Cantilever

/ˈkæn.tɪ.liː.vər/

STRUCTURE & PHYSICSbeginner

Definition

A structural element — such as a beam, slab, or floor plate — that projects horizontally beyond its support, anchored only at one end. The unsupported end hangs free. Cantilevers are used to create dramatic overhangs, balconies, and floating volumes without visible columns below.

Example

Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright (1935) features a series of bold cantilevered terraces extending over a waterfall — one of the most iconic uses of the cantilever in architecture.