Glossary by Extension Architecture
our pick
► of architectural terms
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Apron |
Arris |
Articulation |
Ashlar |
Atrium |
Axial beam |
Axial load |
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Balconet |
Baluster |
Bargeboard |
Bar-stayed girder |
Batement lights |
Bending load |
Bi-fold doors |
Biscuits |
Bond |
Boss |
Bossage rough block set for subsequent carving |
| Bracket overhanging wall support |
Brise soleil canopy or projection to shade window from excess sun |
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Cantilever small projecting platform for aesthetic effect |
Cavity wall air cavity between parallel masonry surfaces |
Cippus low pedestal for support or presentation |
| Circulation flow of movement of users in a building |
Clear float glass controlled cooling, perfect parallel to avoid distorted vision or reflection |
Column structural weight-bearing post which negates the need for a wall |
Conduit metal casing for surface-mounted cables or pipes |
| Coping the covering or cap of a wall |
Corbel like a small flying buttress out of a wall to carry an extra weight |
Cornice upper decorative plastering |
Countersinking screws where they can be screwed down flush or below surface |
| Crest roof ridge ornamenting |
Cup wood shrinking and warping |
Cupola small dome |
Cyrto style circular portico |
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Deck bridge surface |
Diaphragm structural element that transmits lateral loads to the vertical resisting elements of a shear wall |
Dormer cuboid projecting from roof slope to add headroom and windows |
| Double depth plan structural layout of 2 room depth but lacking a central aisle |
Dry wall eliminates wet skim |
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Eaves where the roof projects proud of the wall line |
Estrade raised dias or platform (from French language) |
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Façade frontal exterior plane of a building |
Fanlight semi-circular radial window |
Fascia piece of wood on rafter ends to attach gutters |
| First fix wiring, pipes, pre-finish |
Floating floor sound-proofing technique using fibre to alternate conductive materials |
Floating furniture supported narrowing of base for visual enhancement |
Floating wall column-fixed partitions which are open at the top, bottom or both |
| Flush work which does not protrude from a plane |
Flying rib exposed structural beam |
Flying stairs wall-mounted treads with open risers |
Footing mini-foundation for wall |
| Footprint ground area within the perimeter of a structure |
Frog recess on surface of brick |
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Gable triangular top apex of an end wall encased by 2 roof slopes |
Gambrel 2 sided roof with split angles. The upper being shallow and the lower steep. It used to be known as a Dutch roof and was used on American barns |
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Hip roof where all sides slope down from the ridge line |
Hyphen section connecting host building to wing or annex portions |
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i-beam another name for RSJ (rolled steel joist), or steel beam |
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Jettying where the area of the upper floor is greater than the footprint or ground floor |
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Keystone central stone at the zenith (top) of an arch, securing the other stones |
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Laminated beam plastic skin sandwiched with 2 sheets for safety in the event of breakage |
Laminated glass engineered beam which is stronger and more aesthetic than timber beam |
Light the ‘gap’ in a window allowing daylight into the interior |
| Lightning rod damage and fire preventor via conduction of electricity from light storms, from the roof to the ground |
Light-well shaft with rooflight to illuminate basement or unlit section of building |
Lintel to support weight above a window |
Load-bearing wall Active structural wall in a building, bearing weight above |
| Lunette half-moon shaped area |
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Mansard roof Mansard roof = like the gamrel but with 4 sides (not 2) with split angles. The upper being shallow and the lower steep. Used by French architect Mansart in C17 |
Mascaron character face for decoration, like gargoyle |
Meander repeat pattern for linear border |
| Membrane 1. damp-proof skin 2. mechanical properties of shells with negligible movement |
Metal studwork threading wires or pipes into prefab. holes |
Moulding strip of beading as part of finish |
Mullion window division or divider |
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Newel support column for spiral staircase |
Normal stress from a vector force which is perpendicular to the cross section |
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Onion dome onion-shaped dome |
Order series of mouldings |
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Parapet roof level wall for disguise or safety |
Pavilion additional building for leisure |
Pelmet framed area above a window |
| Pendentive support structure for dome |
Piano nobile columned building surrounding fountain |
Pier the main floor in large Renaissance house |
Pilaster bridge support |
| Pillar boutant stone or chain support |
Planchier column partly protruding proud of wall surface |
Plate girder reinforced girder with steel perpendicular plates attached at either end via bolts, rivets or welding |
Plate glass high quality glass |
| Plinth pedestal to display statue or support a structure |
Port-cochère portico to shelter visitors outside entrance |
Portico porch with columns |
Proud work which protrudes above or proud of a plane |
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Quadriporticus quadrangle colonnade portico |
Quoin corner stone |
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Rake A rake is an eave or cornice running along the roof gable. It is sometimes called a raking or sloping cornice. |
Return A cornice return when a horizontal roof-cornice meets a gable rake. You get Greek returns or the soffit, boxed or box soffit returns. |
Ridge board / beam A ridge board sits above the ridge beam and props up the rafters. It sits on top of the ridge beam which transfers the roof load to posts and end walls. |
| Riser open or solid height between stair treads |
Rods in axial loads cylindrical, enclosed tube |
Rotunda circular hall or room, sometimes topped with a dome |
RSJ rolled steel joist or steel beam |
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Sash enclosure to frame window casing |
Second fix connect water, gas, electric. Apply finishes. Install sockets, fittings, sanitaryware |
Shear load stress from vector force parallel to the cross section |
| Shear wall wall structure with counter panels against lateral load |
Sheet glass thin glass |
Shell lightweight convex structure for modern-style roofing |
Soffit board concealing rafters to form ceiling |
| Stoop short stairs to platform entrance to flats |
Struts piston-like parts which resist longitudinal compression or tension |
Stud wall / stud partition non-loadbearing wall |
Summer beam central weight-bearing beam that supports joists and sits on posts rather than a wall |
| Sunburst art nouveau radial decorative feature |
Supply electricity source current |
Suspended ceiling set on lower joists to create a larger space for safer accommodation of pipes, wiring and ducts with regards to fire risk |
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Ties and tie rods linear, structural tension-resisting component |
Timber framing heavy timber construction with pegged joints |
Torque circular force |
| Transom (window) light on top of door and encased by doorframe |
Tread one step on a staircase |
Truss triangular structural element connected to fortify roof or bridge |
Truss bridge roof bridge with triangular units |
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Undercroft brick-lined storage cellar |
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Veneer cost-saving technique of fine wood skin, backed with cheaper base |
Ventilation shaft vertical space allowing a storey building to be ventilated |
Vista distant view through a window |
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Weep hole for drainage from cavity wall |
Wing appended section of a building, like the short arms of a cross |
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Xyst covered portico promenade; columned walkway |
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Y connection a three-part electrical junction |
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Ziggurat pyramid-shaped tower |
Zigzag chevron pattern in tiles, wood flooring or bricklaying |
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► to our glossary
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