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Art Principles and History

Basics of Architecture

What is a cantilever?

An example of a cantilever is a balcony that projects from the side of a building. Supported on one end by a vertical form, and freestanding on the other, a cantilever may seem as if it is freestanding, but is not. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright used cantilevers to dramatic effect in his design for Fallingwater, a home in Pennsylvania.