18 Awe-Inspiring Homes With Barrel-Vaulted Ceilings

In its simplest and most natural form, the barrel vault might be a cave. Here, Beijing-based hyperSity Architects took a traditional cave dwelling and transformed it into a chic and modern rammed-earth residence using locally sourced materials. A cave has the environmental advantage of being warm in winter and cool in summer, and hyperSity brightened the dark stone interior by inserting a striking, glass-enclosed cylindrical skylight. The arched barrel of the old cave is a repeating motif in the new front buildings and courtyards.