Monolithic architecture describes buildings which are carved, cast or excavated from a single piece of material, historically from rock. The most basic form of monolithic architecture is a rock-cut building, such as the monolithic churches of Ethiopia built by the Zagwe dynasty, or the Pancha Rathas in India. These are cut out of solid rock, to which they remain attached at the base. In most cases this is evident from the remaining surrounding rock, but sometimes a building is cut from an outcrop, as in the Shore Temple in southern India, and only inspection at close quarters reveals that the building is monolithic.
Pancha Rathas monolith rock-cut temple, late 7th century
The terms monolith and monolithic column are normally used for objects made from a single large piece of rock which is detached from the ground. They may have been moved a considerable distance, as with several ancient Egyptian obelisks, which have been moved around the world. Buildings with a structural material that is poured into place, most commonly concrete, can also be described as monolithic. Extreme examples are monolithic domes, where the material is sprayed inside of a form to produce the solid structure.
An ancient example of a monolithic dome is that of the Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna, Italy, the roof of which is made from a single stone.
monolithic, architecture, software, concept, monolithic, system, describes, buildings, which, carved, cast, excavated, from, single, piece, material, historically, from, rock, most, basic, form, monolithic, architecture, rock, building, such, monolithic, churc. For the software concept see Monolithic system Monolithic architecture describes buildings which are carved cast or excavated from a single piece of material historically from rock The most basic form of monolithic architecture is a rock cut building such as the monolithic churches of Ethiopia built by the Zagwe dynasty or the Pancha Rathas in India These are cut out of solid rock to which they remain attached at the base In most cases this is evident from the remaining surrounding rock but sometimes a building is cut from an outcrop as in the Shore Temple in southern India and only inspection at close quarters reveals that the building is monolithic Pancha Rathas monolith rock cut temple late 7th century The terms monolith and monolithic column are normally used for objects made from a single large piece of rock which is detached from the ground They may have been moved a considerable distance as with several ancient Egyptian obelisks which have been moved around the world Buildings with a structural material that is poured into place most commonly concrete can also be described as monolithic Extreme examples are monolithic domes where the material is sprayed inside of a form to produce the solid structure An ancient example of a monolithic dome is that of the Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna Italy the roof of which is made from a single stone See also EditArchitecture of cathedrals and great churches Church architecture Early Christian art and architecture Statue of Ahimsa largest monolithic sculptureReferences EditRussell Sturgis Sturgis Illustrated Dictionary of Architecture and BuildingExternal links Edit Media related to Monolithic architecture at Wikimedia Commons This architecture related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article related to an architectural style is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monolithic architecture amp oldid 1109424431, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
