Can anyone provide direction or instruction on how to stack cake layers in a cantilevered way, so that one might be jutting out over the other but not resting completely on top of it?

Maybe a way to create a cake version of Fallingwater (http://www.fallingwater.org/2)

I can't figure out how to do this without half the cake falling off!

Thanks so much!

simple!

any cantilever is based on the part sticking out having a weight on one end to hold the part level. The weight can either be resting on top of the part jutting out (like have another tier of cake sitting on top) or hanging underneath. -- which in this case would require a way of attaching the board the jutting part is on being attached to the base board.

the trick here will be to use a WOOD board, such as masonite or plywood under the jutting part.

• then you can use wood dowels and screw them to a plywood base (gray)
  
• lower first tier over them (purple)
  
• screw on next thin board -- Note: this board should already have dowels for next tier and these will be very short ones-- and put it's tier on it (yellow) down over dowels for next tier
  
• screw on next board w/dowels for next tier preattached
  
• add next tier (green)
  
• screw on board for next tier (light blue) and add tier
  
• insert support dowels for final tier (boring old plastic ones or wood)
  
• drop on last tier (orange)

based on concept that purple, green and orange tiers are full 4" and then yellow and light blue are 2"

and a site that has very good 3D illustrations of Falling Water
http://www.howardmodels.com/frank-lloyd-wright/falling-water-model/index.html


HTH

Brilliant, Doug! Thank you! It looks like I need to set up a wood shop to put the structure for this together

What about doing it so that they're not all jutting out in the same direction, but jutting out on either side, something like this, http://www.nikiomahe.com/architecture-design/skyscraper-building-56-leonard-street-new-york-by-herzog-de-meuron/, though not nearly as tall?

Thanks again!

the board just goes out the other way.

same principal to all cantilevers.

tho' in that case not as hard as the overhang is so minimal.

see this thread for a discussion of the concept.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-583854-cantilever.html

Fantastic, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!! Happy New Year!