Architecture Flashcards
Greek orders
styles of construction and ornamentation first used in Greek buildings; adopted by the Romans; most easily identified by the capitals; commonly used today as historical references.
capital
a decorative structure at the top of a column; this design is the easiest way to identify the Greek orders.
Doric
the simplest of the Greek orders; the capital includes a round pillow-like stone topped by a flat, rectangular stone.
Ionic
a Greek order; the capital consists of large scrolls
Corinthian
the most complex Greek order; the capital includes stylized leaves and scrolls
post-and-lintel
a structural system with a post spanned by a single piece (e.g. stone columns spanned by a single piece of stone); in wood this is called post and beam.
column
a free-standing vertical structural support
fluting
the vertical grooves carved into columns
arch
a curved structure that spans an opening.
Roman arch
an arch in the shape of a half circle; widely used by the Romans and again in the middle ages (identified then as Romanesque)
Gothic arch
a pointed arch. Developed in the middle ages
arcade
a series of arches side by side
vault
a series of arches, one behind the next, that enclose a space, producing an arched ceiling
tunnel vault
the simplest of vaults, a continuous arched ceiling, with either round or pointed arches.
groin vault
occurs where two tunnel vaults of the same size intersect at a right angle
dome
a structure that encloses space by using a series of continuous arches on a continuous round base
bearing-wall construction
a structural method in which the building is held up by the outside walls, which must be thick and strong
steel cage construction
a modern structural method that holds up a building with an internal frame of steel; the walls do not hold up the building as in earlier structural systems.
cantilever
an overhanging structure supported only on one side.
façade
the front of a building, often given special architectural design
fenestration
the pattern of windows in a building
scale
building size as compared to the human body
proportion
comparative size of parts of a building measured against other parts of the building.
materials
stone, brick, masonry (brick or stone held together by mortar, a substance similar to concrete), concrete, wood, steel, glass
