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Flashcards in Glossary of Architectural Terms Deck (43)
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1
Q

Agora

A

Open area for assemblies, meetings, and markets in ancient Greece.

2
Q

Aisle

A

Division of the main structure of Roman basilicas and Christian churches into lateral areas adjacent to, and on both sides of the nave.

3
Q

Acropolis

A

Group of main temples on an elevated section, or hill, in ancient Greece.

4
Q

Ambo

A

Pulpit or stand in Early Christian or Byzantine churches used for readings.

5
Q

Amphitheater

A

Outdoor theater, either round or semicircular, with tiered seats for the audience.

6
Q

Apse

A

Semicircular, polygonal or square end of a Roman basilica or Christian church.

7
Q

Aqueduct

A

Means of channeling or carrying water.

8
Q

Arch

A

Curved structure that spans an opening and is usually formed by voussoirs.

9
Q

Arcade

A

Series of arches carried on columns; can be attached to a wall or freestanding.

10
Q

Atrium

A

Court with open roof; in Roman houses it included a basin to catch rainwater; in early Christian churches, a forecourt with a colonnade leading to the church entrance; in modern times often a glass covered interior.

11
Q

Auditorium

A

In an amphitheater, the circular or semicircular area of tiered seats for the audience.

12
Q

Barrel Vault

A

Continuous semicircular ceiling.

13
Q

Basilica

A

Roman meeting hall with high central nave, clerestory windows, apse and often side aisles, used to law courts, meetings and other assemblies; adapted in Early Christian churches.

14
Q

Basilican Church

A

Early Christian church base on the basilica with central nave and clerestory windows, two or four side aisles, an apse at one end, and covered with a timber roof; the basilica remained a basic Christian church building type until modern times.

15
Q

Broken Pediment

A

Pediment that has a gap where the apex would be.

16
Q

Buttress

A

Heavy structure against a wall that carries the outward thrust of a vault or dome down to a lower support or the ground.

17
Q

Cantilever

A

Beam or other structural member that projects past its support at one end and is free at the other.

18
Q

Caryatid

A

Sculpture of a figure, usually a draped female, used in place of a column.

19
Q

Cathedral

A

Church where the bishop presides; other churches in the bishop’s area of authority are subordinate.

20
Q

Capital

A

Highest part of a column where it meets the entablature; design reflects the different architectural orders.

21
Q

Cella

A

Room in a classical temple that houses the statue of the god of that temple; same as the Greek naos.

22
Q

Chancel

A

Extension of a church, usually beyond the transept, that includes the choir and apse.

23
Q

Choir

A

Area in the chancel, usually immediately beyond the transept, in which the choir is seated; can also mean the entire chancel.

24
Q

Classical Architecture

A

Architecture of ancient Greece and Rome; also applied to later buildings based on Greek and Roman forms.

25
Q

Clerestory Windows

A

Windows on the walls of a nave that rise above the roofs of the side aisles.

26
Q

Cloister

A

Covered and often colonnaded structure in monasteries, with open courtyard in the center, that is reserved for monks.

27
Q

Colonnade

A

Row of columns supporting a beam, entablature, or roof structure.

28
Q

Column

A

Cylindrical vertical support member.

29
Q

Composite Order

A

Combination of Corinthian and Ionic orders; the capital has acanthus leaves and scroll volutes.

30
Q

Concrete

A

Structural material, composed of cement, water, and aggregate, that can be cast in a multitude of shapes.

31
Q

Corbeled Arch

A

Arch constructed of horizontal stone layers in which each layer projects beyond the previous one below until they meet at the top of the arch.

32
Q

Corinthian Order

A

Greek order with slim fluted columns and capitals decorated with acanthus leaves.

33
Q

Crossing

A

Space created in a basilican church where the nave is intersected by the transept.

34
Q

Cupola

A

Small dome, sometimes on top of a larger dome.

35
Q

Dome

A

Circular convex structure that covers an interior space; sometimes mounted on a drum; semicircular domes often cover apses and can also act as buttresses.

36
Q

Doric Order

A

Greek order with sturdy fluted columns and plain capitals.

37
Q

Drum

A

Circular or polygonal wall that supports a dome.

38
Q

Elevation

A

Projection of a building from one side into the vertical plane showing the arrangement of windows, roof, etc.

39
Q

Entablature

A

Horizontal structure supported by columns in classical architecture.

40
Q

Entasis

A

Slight convex swelling of the sides of classical columns to counteract the optical illusion that a column with straight sides is slightly thinner in the center than at the top and bottom.

41
Q

Fenestration

A

Windows.

42
Q

Fluting

A

Vertical grooving of columns and pilasters.

43
Q

Flying Buttress

A

Detached vertical structure adjacent to vaulting that arches over to the main structure at the point of outward thrust from the vault and carries the thrust down to a lower support; a feature of Gothic cathedrals that permits thin walls and large clerestory windows.