Glossary Flashcards
(212 cards)
1
Q
A buttressing or supporting structure
A
Abutment
2
Q
The branch of physics that deals with sound. In architectural application the sound qualities of a room or space
A
Acoustics
3
Q
In an ancient Greek city, a citadel, usually on a high plateau
A
Acropolis
4
Q
A sun dried brick of earth, used in the American Southwest
A
Adobe
5
Q
The branch of philosophy that deals with the quality. aspects, and perception of beauty.
A
Aesthetics
6
Q
The rights to the use or control of space above a property, such as highways, railroad tracks or buildings.
A
Air Rights
7
Q
Reflectivity measured as the relative permeability of a surface to radiant energy flowing in either direction.
A
Albedo
8
Q
Horizontal or vertical deviation from the straight or level centerline of the road.
A
Alignment
9
Q
An arena encircled by tiers of seats.
A
Amphitheater
10
Q
An electromagnetic device that indicates the activation of certain circuits; a device to signal the existence and location of a fire in a building.
A
Annunciator
11
Q
The eastern or alter end of a church usually semi circular in plan
A
Apse
12
Q
Masonry having a face of square of rectangular stones.
A
Ashlar
13
Q
A glazed decorative tile with the color blue most prominent.
A
Azulejo
14
Q
Earth or other fill material placed between an outside foundation wall and the excavation.
A
Backfill
15
Q
A partial obstruction against flow, in a duct or pipe.
A
Baffle
16
Q
The proportioning of components by offsetting or contrasting so as to produce an aesthetic equilibrium in the whole.
A
Balance
17
Q
A style in European architecture developed in the late Renaissance in reaction to classical forms, containing elaborate curves, scrolls, and ornament.
A
Baroque
18
Q
East - West lines from which townships are established on government surveys. They run perpendicular to meridian lines.
A
Base Lines
19
Q
A part usually half of a broken brick; also a unit of flat insulation
A
Bat
20
Q
A cleat like member placed across a series of boards to tie them together; also a narrow strip covering the joint between two vertical boards.
A
Batten
21
Q
Roof structure or pavilion located to command a view.
A
Belvedere
22
Q
An excavated level terrace in a slope used to collect running water.
A
Bench
23
Q
A relatively permanent surveyor’s mark of know location and elevation.
A
Bench Mark
24
Q
A bank of earth, often piled against a wall
A
Berm
25
Describing cement, mastic or roofing material which contains asphalt as a principal ingredient.
Bituminous
26
An area usually urban that has deteriorated in quality and value, and which functions well below its economic and social potential.
Blighted Area
27
A division of urban land, normally private property, that is surrounded by public streets, and which is officially established and recorded.
Block
28
A stone guard to prevent damage to a wall; also a free standing stone or metal post to divert vehicular traffic
Bollard
29
Drilling into the earth to obtain soil samples in order to determine soil bearing capacity.
Boring
30
A sun break, an architectural shading device for blocking unwanted sun rays.
Brise - Soleil
31
British Thermal Unit, the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree F.
BTU
32
A defined limit within a property line beyond which a structure may not protrude.
Building Line
33
An air chamber without a bottom, used in excavation through water or mud.
Caisson
34
A bell tower
Campanile
35
To set at a slant from the horizontal or vertical.
Cant
36
A small room in a library
Carrel
37
A sieve like device at the entrance to a storm sewer to trap matter that could block up the sewer.
Catch Basin
38
A geographical area from which the participants in an activity are drawn, such as the customers of a shopping center or the employees of a manufacturing plant.
Catchment
39
To fill a joint with mastic, usually done with a pressure gun.
Caulk
40
The inner enclosed room of an ancient temple.
Cella
41
The separation of traffic lanes by the use of islands or dividers.
Channelization
42
A valve in a pipe that permits water to flow only in one direction.
Check Valve
43
The flow or movement of people, goods, vehicles, etc. from place to place.
Circulation
44
The prevailing or average weather conditions of a place as determined over a number of years.
Climate
45
A brick that has been overburned by being near the fire in a kiln.
Clinker
46
A type of grade separated interchange used in highway design. Named for its shape.
Cloverleaf
47
A method of residential siting in which a series of housing units are grouped to form common interior spaces, as well as a unified peripheral space.
Cluster
48
A street to which minor streets connect and that, itself leads to a major arterial.
Collector Street
49
The sensation resulting from stimulation of the retina of the eye by light waves of certain lengths; the property of reflecting light of a particular wavelength.
Color
50
Hollow and curved inward (the inside surface of a hollow sphere)
Concave
51
The speed with which energy (normally heat energy) passes through a given material after penetrating its surface.
Conductivity
52
Pertaining to cone bearing trees and shrubs, mostly evergreens, such as pine, spruce, fir, cedar, etc.
Coniferous
53
A pattern of land use in which random cluster or development are connected to one another.
Constellation Pattern
54
A procedure in which an owner contracts with a construction manager (CM), who is generally responsible for control of a project's time, cost and quality
Construction Management
55
An amount included in a construction budget, normally 5 to 10 % to provide for unforeseen or unpredictable costs.
Contingency Allowance
56
An imaginary line of constant elevation on the ground surface used to designate elevation and describe the form of land surface graphically.
Contour
57
The distribution of energy (normally heat) by fluid movement of air or water.
Convection
58
Curved outward (the surface of a sphere)
Convex
59
A deed restriction that regulates land use, construction materials, appearance, and aesthetic qualities of an area.
Covenant
60
To develop minute surface cracks in stucco, concrete or glaze.
Craze
61
A system of planning and scheduling construction operations that analyzes sequences and durations of time using network diagrams and identifies construction tasks that have great impact in schedule.
Critical Path Method
62
A short road with no outlet, serving only those buildings or properties that front on it.
Cul-De-Sac
63
A length of pipe, running under a road or other barrier, used to drain or carry water.
Culvert
64
A raised margin running along the edge of a street pavement, usually of concrete.
Curb
65
Earth that is removed and earth that is added in grading.
Cut and Fill
66
A platform raised above floor level
Dais
67
A horizontal plane elevation used as a reference for other elevations in surveying and mapping
Datum
68
Shedding leaves annually, as contrasted with evergreen
Deciduous
69
A written instrument that is used to transfer property title from one party to another.
Deed
70
A measure of the number of people, families, etc. that occupy a specified area.
Density
71
The arrangement of parts, details, form, color etc. so as to produce a complete entity.
Deisgn
72
The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and condensation occurs.
Dew Point
73
Two sheets of glass with an air space between, to insulate against the passage of heat or sound
Double Glazing
74
The system by which excess water and wastes are controlled, transported and disposed.
Drainage
75
Clay pipe, usually with open joints to convey water away from a footing or to disperse fluid in a septic tank field.
Drain Tile
76
A pit, usually filled with coarse stone, into which water is conducted for leaching out into surrounding soil.
Dry Well
77
A dome, hence often a cathedral.
Duomo
78
An ingredient living area that includes its own private cooking and bathing facilities.
Dwelling Unit
79
The modifications involved in altering existing topography.
Earthwork
80
A legal right that an individual or the public may have to use or have access to a portion of another person's land.
Easement
81
Sensation produced by the combined effects of absolute temperature, relative humidity and air movement.
Effective Temperature
82
The height above a known point of reference, often taken as the height above sea level.
Elevation
83
The right of a public agency to expropriate private property for public use.
Eminent Domain
84
The slight convexity of a column used to give an impression of vertical strength.
Entasis
85
The gradual wearing away or disintegration of land caused by water running over its surface, wind, etc.
Erosion
86
A preliminary sketch or plan
Esquisse
87
Having green leaves throughout the year, as opposing to deciduous
Evergreen
88
The digging or removal of earth or soil as for a foundation
Excavation
89
A semi circular open area, with or without a roof, providing a continuous seat.
Exedra
90
The exterior face of a building, usually the front
Facade
91
Enameled clay products
Faience
92
A construction technique in which construction on each phase of a project is begun when its design is completed, without waiting for overall project design completion.
Fast Track
93
The boundary between adjacent rock plates along which movement may take place during an earthquake
Fault
94
FHA
Federal Housing Authority
95
Brick composed of clay not containing any fusible material which can resist high temperatures
Fire Brick
96
A wall resistant to the spread of fire.
Fire Wall
97
The ratio between the gross floor area of a building and its site area.
Floor Area Ratio
98
An agency whose function is to stabilize the housing market by purchasing mortgages or providing mortgage money directly.
FNMA Federal National Mortgage Association
99
The shape, outline, or configuration of a structure or the parts of a structure that gives its distinctive appearance.
Form
100
A high speed multiple lane highway designed to move traffic smoothly and without interruption.
Freeway/ Expressway
101
A horizontal band on a vertical surface, located beneath the cornice sometimes decorated with relief sculpture
Frieze
102
The limit of penetration of soil by frost
Frost Line
103
Attaching wood or metal strips to a rough wall, to provide a flat plane for the finish or to provide an air space.
Furring
104
A belvedere or viewing place
Gazebo
105
A specific residential area in which people of a particular ethnicity are concentrated.
Ghetto
106
Extreme contrast between light and dark in the visual field which can cause discomfort.
Glare
107
An agency that functions in the secondary mortgage market.
GNMA Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)
108
The degree of rise or descent of a sloping surface. Also the act of altering or finishing existing topography
Grade
109
Concrete used for paving, which uses crushed granite as the course aggregate.
Granolith
110
A belt like area around a city reserved for park land, farms, open space, etc.
Greenbelt
111
A pattern of land division for development as well as circulation so named for its shape.
Grid Pattern
112
An amount established in an agreement between an owner and a contractor as the maximum cost of performing specific work.
Guaranteed Maximum Cost
113
Agreement or proportionate agreement of parts in size, color, form, etc.
Harmony
114
A race course bordered by tiered seating
Hippodrome
115
The type, arrangement and quality of dwelling units distributed over a given area
Housing
116
An agency concerned with all phases of housing activities.
HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development
117
The amount or degree of moisture in an area expressed as a percentage, a determining element of weather.
Humidity
118
A sacred picture of object
Icon
119
The cap of a pier or pilaster that supports the spring of an arch
Impost
120
An entrance
Ingress
121
The sections of a large city in or near its center, especially when crowded or blighted.
Inner City
122
A surface decoration formed by a slightly depressed plane of lines and patterns
Intaglio
123
An access and egress point on a freeway that permits traffic to enter, exit or change direction.
Interchange
124
The point at which two streets come together or cross
Intersection
125
A situation, generally the reverse of normal, in which cold air is close to the ground and a layer of warm air is above it
Inversion
126
The elevation of the lowest inside surface of a pipe or sewer.
Invert Elevation
127
A window or door blind made of movable horizontal slats.
Jalousie
128
The wedge shaped top member of the arch
Keystone
129
A small pavilion, usually in a public place
Kiosk
130
A Hawaiian terrace or veranda
Lanai
131
The design and arrangement of natural elements on a site.
Landscaping
132
A superstructure on a roof, dome, or tower, glazed along its sides, that admits light to the area below.
Lantern
133
A legal claim on property, as security for money owed.
Lien
134
Radiant energy that is perceived by the human eye.
Light
135
A pattern of land use that develops along a line such as a highway or river.
Linear Pattern
136
A structural member placed over an opening and supporting construction above.
Lintel
137
A street that starts at a major street, extends in curvilinear fashion for a short distance, and then returns to the major street
Loop Street
138
One of several horizontal slats slanted to exclude rain but allow the passage of air
Louver
139
Paving using crushed stone
Macadam
140
The general climate over a large geographical area
Macroclimate
141
A hole though which a person can enter a sewer, pipe, conduit, etc. in order to inspect, repair or service a utility
Manhole
142
Long range, overall concept of an area's development.
Master Plan
143
Caulking that remains elastic
Mastic
144
A stone of great size
Megalith
145
A term referring to a group of large cities or metropolitan areas that merge.
Megalopolis
146
A description of property boundaries expressed by directions (bearings) and distances.
Metes and Bounds
147
The characteristics form of large scale American urbanization; a city form with an operating radius of 30 miles or more.
Metropolitan Area (or Region)
148
The general climatic characteristics that are peculiar to a very small area
Microclimate
149
A repetitive dimension used in architectural design and planning.
Module
150
An agreement to pay for the cost of a property over a long period of time, n which the property is pledged as security.
Mortgage
151
The vertical division member between windows or doors.
Mullion
152
A wood or metal member used to hold the panes within a window
Muntin
153
An inner chamber of a classical temple
Naos
154
The entrance vestibule of a church.
Narthex
155
The man longitudinal portion of a church interior
Nave
156
A community of people living in a general area. The area can generally support an elementary school.
Neighborhood
157
A system of circulation channels that covers a large area.
Network
158
A commemorative shaft, square in sections with a small pyramid on top.
Obelisk
159
An abbreviation for "on-center" in dimensioning.
O.C.
160
The positioning of an object in relation to certain directions; the sense of direction disclosed by an object in a particular position.
Orientation
161
In Far Eastern architecture, a tower like structure.
Pagoda
162
A palace
Palazzo
163
A building planned so that a person at the center can observe converging corridors.
Panopticon
164
A level and patterned garden
Parterre
165
The general scheme of a design
Parti
166
A wall built astride a property line
Party Wall
167
An open court enclosed by the walls of a building
Patio
168
The triangular face of a roof gable.
Pediment
169
A landscaped strip of ground dividing a pedestrian walk from a street
Planting Strip
170
A plan of a land area, lots, streets, etc.
Plat
171
A parcel of land
Plot
172
Constructed off site in standardization sections for shipment and quick assembly such as a prefab house
Prefabricated
173
A system of sizing and division to establish harmonious relationships between components elements.
Proportion
174
A zoning designation that allows greater freedom in site planning, while usually maintaining the same density. Similar to cluster developments but larger in scale, including commercial and industrial developments, in addition to housing.
PUD
175
A circulation pattern in which channels spread out from a central point.
Radial Pattern
176
A slope or incline as on a roof
Rake
177
The recurrence of design elements in space
Rhythm
178
A path of circulation conveying persons, vehicles, and services
Right of Way
179
A land use pattern that is developed in a circular or doughnut form, the center being relatively unused
Ring Road
180
A device used at an intersection of streets in which all vehicles merge and then diverge at relatively low speeds
Rotary
181
A circular space covered by a dome
Rotunda
182
The fraction of total rainfall that is not absorbed in the ground and hence, runs off. It must be collected in a system of surface and sub surface drains.
Runoff Coefficient
183
In urban planning, an outlying community of secondary importance, dependent on a larger city.
Satellite
184
The relative measurement of an object with reference to the dimensions of the human body.
Scale
185
A legally defined distance from the property line into which a structure may not project.
Setback
186
An underground pipe or drain used to carry off rain water (storm water) or water materials (sanitary sewer)
Sewer
187
Designing the external physical environment in which buildings and structures are placed.
Site Planning
188
The amount of deviation from the horizontal or vertical
Slope
189
An urban area that is overcrowded and whose buildings may be unsafe and unhealthful to inhabit
Slum
190
Zoning of a parcel of land that is different from that of the surrounding area.
Spot Zoning
191
A pattern of land use development in the shape of a star
Star Pattern
192
A portico used in Greek Architecture often as a covered shopping way
Stoa
193
A sewer for carrying away surface rain water, as opposed to sanitary sewage
Storm Sewer
194
Specific or characteristic manner of expression, execution, construction, or design in any art, period, work, etc.
Style
195
The division of vacant land into smaller parcels to be used as sites for individual buildings, together with public rights of way affecting these sites.
Subdivisions
196
The soil layer beneath topsoil
Subsoil
197
An outlying portion of a city, which is largely residential
Suburb
198
A very large area of land in which all through traffic is eliminated, but which may be penetrated by cul-de-sacs or minor loop roads.
Superblock
199
The process of determining location, form, and boundaries of a parcel of land by measurement, computation, and drawing.
Survey
200
A mirror image arrangement of elements on either side of
Symmetry
201
A dark sticky oil, dry distilled from resinous woods, coal or peat; used in roofing and road surfaces
Tar
202
The arrangement of particles of a material that affects the appearance or feel of the surface.
Texture
203
The configuration of the surface features of an area ground.
Topography
204
A road that crosses under another road.
Underpass
205
A process of public intervention in the development of an existing urban area, in which the public acquires ownership of property and administers its resale and development to mainly private owners.
Urban Renewal
206
A public service, such as telephone, water, gas or electricity
Utility
207
A bridge across a valley
Viaduct
208
An entrance (or exit) passage in a large amphitheater
Vomitorium
209
The level below ground at which water is found flowing.
Water Table
210
Structures or plants that, because of their form and location, reduce wind velocities.
Windbreak
211
An area of land not built upon, which may be used for exterior activities
Yard
212
The legal means whereby land use is regulated and controlled for the welfare of the community
Zoning
