A ribbed vault has curved ribs that articulate a vaulted ceiling. In this view of Wells Cathedral’s nave, the lines meet and repeat as the ceiling runs into the distance. RIBA identifies rib vaulting as a characteristic feature of Gothic architecture.
Follow one set of ribs and the surfaces between them before trying to name the entire pattern. This entry gives you a way to describe an interior overhead, beyond simply calling it a high ceiling. Compare the repeated bays with the dome at #2, which gathers attention around a central covered space.
Source: RIBA · Photo: Schnobby · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized/recompressed; image retains source license.
