A key nexus for vault systems from Lecce: stereometric correlation between shape and structure

Vaulted surfaces have very ancient origins: already during the Mesopotamic age (tholos) or over the time in Mediterranean area (Sardinian nuragheus), it is possible referring to "pseudo-vaults" to indicate shells obtained through interaction among masonry units. In literature, these surfaces are often referred as "vault systems" due to the strong interaction between shape, geometry, material and structure. The link between the shape (signifer), often generated by complex geometries, and the structure (signified) of the different systems vault is in fact indivisible and always it strongly influences the space on which these systems insist.