A centralized building, also called a central-plan building, is a structure whose floor plan is organized symmetrically around a central point. Unlike a longitudinal building, which has a dominant lengthwise axis, a centralized building treats all axes as equal. Common plan shapes include the circle, square, octagon, and Greek cross.
Characteristics and history
The defining feature of a centralized building is the equal treatment of all spatial directions from the centre. The central space is typically crowned by a dome or lantern that marks the focal point and admits natural light from above.
This building type has deep historical roots. In Roman architecture, the Pantheon in Rome stands as the most famous example: a perfectly circular structure topped by an enormous coffered dome. In early Christian and Byzantine architecture, centralized plans were used for baptisteries and martyria, buildings erected over the tombs of saints.
The centralized plan experienced a revival during the Renaissance. Architects such as Brunelleschi, Bramante, and Leonardo da Vinci regarded it as the most perfect building form, because the circle and the square were considered divine geometry. Bramante’s original design for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome was a pure central-plan building, though it was later extended into a longitudinal form.
Application
In church architecture, the centralized plan stands in contrast to the basilica plan. Where a basilica guides the congregation along a nave toward the altar, a centralized building draws attention to the middle of the space, creating a sense of unity and equality among all present.
Outside religious architecture, centralized plans appear in pavilions, mausoleums, concert halls, and government buildings. In modern architecture, the principle is applied wherever equal access from all directions is desired, such as circular museum galleries or council chambers.
Related terms
- Dome
- Basilica
- Greek cross plan
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