Advanced English Vocabulary– Architecture Flashcards
Word 1: Architect (noun)
Meaning: The person (or job title of someone) who designs buildings.
Word Family: Architecturally (adverb)
Synonyms: Designer (noun)
Collocations: Chief architect; Contemporary architect; Popular architect; Famous architect; Prominent architect; Noted architect; Local architect
Example Sentence: I am more interested in the work of classical architecture rather than the work of contemporary architects.
Word 2: Controversial (adjective)
Meaning: Something that causes strong feelings in both positive and negative ways. For example, a building that some people love but other people hate.
Word Family: Controversy (noun); Controversially (adverb)
Synonyms: Contentious; Emotive (both adjectives)
Antonyms: Anodyne; Uncontroversial (both adjectives)
Collocations: Very/highly/extremely controversial; Rather/somewhat controversial; Artistically/politically/socially/economically controversial (many more choices here); A controversial monument; A controversial piece of work; A controversial sculpture; A controversial restoration; A controversial building; A controversial plan;
A controversial proposal; (To do something) Would be controversial
Example Sentence: The decision to demolish the original town hall and
replace it with a steel and glass alternative was highly controversial.
Word 3: Eyesore (noun)
Meaning: A building, piece of art or something else visual that is considered
very unattractive.
چیز بدنما
Synonyms: A mess; A scar; A blemish; A disfigurement; A monstrosity (all
nouns); Unsightly (adjective)
Antonyms: A visual delight; A vision (both nouns)
Collocations: (Something is) A real eyesore; Something was/will be an eyesore
Example Sentence: The new steel and glass town hall is a real eyesore!
Word 4: Demolish (verb)
Meaning: To tear down a building, either for safety, to replace it or just because it is old.
Word Family: Demolition (noun); Demolished (adjective/passive verb)
Synonyms: Tear down; Pull down; Knock down; Flatten; Raze (all verbs)
Antonyms: Maintain; Preserve; Protect (all verbs)
Example Sentence: When the old, unsightly prison on the outskirts of the city was demolished, a great cheer went up amongst the local residents.
Fall down happens by itself.
Word 5: Planning Permission (noun)
Meaning: The right, usually given by the local government, to construct a
building in a specific location.
Synonyms: Building permit (noun)
Collocations: To get planning permission; To apply for planning permission;
To be refused planning permission; To seek planning permission; To submit
an application for planning permission; To require planning permission
Example Sentence: Now that property developers have to apply for planning permission before beginning construction, the local government can better control the appearance of the local area.
Word 6: Gothic (adjective)
Meaning: A classic, elaborate style of architecture from Europe, most popular between the 12th and 16th Century. Examples include Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
Collocations: Gothic architecture; A gothic cathedral; A gothic building; A gothic church; A gothic castle; (Something was built) In the gothic style
Example Sentence: I loved exploring the gothic cathedrals when I went to Paris.
Word 7: Modernist (adjective)
Meaning: A type of architecture with heavy use of geometric shapes. A famous example is the Sydney Opera House.
Collocations: Modernist architecture; A modernist design; Modernist architects; Modernist artists
Example Sentence: While I do enjoy some modernist architecture, I find some of it a bit unsightly (=Eyesore کریه بدنما)
Word 8:
Sticks out like a sore thumb (idiom, verb)
Meaning: Something that is very obviously different, often in a bad way, compared to the things around it.
گاو پیشونی سفید
انگشت نما شدن
Synonyms: To look out of place;
To not match the/its surroundings (both verbs)
Antonyms: To match the/its surroundings; To blend in (both verbs)
Collocations: Something sticks out like a sore thumb; I stuck out like a sore thumb at + event (Party)
Example Sentence: I can’t believe the government gave them planning permission. That futuristic building sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the gothic architecture all around it.
Word 9: Futuristic (noun)
Meaning: A type of architecture that tries to do something new, either visually or functionally (or both).
Examples are ‘vertical forests’ or the Jeddah tower in Saudi Arabia.
Collocations: Futuristic buildings; Futuristic architecture; A futuristic feeling; A futuristic concept
مربوط به آینده ، پیشرو .
Example Sentence: I prefer classical architecture in general, although I
must admit that I find some futuristic buildings quite inspiring.
Word 10: Iconic (adjective)
Meaning: Something widely recognized or famous, and usually admired by people. Often is an example of a particular style.
Word Family: Icon (noun, usually person)
Synonyms: Famous; Respected; Noted; Recognisable; Archetypal (all adjectives)
Antonyms: Unknown; Unimportant (both adjectives)
Collocations: Iconic status; To achieve/gain iconic status; An iconic image; An iconic building; An iconic piece of work; An iconic representation of + style of architecture
Example Sentence: Part of my plan for visiting any city is to check out any iconic buildings they have.
My taste in architecture is quite classic. I love going to see beautiful builddings in European cities, and I’ve never been keen on modernist or futuristic buildings - they all look like eyesores to me. For me, the most iconic gothic structure is the Notre Dame in Paris.
Listen
My taste in architecture is quite classic. I love going to see beautiful builddings in European cities, and I’ve never been keen on modernist or futuristic buildings - they all look like eyesores to me. For me, the most iconic gothic structure is the Notre Dame in Paris.
What Kind of architecture do you like?
I’m very much into modernist and even futuristic buildings. I love architects who can create something iconic without relying on the styles of the past.
Are there any buildings in your city that you don’t like?
Yes, there’s one in particular that I really hate. It’s a futuristic monstrosity in the city centre that was built a few years ago. I can’t belive the developres got plannin permission for it - it sticks out like a sore thumb!
