Glossary of tr-4N9T7L4L2U

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Architectural . c o m
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 1. Windows and Doors
The openings in the walls of a building—the windows and the doors—are the source of
great attention in a design. (The technical name for the placement of openings in the walls
of a building is fenestration, from the French, “fenêtre,” meaning window). The placement
and the detail work that comprises windows and doors can be the source of great attention.

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Window Types
1. Bay

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2. Double hung

n k e r
3. Casement

o p r a
4. Palladian
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2. Shapes of Openings

1. Round arch (right)

2. Pointed arch (right)

3. Segmental arch(below 1)
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4. Triangular(below-2)

5. Tudor arch(below-3)

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6. Flat top (below-4) 1I1H

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4. Parts of Windows and Doors
1. Fanlight
a semi-circular window over a door with
radiating bars (or muntins) resembling a fan
(refer to drawing of a door, top)
2. Head
the top of a window or door openingtr-4N(door
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drawing)
3. Jamb

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the vertical member on each side oftr-4Ea9Fwindow or
s
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door opening (both drawings)

n k e r
4.Sill

o p r a
the horizontal piece forming the bottom of a

5. Sidelights
T
window or door opening (both drawings)
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windows located at the sides of

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doors (door drawing)

6. Lintel
a horizontal beam over a window or door
opening that carries the weight of the wall
above the opening bottom drawing
7. Muntin
a small member that supports several pieces
of glass within a sash

8. Sash tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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the framework that holds a piece of glass

9. Shutter

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hinged panels used to cover window openings
10. Surround

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trim around a window or door opening

o p a
11. Label
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a moulding that runs across the top and part- way
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down the sides of a window or7Ldoor opening
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12. Tracery
a pattern of interlocking muntins in the
upper part of a Gothic pointed window
13. Mullion
a vertical member between
adjacent window sashes or
between windows and doors

14. Transom light

a window located above a door

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 5. Elements and Details
The elements and details that either are part of a building’s structure (like the parts of a
window) or are applied to it (like cresting or brackets) are often what creates visual delight.
The following list of words is only a brief catalogue of the hundreds of technical terms that
have been developed over centuries to describe the many and marvelous details of a building.

1. Arch tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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a curved structure spanning across the top
of an opening in a vertical surface (such as
a wall)

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2. Balcony
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a structural platform extending from the

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wall of a building and enclosed with a

balustrade; supported from below or
cantilevered from a supporting wall
3. Baluster/balustrade
balusters are upright posts or spindles
that support a handrail/a balustrade is a
series of balusters under a handrail

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4. Bargeboard 1R1R

a board, often decorative, covering

the projecting edge of a gable roof

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5. Belt course
n k e r
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Also called a string course or sill
o r a
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course, is a continuous row or layer
of stones or brick set in a wall. Set
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with window sills, it helps to make the

in line
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horizontal line of the sills visually more

prominent.
5. Bracket
an angular support for a horizontal
element that projects from a wall

6. Buttress tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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a vertical structural member

resembling a massive post built
against an exterior wall
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n k e r
7. Capital
o p r a
column or pilaster T
the decorative feature at the top of a
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8. Column
an upright post, usually a tapered
cylinder, used for support or
decoration; in classical architecture
a column consists of a base, shaft
and capital

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9. Corbel

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a masonry unit or series of masonry 1I1H

units that progressively step out

from a supporting wall or column
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10. Corbel table

a projecting line of masonry or
belt courses supported by corbels
11. Cornice
a horizontal, projecting decorative molding
along the top of a wall or building, or the
top portion of an entablature

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12. Crenellation
a series of square indentations in a parapet
giving a castle-like appearance
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13. Cresting
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ornamental ridge, like a miniature fence,

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along the top of a roof

14. Cupola
a small domed structure on top of
a roof or larger dome

15. Dentils tr-4N9T7L4L2U

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band of small, tooth-like blocks

usually used in Classical
architecture(in yellow)

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16. Dome
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a roof structure in the shape
portion of a sphere
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17. Dormer
a roofed projection from a sloping
roof often with a window

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18. Eaves

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the part of a sloping roof that

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n k e r overhangs a wall

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19. Entablature tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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the upper horizontal part of a Classical
order, consisting of the cornice, frieze
and architrave; similar to a beam
20. Gable
the triangular upper portion of a wall
formed by the slopes of a pitched roof

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21. Half-timbering
a method of construction where the

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spaces in a timber-frame wall are filled 7B4B2A1I1H
with rubble or brickwork

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22. Finial T tr-4N9T7L4L2U

an ornament at the top of a roof gable,

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spire or other architectural feature

23. Frieze
the central band in a classical entablature
above the architrave and below the
cornice; or often a decorative band
running under the cornice of an interior
or exterior wall

24. Keystone tr-4N9T7L4L2U

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the central uppermost member of an arch

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n k e r
25. Massing

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the organization of three-dimensional

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volumes or spaces into a coherent
composition. tr-4N9T7L4L 2U1R
E.g.-The Arts Tower in Sheffield, Britain,1Rhas a
tall, lightweight, cuboid massing.(right)
26. Moulding
a decorative element that defines edges,
joints or surfaces through the use of a
continuous profile

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27. Parapet
the portion of an exterior wall that tr-4E9F7B4B2A1I1H
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projects above the edge of a roof area

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28. Pediment
T o
in classical architecture, the
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of a low-pitched gable; a triangular element

end

used over doors and windows

30. Pendant
an ornamental feature that hangs
down from a supporting
structure or architectural feature

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31. Pilaster
a shallow pier or post, often decorative, projecting
slightly from the surface of a wall; resembles a

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square post attached to a wall

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32. Portico
T
an open-sided porch withtr-a4N9Tcolumn-supported
roof
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33. Pier
a massive vertical support of
masonry, placed under columns,
arches or walls to support a
concentration of loads

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34. Pinnacle
a small vertical ornament with a
spire-like pyramidal or conical
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shape, usually used to crown

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buttresses or the corners of parapets
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and towers

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35. Pitch
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the angle at which a roof slopes

from its peak to its eaves
36. Porch
a structure projecting from a
building and located in front of an
entrance; usually roofed, often
open-sided and occasionally
supporting a balcony above

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37. Quoins
stones or bricks used to decoratively
emphasize the outside corners of a
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building

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38. Shingles T tr-4N
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wood or asphalt tiles for covering

roofs and walls
39. Spindle
lathe-turned wood elements,
often used as balusters and porch
decoration

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40. Spire
a tall, narrow, steep
roof structure ending in

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a point, rising from a
tower or roof peak

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41. Terra cotta tr-4N9T7L4L2U

fired clay cast in moulds,

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often used for decorative

elements or to clad a
building exterior
42. Tower
a building, either freestanding or
attached as a prominent element of
another building, of great height
compared to its floor area; a slender,
tall structure usually rising above the
building to which it is attached
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43. Turret

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a small, slender tower
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characteristically projecting from
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44. Vault
a roof or ceiling structure over an area
that is based on the form of an arch

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45. Verandah

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a roofed porch or balcony
attached to the elevation of r a
a building
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Classical Greek and Roman architecture is defined
by many technical terms, only a few of which are
noted here.

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 46. Plan Shapes
Whether for the sake of efficiency, cost, tradition, or
style, building designers often look to a basic plan shape
to determine the overall form, or massing, of their
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building. The most common shape is the rectangle, but

others, illustrated here, are also frequently used.
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47. There are a few additional technical words that are
used with reference to the basic shape of a building:
1. bay
a bay is the space between
architectural elements, or a
recess or compartment. The
term bay comes from Old tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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French baee, meaning an

opening or hole.

o m
Lyme Park in Cheshire, England. The main

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facade is divided by pilasters into fifteen

s
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2.façade 1I1H

r
bays.
the exterior face or
presentable front of a

a n k e
building

o p r
3.pavilion
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a part of a façade given
prominence because it projects
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out from the façade

 4. Storey
the habitable space between a floor
and a ceiling, floor or roof above

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A storey plan
5. Proportion
the relationship between
individual elements of a
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building (such as windows and

doors) and their size within the

n k e r
whole building

o p r a Proportion example

6. Rhythm T tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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a regularly repeating sequence or pattern.

It can be seen in the given image of a cultural center
designed by Ar. Zaha Hadid with all the swooping curves
and flowing spaces in it.
 48. Roof Shapes

The structural imperative of a roof is to

protect the interior and to efficiently shed
water and snow. This can be accomplished
with a number of shapes, which have been
exploited throughout history by buildingtr-4N9T7L4L
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designers. The most common shape is the
gable, which can be steep or shallow in its
slope. Some other common shapes are noted

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at right and illustrated below 1I1H

n k e r
Gable

o p r a
Mansard
Gambrel
Pyramidal
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Hipped
Shed
 49. Building Materials and Construction Techniques
This subject is also addressed in Historic Materials and Construction Techniques, where basic
definitions of materials and construction techniques are explained. There are, however, some
technical terms associated with this subject that need further clarification

Heavy Timber Frame

Construction tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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1. Bent
a prefabricated network of large
posts and beams (right)
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In the given example - A bent in

a finished timber frame home

n k e r
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2. Board and Batten r a
T
wide vertical wood sheathing
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(boards) with narrow vertical
strips (battens) covering the joints
wood
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between the boards (right)

 50. Light Wood Frame Construction

1.Joists
a series of horizontal members
used to support floors or ceilings tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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2.plate

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a member laid horizontally to accept 1I1H

the ends of joists or studs

n k e r
3.Studs
o p r a
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a series of vertical members used to
support wall sheathingtr-4N9T7L4L2U
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4.Sheathing
the exterior cladding of a building

5.rafter
a structural roof
member that slopes tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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up from the wall to

the peak of a roof

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n k e r
6.purlins

p
horizontal structural
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members that run
perpendicularly across the
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top edges of other roof

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members
 51. Brick Construction
1.bonds
an arrangement of masonry units (brick or concrete block) to provide structural
strength and visual appeal; common bonds are called header, stretcher, English or
Flemish (illustrated at right). The type of bond affects the ultimate appearance of
the wall.
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2.Mortar

a mixture of cement and lime with sand

and water used as a bonding agent
between masonry units

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3.Repointing

n k e r
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to repair the joints in masonry
a
construction with the addition of new

o
mortar
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 52. Stone Construction
1.Ashlar
hewn stone blocks with straight-cut edge

2.Coursing
a continuous layer of material, a row
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3.Fieldstone
building stone collected from a field

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4.Finish 1I1H

k e r
the surface texture; common finishes are rock-faced and rusticated

n
5.Rustication

o p r a
6.Rubble T
stonework emphasized by roughly cut block faces
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construction with fragments of broken stone

7.Vermiculated
ornamentation in stone created with winding, wavy lines, as if caused by worms
1.Ashlar
hewn stone blocks with straight-cut edge

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2.Coursing
a continuous layer of material,

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3.Fieldstone
building stone collected from a field

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4.Finish
the surface texture; common finishes are rock faced

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5.Rustication
stonework emphasized by roughly cut block faces

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6.Rubble
construction with fragments of broken stone

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7.Vermiculated
ornamentation in stone created with winding, wavy
lines, as if caused by worms

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Some more Stone Construction

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 THANK tr-4N9T7L4L2U
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