Plate XLIV. Large Rectangular Halls after Roman Practice

Plate XLIV. — Wherever classic models have been followed, the system evolved by the Romans for the central halls of the great Thermae has been employed by architects dealing with the problem of vast places of assembly. The two schemes shown on this Plate are based directly on Roman precedent. No. I is similar in principle to Nos. IV-VI on the previous Plate, but instead of colonnades supporting galleries between the piers, the dimensions here are so great that the main supporting wall is in line with the piers so that the upper part of the hall does not extend in width beyond them, the outer walls enclosing a series of apartments at a lower level, and the colonnades becoming columnar screens. The central area is effectively covered by saucer domes over the three square compartments somewhat similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 9.

No. II shows a development in which piers without colonnades or screens are the chief interest. These two designs are capable of more variations than can be indicated here: they have been chosen as representative of the long series of buildings of this type which have come into existence in modern times.