How do cantilevers support Fallingwater’s terraces?

Fallingwater’s terraces are supported by cantilevers, which are structural beams anchored at one end while the other end projects into space without external support.12

In the design of Fallingwater, these horizontal concrete planes are anchored to the house’s central stone chimney. By utilizing this cantilevered construction, Frank Lloyd Wright was able to create the appearance of terraces that hover over the waterfall, mirroring the natural rock formations of the site. While this design achieved a dramatic, organic aesthetic, it also presented engineering challenges; the main terrace eventually began to sag, necessitating later repairs that involved the addition of steel cables.34