Traditional Barrel Vault:

The barrel vault is a key architectural element used throughout the baroque era. Consisting of two walls and a rounded arch roof to connect the two walls, this model has been created to replicate those similar to those that wete designed during Borrominis era. The structure was created using cardboard as a base/support and then coated with pottery plaster over the top to try and replicate the stone/brick look that traditional barrel vaults would have been created with.

Architects in the baroque era often used stone and brick for their designs as it could withstand fire, and often had a very lavish and luxurious appearance when decorated. Limestone and slate were often used for building exteriors while materials such as red and grey granite and marble were morer often used for building interiors. 1. Although stone and concrete are very solid and hard materials, Francesco Borromini liked to challenge these traditional design approaches and thus created very fluid and organic designs by merging together geometric shapes and adding large domes, pillars and other elements that were merged together to form vast, open and extravagant spaces. Borrominis buildings were also heavily reflective of religious beliefs and values which also contributed tp the high level of decoration and aesthetic appearance of designs.

In modern day society, it is not common to see buildings created with stone, bricks are more commonly used for building exteriors, if not timber. While buildings in the baroque era were all created as large communl psaces to show off wealth, buildings now are created for specific purposes and are designed to be constructed as quickly as possible with much less aesthetic consideration.