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Famous Cupolas in History

Although technically a cupola is any raised structure placed on a roof for light or ventilation, many people automatically think of the large, ornamental domes that add to the grace of the building it stands over. Driving through a small farming town, you could probably see many of them on top of barns, but none of them would have nearly the same effect as viewing the cupola of the Capitol building in Washington DC, or St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The cupola on top of the United States Capitol building is one of the most recognizable in the world. Although usually referred to as a dome, it is actually a cupola (however, I will use these terms interchangeably). It often stands as a symbol of American government and democracy. Major functions of the United States government take place under the roof of the Capitol; it houses the chambers of the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Although it is well-known, most people do not know that the cupola of the Capitol was not the first dome to be put on top of the building. The first dome was designed by Boston architect Charles Bulfinch, and it was completed in 1824. However, as the building grew larger with the additions of the House and Senate chambers, it was felt that the cupola was too small. By 1855, money had been approved by both Houses of Congress and the President to build a new ironwork dome. The money was approved based on a single drawing done by Philadelphia architect Thomas Walter.

In the fall of 1856, the old wooden cupola was removed and a temporary roof was placed over the rotunda to protect it from the elements. The workers first placed over 5.2 million pounds of masonry on top of the walls of the building to support the columns that would hold the cupola. In 1858, a dispute between Walter and the engineering supervisor caused the work to grind to a halt. This enabled Walter to revise the plans for the dome, as the Statue of Freedom that was supposed to go on top arrived taller than expected. Walter had to lower the height of the dome in order to compensate for the extra weight of the larger statue. After a new engineering supervisor was hired, and a single New York firm took on the contract to finish construction, work was able to resume in early 1860. Since only one firm was now financing the construction, construction on the new cupola was able to go on without interruption when the Civil War broke out the following year. The last portion of the statue was lifted on top of the cupola on December 2, 1863. The total amount for the project was over $1 million, and it took close to 9 million pounds of ironwork to build the cupola for the Capitol. The cupola took 7 years to complete, and two of those were years in which the work progressed very slowly or not at all. It would be an impressive achievement for anyone to complete, let alone with the limited technology available at that time and the coinciding Civil War.

Another famous cupola is the one atop St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Basilica itself is named after Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles whose tomb is traditionally believed to be directly underneath the altar. As a result of this, many Popes have since been buried there. The cupola was designed by Michelangelo, famously known as the painter of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He became the chief architect in 1546, but did not live to see its completion; he died in 1564. At this time, only the base of the cupola had been finished. The cupola was finished around 1593 by Domenico Fontana. The dome is made out of brick, and extends almost 450 feet above the floor of the church. An unusual feature of the cupola is that it is shaped like half of an egg rather than half of a sphere. This paraboloid shape reduces the outward thrust of the dome, making it more stable. The ribbing on the dome also helps to support the weight of the dome by extending down to the Corinthian columns on the rim of the drum. This cupola has served as a model for many other cupolas in several continents. In addition to inspiring the United States Capitol building, it has inspired several state capitol buildings, cathedrals in Canada and Europe, and even a replica in Côte d'Ivoire ( Ivory Coast).

Finally, the glass cupola on the roof of the Reichstag building in Berlin is one of the most famous tourist attractions for visitors to the German capital. The Reichstag building was historically the seat of the German Parliament, which recently moved back there in 1999 after a restoration project was completed. The original construction was commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany in 1884, and was completed ten years later in 1894. The original cupola was made of steel and glass, and considered a technological marvel at the time. During the Nazi rise to power in 1933, the building was set on fire, damaging the cupola. When World War II broke out, it suffered Allied bombings during air raids, and during the Battle of Berlin in 1945, the Red Army specifically targeted the building as a symbol of Nazi power. Despite being heavily damaged, the cupola managed to remain until it was demolished during a restoration project in the early 1960s. After the German reunification, another reconstruction was planned under the architect Norman Foster. Though his design did not initially include a cupola, a large glass dome was erected on the roof as homage to the original. It has a number of unique features, such as a magnificent view of the city at night, and a view of the Parliament floor below. An electronic sun shield tracks the sun to block direct sunlight from blinding people on the floor below.

These famous cupolas are only some of the many that can be found throughout the world, but they are some of the most inspirational, both for people and for other architects. Furthermore, they all symbolize something much more than just a simple function or decoration, whether it is freedom, faith, or perseverance against oppression.

Research taken from the following sources:

"The Capitol Dome", http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/dome.cfm, Accessed 6/14/2006

Wikipedia Contributors. " Reichstag (building)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_(building) Accessed 6/14/2006

Wikipedia Contributors. "St. Peter's Basilica." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter's_Basilica Accessed 6/14/2006