighth century C.E. The original cupolas were designed and built atop the minarets of mosques. The minaret, being the tallest part of the mosque, made it susceptible to more extreme weather than the rest of the structure. The cupola was designed to protect the minarets from the extremes of the environment, while still maintaining its impressive height. The idea of the cupola was soon copied across the Middle East, then into Europe and even into Russia. By the 1700's, the cupola was one of the most popular embellishments in European architecture. In post-revolutionary America, it became a staple of architecture in the northeastern states, and many examples of that era's cupolas can still be seen today.
Function
While there are many specific functions of a cupola, the most important is simply protection. The original cupolas atop mosques were designed for that very purpose. Cupolas are also made with vents or open areas that not only protected the upper parts of structures, but also allow for natural ventilation. Because heat rises, a cupola with a sizeable opening in the side would allow hot air to escape from an over-heated building, naturally drawing in cooler air from openings on the ground floor. In a way, cupolas are the first air conditioning systems. In New England, cupolas donning weathervanes on the very top served as a rudimentary weather forecasting system. If the wind began blowing in a certain direction, it was easy to tell what kind of weather would be heading into the area shortly thereafter.
Types
It goes without saying that a worldwide architectural phenomenon like the cupola has as many different types as there are countries it appears in. The cupolas of the Middle East that top many ancient mosques are referred to as "onion tops," due to their belled and curvy shape. This is an architectural style that is echoed in the Russian style "onion top" domes of the Kremlin and the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Octagonal cupolas began appearing later in England and then in America. The Belvedere-style cupola is one of the largest and most distinctive styles of cupola. A Belvedere is usually square or rectangular and is very large. They are usually so big that they are used as an extra room or attic. The most recognizable type of cupola, to many, is the colonial style. This is the type of cupola that is seen on college campuses and the type that tops the famous Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.
Significance
The state of architecture before the development of the cupola was very basic and utilitarian. The idea of building a sturdy stone structure that could withstand the elements and serve the purpose of either housing or worship was enough. Through the innovation of forward-thinking techniques used to build taller walls with greater support, the idea of the cupola became a reality. As the demand for grander spaces built from bigger ideas became more and more common, further protection from the elements, inside and out, was needed. This couldn't simply be a haphazard, additional roof slapped on the top of the structure, however. In the minds of these ancient architects, the final covering had to be as much a part of the design and philosophy of the structure as any other detail. The significance of the cupola is that it is one of the first times in architecture when function and design came together in a perfect marriage and created an idea for the ages.
Modern Cupolas
Cupolas are still being made and sold today throughout the world. One of the most popular areas for modern cupolas is the American Northeast, where cupola building is a booming industry. Today, cupolas serve the same purposes as before. In homes where minimal air conditioning is used, they are employed to ventilate hot air during the summer months. Weather vanes are still employed atop many of these New England cupolas to the same effect as a hundred years ago. Today's cupolas are made from a number of different materials, however. While the traditional wood cupolas are still made (primarily from cedar and cypress), they are also being constructed from PVC and topped with copper roofing. Cupolas have withstood the test of time and look just as modern today as they did a millennium ago.
