Buildings are one of the important architectural and engineering structures that create the artificial environment. Different structural elements are used to fulfill or emphasize the functions set up in building design. For example, the designer may turn to different solutions for reasons such as providing prestige, obtaining an aesthetic appearance, adapting to the environment in which it will be located, and the desire to make use of the land horizontally and vertically as much as possible. Cantilevers, as one of these solutions, are an important structural element that plays a role in strengthening the design concept.

A cantilever is a structural element that extends horizontally and is supported at only one end. The application of the cantilever structure in buildings is carried to advanced levels with the use of physical possibilities of architecture and engineering, such as the emergence of new materials and construction systems with the developing technology, the modeling of these systems by computer programs and conscious design strategies. Thus, the development of the best solutions and overcoming the risks ensure that the applications are increasing day by day. In addition, similar to the desire to rise in high-rise buildings, the increase in the dimensions of the spans passed by the cantilevers in the buildings appears as an element of prestige among designers.

In this study, by using data collection and tracing methods, one of the qualitative research methods, the main reasons that encourage designers to build cantilever buildings are examined. It has been observed that the cantilever serve many different purposes and in this context, main titles have been created.  According to these titles cantilevers are used; in order to take place in the memory as an architectural quality and leave a monumental effect, in a symbolic sense, in the emphasis of the part desired to be highlighted in the building, in providing facade movements, in creating designs integrated with the terrain and positioning the building with minimal intervention to the topography, in optimizing the environment and environmental potential of the building in order to benefit from the landscape, in the realization of passive design as a precaution against climatic elements, in the roof skin design of places requiring long spans, and in public areas that have intensive use. In order to be evaluated under these basic titles, cantilever building samples were selected among the buildings of the leading architects of the High-tech and Deconstructivism architectural movements, which are known with high technology. The way the architects use the cantilever has been tried to be evaluated through the samples chosen. This evaluation is very important in terms of considering the relationship between technology and architecture through cantilever structures and associating a structural behavior with design. In both architectural movements, the cantilever was used for purposes such as emphasizing the part to be highlighted in the building, minimum intervention in the topography, and taking advantage of the landscape. However, the use of the cantilever to provide a roof cover and public space is seen in the Deconstructivism movement, but not in the High-tech movement. It is not used for these purposes in Deconstructivism. Another remarkable point is that only architects of the high-tech movement, Norman Foster and Michael Hopkins, preferred to use cantilever to provide climate control in the building. At this point, it is thought that they are affected by the goal of building structure to the climate and ecosystem responsive, which is a requirement of the High-tech movement. In addition, it has been observed that the use of steel is frequently preferred in cantilevers due to the design flexibility, lightness, and structural concerns it provides in terms of building materials in both movements.

As a result, the structure is an integral part of architectural design, and can be used not only for its load-bearing feature but also to reflect the different meanings claimed by the architect. In this respect, cantilevers will continue to be the accent element and structurally compelling elements of the buildings in the future as in the past.