What type of Gothic vault combines ribs and fan patterns?

• A. Barrel Vault
• B. Groin Vault
• C. Rib and Fan Vault
• D. Dome

Answer: (C)

Gothic vaulting uses a framework of ribs to carry weight and shape the ceiling. A rib vault relies on intersecting arched ribs as the visible skeleton, while a fan vault takes those ribs and fans them out in radiating, delicate patterns across the surface. When a vault combines the rib framework with a fan-shaped surface, it’s called a rib and fan vault. This style is a hallmark of late medieval English Gothic architecture, where the intricate fan patterns atop a ribbed structure create both structural lightness and rich decoration, as seen in notable chapels with elaborate ceiling work. It differs from a barrel vault, which is a continuous semicylinder without ribs or a fan pattern; a groin vault, formed by the intersection of two barrel vaults and typically showing cross-arches rather than a fan; and a dome, a hemispherical roof not built from a ribbed, fan-patterned network.