2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts

cornerstone

commemorative stone {cornerstone} placed at main building corner just after building has begun.

fixture

Living room, bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom items {fixture}, such as sink, bathtub, toilet, ceiling lights, and power outlets, attach to house.

millstone

Circular stones {millstone} can grind grain.

moat

Ditches {moat} can be around castles.

scaffold

Temporary platforms {scaffold} can be for construction or execution.

woodwork

moldings, doors, and ornamental pieces {woodwork}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Arch

arch of building

Stones {arch, building}| can curve over space between two stone columns. To build, stones rise from column tops. Scaffolding holds stones. Top middle has a stone {keystone}, added last. Arches have side and downward pressures. Steel arches use steel rectangles. Beams or bridges can be on arch tops.

post and lintel

Straight beams {lintel} can lie across two column tops {post} {post and lintel}|.

truss of arch

Visible frames {truss, roof}| can support roofs over halls.

voussoir

Semicircular arches can have wedge-shaped blocks {voussoir}, not overlapping stones.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Arch-Kinds

corbel

First arches {corbel} had center point.

Gothic arch

Gothic cathedrals had pointed arches {Gothic arch}.

Romanesque arch

Romanesque churches had round arches {Romanesque arch}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Basement

crypt

Church basements {crypt}| can store the dead.

foundation

concrete building base {foundation}.

sepulcher

tomb {sepulcher}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Beam

beam

main horizontal wood or steel board {beam, building}.

butt joint

flat end connector {butt joint}.

girder

main horizontal beam {girder}.

I beam

steel beam {I beam}.

joint of beam

metal beam connector {joint, building}.

mortise

Holes {mortise} can receive tenons to make joins.

quoin

Blocks {quoin} can make angles on building exteriors.

rafter

Sloping beams {rafter} can go from top horizontal beam to roof edge, under joists.

ridgepole

Horizontal beams {ridgepole} can be along rooftops.

scantling

Short light wood beams {scantling} can insert vertically in building frames.

tenon

Points {tenon} can insert into mortises to make joins.

two-by-four

Wood beams {two-by-four} are 1-5/8 inch by 3-3/8 inch.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Column

abutment

bridge-end support {abutment}.

caryatid

Columns can have woman shape {caryatid}.

pendentive

Byzantine churches can have buttressed main columns {pier, column}, with rim {pendentive} at dome.

pilaster

square pillar {pilaster}|.

piling

Large wood, steel, or concrete posts {piling} {pile, building}, deep in ground, can support buildings.

pillar

Columns or beams {pillar, column} can support roofs.

pontoon

floating-bridge support {pontoon}.

pylon as pole

wire-carrying steel pole or ceremonial gateway {pylon, column}.

spandrel of arch

Triangular regions {spandrel, building} can be between two arches or from column tops to arch tops.

stanchion

vertical post {stanchion}.

totem pole

North-American tree trunks {totem pole} can have carved animal totems.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Door

doorjamb

Wedges {doorjamb} can hold doors open.

Dutch door

Doors {Dutch door} can have top and bottom halves that open separately.

French door

Doors {French door} can have glass.

jamb of door

doorframe side {jamb, door}.

mullion

vertical door divide {mullion}.

portal door

entranceway {portal}.

postern

rear gate {postern}.

pylon as gateway

Egyptian New Kingdom temples had ceremonial gateway {pylon, gateway} between two walls at entrance.

rail of door

horizontal door side {rail, door}.

shoji

Japanese light sliding or folding door {shoji}.

snubber

A chain and spring {snubber, door} can prevent doors from opening too wide.

stile of door

vertical door side {stile, door}.

stoop

small entrance stairs {stoop}.

storm door

heavy door {storm door}.

threshold as door

entrance or under-door wood or stone panel {threshold, door} {saddle, door}.

torii gate

Shinto shrine gate {torii, gate}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Floor

joist

Parallel horizontal beams {joist} can hold floors or ceilings.

parquet

Wood flooring {parquet} can have checkerboard look.

rostrum

public speaker's raised platform {rostrum}.

terrazzo

Polished stone chips {terrazzo} can be in marble floors.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Furnace

briquette

charcoal square {briquette}.

clinker

burned coal remains {clinker}.

ember

hot burned wood remains {ember}.

hearth

Brick areas {hearth} can be in front of fireplaces.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Greek Temple

Greek temple

Greek Archaic had different temple styles {Greek temple}: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Temple stones fit together, with no clay, concrete, or cement. Temple roofs were terra-cotta tiles on wood rafters over wood beams.

entablature

Archaic temples had stepped platform, platform columns, and stones above columns {entablature}|.

capital of column

Doric columns had tops {capital, column} including echinus and abacus.

echinus

Doric columns had capitals including lower flared piece {echinus} and abacus.

abacus of column

Doric columns had capitals including echinus and higher thick piece {abacus, column}.

volute

Ionic columns had bottom flat base, capital, deeper fluting, and curved piece {volute}| between echinus and abacus. Corinthian columns had more-elaborate volutes.

entasis

Doric columns taper and are slightly convex {entasis}, but Ionic columns are cylindrical.

architrave

Entablature included stone blocks {architrave}| {epistyle}, resting on columns, around top. Entablatures had stone-block friezes over architraves.

triglyph

Doric friezes had regularly repeated blocks {triglyph}.

glyph of frieze

Doric friezes had triglyphs with two vertical grooves {glyph, frieze}.

chamfer

Doric friezes had triglyphs with two half-grooves {chamfer} alternating with metope.

metope

Doric friezes had triglyphs with glyph and two chamfer alternating with blank spaces {metope}. Ionic friezes had three vertical small rectangles alternating with reliefs.

pediment

Entablatures had triangles {pediment}| between flat ceiling and sloping roof sides, on short sides.

frieze

Entablatures had bands {frieze}| around building tops, on long sides.

facade of temple

Entablatures had horizontal pieces on long sides and triangular stones on short sides {facade, temple}, projecting over cornice.

cornice

Entablatures had horizontal pieces on long sides and facades projecting over frieze tops {cornice}|.

cella

Temples had a central room {cella} {naos} for god image. In front of cella was a pronaos walled porch with two front columns. Closed porches can be behind cella. Cella and pronaos were like megaron of Mycenaeans.

colonnade

In large temples, columns {colonnade}| {peristyle} went around naos and pronaos.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Greek Temple-Kinds

Doric temple general

Archaic temples {Doric temple} had an oldest style.

Ionic temple

Archaic temples {Ionic temple} had a newer style.

Corinthian temple

Archaic temples {Corinthian temple} can vary Ionic style.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Pipe

conduit

pipe {conduit}.

duct

pipe {duct}.

penstock

Pipes {penstock} can carry water to turbines.

standpipe

Vertical pipes {standpipe} can hold water to make pressure.

water main

street water pipe {water main}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Roof

crenel

battlement {crenel}.

fascia of roof

overhang and beam end {fascia, building}.

flashing

Metal or plastic {flashing, roof joints} can be over roof joints, such as where chimney meets roof.

hip

Convex edges {hip, building} can be where two sloping roofs meet.

plenum roof

Spaces {plenum, roof} can be between suspended ceilings and roofs or raised floor and ground.

rake

roof slope {rake, roof}.

ridge of roof

sloping-roof horizontal top {ridge, roof}.

soffit

under overhangs and beams {soffit, roof}.

valley

Concave edges {valley} can be where two sloping roofs meet.

vault

Roofs {vault} can have arches.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Roof-Ornaments

belfry

bell tower {belfry}.

belvedere

raised turret or pavilion {belvedere}.

cupola

small roof dome {cupola}.

dormer

roof-window gable {dormer}.

eave

Roof edges {eave} can extend beyond wall.

gable in roof

Triangles {gable, roof} can be at rooftop ends.

gargoyle

fantastically carved drain spout or beam {gargoyle}.

pinnacle

point {pinnacle}|.

sky lick

Temple roof points can have upward curved metal points {sky lick}.

skylight

Roof openings {skylight} can have transparent material to let in light.

windsock

Sleeves {windsock} can rotate in wind.

yak on roof

tall plaster demon {yak, roof}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Roof-Kinds

canopy

Cloth roofs {canopy} can be on poles.

hipped roof

Russian Orthodox cathedrals {tented church} can have roofs {hipped roof} {tented roof} with small arches in tiers.

mansard

Roofs {mansard} can have two levels on all four sides, with lower roof steeper than upper.

marquee

large tent or theater-entrance small roof {marquee}.

shake

wood roof tiles {shake}.

shingle

Thin wood, rubber, composite, brick, or terra cotta rectangles {shingle} can overlap to cover roof.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Roof-Vault

barrel vault

cylindrical roof {barrel vault}.

cross vault

Early Romanesque church vaults had groined vaults {cross vault}.

groined vault

intersecting barrel vault {groined vault}.

ribbed groin vault

Later Romanesque church vaults {ribbed groin vault} used wood or masonry in intersecting groined-vault lines {rib, vault}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Room

ambulatory dome

Column rings can hold domes, with aisles {ambulatory, building} between inside columns and outer wall.

anechoic chamber

Closed rooms {anechoic chamber} can prevent echoes.

antechamber

small waiting room {antechamber}.

anteroom

small waiting room {anteroom}.

atrium

Houses can have hall rooms {atrium, building}. Churches can have colonnaded end courts.

attic

Spaces {attic} can be under roofs and above top floors.

campanile

Romanesque churches can have bell towers {campanile}.

chamber room

room {chamber}.

comfort station

bathroom/restroom {comfort station}.

darkroom

Rooms {darkroom} can be for developing photographs.

den room

home study room {den, room}.

drawing room

living room or special reception room {drawing room}.

foyer

lobby or entrance hall {foyer}.

garret

attic loft or room {garret}.

grandstand for field

Rising plank seats {grandstand, building} can be beside reviewing areas or playing fields.

lavatory

bathroom {lavatory}.

lobby entrance

government or business building entrance hall {lobby, building}.

lounge

bar {lounge}.

megaron

Mycenaean palaces had centers with audience halls {megaron}.

mezzanine

Theaters can have lowest balconies or half stories {mezzanine}.

narthex

Churches can have an entrance hall {narthex} between atrium and nave.

nave

Long halls have ends {nave}|.

parlor

Businesses or houses have visiting rooms {parlor}.

patio

uncovered paved recreation area {patio}.

penthouse

Apartments {penthouse} can be on top stories, or sheds can use building walls.

portico

Covered areas {portico}| with two parallel column rows can be at entrances.

powder room

ladies restroom {powder room}.

privy latrine

latrine {privy}.

root cellar

Basement areas {root cellar} can be for keeping vegetables.

rotunda

domed round large room {rotunda}.

salon

drawing room or fancy shop {salon}.

scullery

Rooms {scullery} can be beside kitchens for dish washing and food preparation.

solarium

windowed south room or porch {solarium}.

study

reading or writing room {study}.

suite of rooms

room set {suite, building}.

sun parlor

windowed south room {sun parlor}.

transept

Churches can have crosswise halls or side halls {bema} {transept} between apse and nave.

verandah

Roofed open porches {verandah} {veranda} can be along building sides.

vestibule

small lobby, small entrance hall, or train-car enclosed end {vestibule}.

vestry

sacristy or church meeting room {vestry}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Room-Parts

alcove

small extra space {alcove}.

apse

Long halls can have two large circular end niches {apse}|.

chancel

Areas {chancel} around alter can be for choirs.

corncrib

corn holder {corncrib}.

cubicle

Enclosed square areas {cubicle} in large rooms can be for office workers.

gable as porch

triangular-ended porch {gable, porch}|.

kitchen midden

garbage area {kitchen midden}.

larder

Rooms or closets {larder, room} can be for meat and other foods.

midden

house garbage dump {midden}.

module of building

Standardized building units {module, building} have functions.

mow

Raised racks {mow} can be for grain or hay storage.

nook

room corner {nook}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Sewer

cleanout

Waste drain systems have extensions {cleanout} from lowest drain to above-house trap, with covers.

septic tank

Tanks {septic tank} can receive house wastewater and have anaerobic bacteria. They do not connect to public sewer systems.

soil stack

Waste drain systems can have main pipes {soil stack} that lead from lowest drain to roof.

vent stack

Waste drain systems can have branch pipes {vent stack} that lead from toilet to roof.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Theater

bleacher

stadium plank seats {bleacher}.

box seat

enclosed theater seat {box seat}.

footlight

Stages can have lights {footlight}| in front at stage level.

house lights

theater lights {house lights}.

loge

Theaters can have enclosed seating rooms {loge}|. Theater mezzanines can have front rows.

proscenium arch

Theater stages can have arches {proscenium arch}| over front.

tableau curtain

Curtains {tableau curtain} can draw sideways and upward, as on theater stages.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Walkway

baluster

banister or railing vertical post {baluster}.

balustrade

walkway railing and posts {balustrade}.

banister

stair railing {banister}.

breezeway

Roofed open walkways {breezeway} can be between two buildings.

catwalk

Narrow walkways {catwalk} can be beside bridges or posts.

loggia

Buildings can have front or side open-sided galleries or arcades {loggia}|, above street level.

newel

Posts {newel} can be at upper or lower staircase banister ends.

railing

hand rail {railing}.

riser

Vertical boards {riser, stairs} can be under staircase steps.

stringer

Vertical boards {stringer, stairs} can be on staircase sides.

tread of stair

staircase step {tread, stairs}.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Wall

baseboard

5-centimeter to 10-centimeter wood boards {baseboard} can be on walls beside floors.

buttress

Arched roof vaults can have outside wood or stone supports {buttress}|.

clerestory

Walls can go up to windowed walls {clerestory}| above one roof level.

curtain wall

Buildings can have steel skeletons and glass sides {curtain wall}.

facade wall

front wall {facade, building}.

facing

Materials {facing} can be on building outside surfaces.

firewall

insulated wall {firewall}.

flying buttress

Gothic cathedrals had outside arch supports {flying buttress}|, from ground to clerestory.

furring strip

wall-frame horizontal board {furring strip}.

mantle of fireplace

Horizontal wood board or bricks {mantle, fireplace} can be over fireplace tops.

niche

Temples can have concave wall recesses {niche, wall}, to hold sculptures.

rampart

Walls or banks {rampart} can guard soldiers against attack.

scarcement

wall or embankment ledge {scarcement}.

shoe molding

baseboard horizontal molding {shoe molding}.

siding

Aluminum or wood boards or panels {siding, wall} can attach to frames to make walls.

sole plate

wall-frame bottom board {sole plate}.

stud of wall

wall-frame vertical board {stud, wall}.

top plate

wall-frame top board {top plate}.

wainscot

wall wood panel or wall lower half {wainscot} {wainscoting}.

westwork

Later Medieval chapels had tall monumental entrance {westwork} with two towers.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Wall-Fence

paling

picket {pale, picket} {paling}.

picket post

Fence sticks {picket, post} can have point pounded into ground.

sunk fence

Ditches {sunk fence} can be beside walls at land borders.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Wall-Niche

mihrab

Mosque qibla has a center niche {mihrab}, to cause illusion of limitless horizontal distance.

qibla

A Mosque side {qibla} faces Mecca.

stupa

Hindu temples can have bell-shaped reliquary niches {stupa}|.

2-Art-Architecture-Building Parts-Window

apron of window

Supports {apron, window} can be under window stools.

bay window

Windows {bay window} can curve outward from walls.

blind

Horizontal or vertical window slats {blind} can turn or slide.

casing

Decorative trim {casing, window} can be around window frames.

embrasure

door or window recess or wall gun opening {embrasure}.

grate

Parallel or crossed bars {grate over opening} can be over openings.

jamb of window

window-frame side {jamb, window}.

louver

Movable slats {louver} can be over windows or over roof or wall openings.

molding

surface decorative strip {molding}.

muntin

vertical or horizontal window divide {muntin}.

pane of window

glass window {pane}.

picture window

large living-room window {picture window}.

rail of window

movable-sash horizontal wood side {rail, window}.

sash

window-frame movable frame {sash, window}.

shutter

Outer window covers {shutter, window} can be on hinges or hooks.

sill of window

window-frame and outer window-ledge bottom horizontal part {sill, window}.

stile of window

movable-sash vertical wood side {stile, window}.

stool of window

inner window ledge {stool, window}.

storm window

Second windows {storm window} can hook outside windows.

transom

Windows {transom} above doors or windows can be on hinges, or windows can have horizontal pieces.

triforium

Gothic cathedrals had windows in openings {triforium} between arches.

weather stripping

Cloth or rubber strips {weather stripping} can be between door and door jamb or window and window sill.

windowsill

Horizontal boards {windowsill} can be below windows.

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Date Modified: 2022.0225