subject: Cupolas: Décor, Symbolism, and Practical Uses [print this page] Cupolas: Dcor, Symbolism, and Practical Uses
With a gleaming copper roof and white sides, a cupola points into the sky. Giving a building a majestic appearance, cupolas are now considered pieces of dcor, but at one point, these small, tower-shaped structures were a practical architectural addition. But their practicality is coming back again, only in a different form. Relegated to attractive home dcor for most of the 20th century, cupolas are now being added to various green homes for cooling.
Each month, you see how high your heating bill is, and environmentally-friendly architecture aims to reduce this. Not only for expenses for also for reducing your carbon footprint, environmentally-friendly architecture incorporates aspects of nature to cool or heat a building. This is where cupolas come in. A home may be designed with two vented cupolas, which allow air to enter the building, circulate throughout, and cool off the structure in warmer weather. This way, no air conditioning or central heating unit consumes a large quantity of power.
In the 19th century, cupolas were added to homes often for this purpose. Although once a structure common in coastal areas, cupolas spread inland and, with a vented style, were added to the tops of homes for air circulation. In fact, if your older New England or Mid-Atlantic home was built with a cupola, chances are it was added for circulating air inside.
In the present, however, cupolas are primary decorative, and their symbolism plays a significant part in this. As the copper roof points upward into the sky, cupolas are added to schools and town halls as a symbol of ascent or success.
If you are considering adding one or more cupolas to your home or building, what should you look for? A cupola, with a decorative only use, is attached to the surface of a building and is not accessible from the interior of the home. The cupola, then, needs to be mounted to the surface of your roof and must be built well enough to withstand the weather.
Cupolas for dcor are built out of vinyl or wood and have a copper roof. Both materials have certain advantages. If you want the cupola to blend seamlessly into your structure, go with wood, as it can be painted and finished to match any shingles or siding. Vinyl, however, is easier to clean and needs less maintenance.
