Monolithic architecture

Monolithic architecture describes buildings which are carved, cast or excavated from a single piece of material, historically from rock.

In most cases, this is evident from the remaining surrounding rock, but sometimes a building is cut from an outcrop, as in the Shore Temple in southern India, and only inspection at close quarters reveals that the building is monolithic.

Buildings with a structural material that is poured into place, most commonly concrete, can also be described as monolithic.

Extreme examples are monolithic domes, where the material is sprayed inside of a form to produce the solid structure.

An ancient example of a monolithic dome is that of the Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna, Italy, the roof of which is made from a single stone.