Corbelled dome structures are simple but fascinating built forms that were created for very practical reasons: in many regions the stones lying around in great numbers were stacked up using dry stone construction to form useful structures. The only way for the builders to create a roof was to erect a corbelled dome.

Largely overlooked is the phenomenon that people in highly diverse regions – in Iceland, Ireland, Spain, Malta, and Italy – began to use the corbelled dome technique again roughly 200 years ago. In developments entirely independent from one another, similar building forms emerged.

Renate Löbbecke has been tracking down and photographing such structures for over 25 years on her travels in 15 countries. The extensive archive she has amassed oscillates between artistic perception and scientific examination: the corbelled dome structures are documented by her wonderful photography that makes them accessible to all interested in art and architecture.