ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

APSE
An apse is a semicircular recess, often covered with a hemispherical vault. Commonly, the apse of a church,
cathedral or basilica is the semicircular or polygonal termination to the choir or sanctuary, or sometimes at
the end of an aisle.

ARCH

An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans an elevated space and may or may not support the weight above it,
or in case of a horizontal arch like an arch dam, the hydrostatic pressure against it.

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ATTIC

An attic (sometimes referred to as a loft) is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building;
an attic may also be called a sky parlor or a garret.

BALUSTRADE

A baluster is a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other
architectural features.

BAY

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BUTTRESS

A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the
wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient buildings.

CANTILEVER

A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is supported at only one end. Typically it
extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached.

CORNICE

In architecture, a cornice is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element
– the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the top edge of a pedestal or along the top of
an interior wall.

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CUPOLA

In architecture, a cupola is a relatively small, most often dome-like, tall structure on top of a building. Often used to
provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome
SPIRE

CANOPY

Canopy, in architecture, a projecting hood or cover suspended over an altar, statue, or niche.

COLONNADE
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In classical architecture, a colonnade is a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing,
or part of a building. Paired or multiple pairs of columns are normally employed in a colonnade which can be straight
or curved.

COURTYARD

A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky.

COPING

Coping consists of the capping or covering of a wall.

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DOME

A dome (from Latin: domus) is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere; there is
significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome.

EAVES

The eaves are the edges of the roof which overhang the face of a wall and, normally, project beyond the side of a
building.

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FANLIGHT

A fanlight is a form of lunette window, often semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape, with glazing bars or tracery sets
radiating out like an open fan.

GAZEBO

A gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal or turret-shaped, often built in a park, garden or spacious
public area.

LINTEL

A lintel is a structural horizontal block that spans the space or opening between two vertical supports.

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SILL

A window sill is the horizontal structure or surface at the bottom of a window. Window sills serve to structurally
support and hold the window in place.

MOTIF

A decorative image or design, especially a repeated one forming a pattern.

MULLION

A mullion is a vertical element that forms a division between units of a window or screen, or is used decoratively.
When dividing adjacent window units its primary purpose is a rigid support to the glazing of the window.

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PAGODA

A pagoda is a tiered tower with multiple eaves common to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia.
Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist but sometimes Taoist, and were often
located in or near viharas.

PEDESTRAL

A pedestal or plinth is the support of a statue or a vase, and of a column in architecture.

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PEDIMENT

A pediment is an architectural element found particularly in Classical, Neoclassical and Baroque architecture, and its
derivatives, consisting of a gable, usually of a triangular shape, placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or
entablature, if supported by columns.

PORTICO

A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a
walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls.

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PLAZA

A paved public space for citizens to gather for civic, religious, or commercial reasons. Plazas often have
significant buildings surrounding them such as courthouses, city halls, churches, performing arts centres, and
markets.

PLINTH

A plinth is a base or platform that supports a plinth, column, or structure. Structurally, the plinth distributes weight
and pressure down evenly across a column across a wider space.

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PARAPET

A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other
structure.

PERGOLA

A pergola is an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area of vertical posts or
pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are trained.

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RAFTER

A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members such as wooden beams that extend from the ridge or hip to
the wall plate, downslope perimeter or eave, and that are designed to support the roof shingles, roof deck and its
associated loads.

VAULT

In architecture, a vault is a self-supporting arched form, usually of stone or brick, serving to cover a space with a
ceiling or roof.

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TRUSS

A truss is an assembly of beams or other elements that creates a rigid structure.

TURRET

In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle.

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