Cupola
A cupola is a small structure located on top of a building’s roof or dome. It is common for cupolas to have a round or square bases, but they may also be polygonal.
Originally, cupolas had functional purposes, such as to admit light and air or to provide a lookout position. In these cases, the entire main roof of a tower or spire might be referred to as a cupola. Cupolas differ from bell towers, steeples or campaniles in that they are details on a structure rather than being a structural part of a building.
Cupolas with small windows to allow light into the area below are called ‘lanterns’ and are often found at the top of domed roofs.
A variation of a normal cupola is one that can be reached by climbing an internal stairway. This is often called a belvedere or widow’s walk.
Modern cupolas are mostly ornamental architectural features crowning the main roof, sometimes providing a position for a flag, religious symbol, weather vane, and so on.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
New and updated CLC building safety guidance.
New UK National Buildings Database.
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.