Drum dome

A dome resting on a cylindrical or polygonal drum pierced with windows, which raises the cupola and lights the space below. Common in Persian, Ottoman and Timurid architecture, this composition allows spectacular bulbous domes, sometimes clad in turquoise ceramic. The drum aids ventilation and admits zenithal light. These domes crown the ceremonial halls and pavilions of palaces reconverted into heritage hotels, defining their skyline and admitting daylight.