ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AND VOCABULARY
Interior Design II
Sketch and Define
ARCADE
A series of adjoining arches with their supporting
columns
BALUSTRADE
A row of repeating
balusters -- small posts
which support the upper
rail or railing
BELVEDERE
A raised turret or pavilion.
The Italian roots (bel=
beautiful and vedere=see)
describe a place from
which one can see a
beautiful view.
BREAKFRONT
Building with section(s) that
protrudes.
CAPTAIN’S WALK
An observation platform
built above the roof
CHIMNEY POT
Ends of the pipes that carry smoke from
the chimney to the air
Tudor
England
went crazy
with them!
COLONNADE
A long sequence of columns joined by their
entablature
COLUMN
A free standing pillar
Types of Capitals DORIC
IONIC
CORINTHIAN
CORNICE
uppermost section of moldings along the top of a wall
or just below a roof.
CUPOLA
a dome-shaped
ornamental structure
placed on the top of a
larger roof or dome.
DENTIL TRIM
An architectural decoration
composed of small square
projecting blocks used in a
cornice (think teeth!)
EAVES
the edge of a roof that
projects beyond the side of the
building
ENTABLATURE
moldings and bands which lie horizontally above
columns, resting on their capitals
FINIALS
• A crowning ornament
FLYING BUTTRESS
A free-standing
buttress attached to
the main structure
by an arch or a
half-arch
GABLE
The end portion of a building formed by
the roof coming together at the top
A very triangular roof
A cross gable has two triangular parts that
cross
GINGERBREAD TRIM
Delicate scroll style trim
and moldings
GOTHIC ARCH
a pointed arch; usually has a joint (instead of a keystone)
at the apex
PALLADIAN WINDOW
A window consisting of
three vertical parts, with
the central part higher
than the flanking ones and
topped with a fanlight
PEDIMENT
AN ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION ABOVE A PORTICO
Triangular
Scroll
Broken
Segmental (round)
PENDANT
An object suspended from
above
PILASTERS
A column that is part of a wall - can be semicircular or
flat
PITCH
A slope or the degree of slope – usually refers
to a roof
PORTICO
A projection from the main structure of
a building over the front entrance
supported by columns, and often
capped by a triangular pediment
QUOINS
Stone surfaces that cover
corners of buildings
Alternate in length
ROMAN ARCH
basic rounded arch, usually with a keystone –
originated with the Etruscans
SHUTTERS
Panels mounted on beside
windows
Originally hinged so they
could swing shut over a
window to protect the
glass during bad weather
TUDOR ARCH
variation of the Gothic
arch
Top of arch is flattened
TURRETT
A tower, often at an angle
or on the corner of a
building
WROUGHT IRON
Decorative metal
HOUSING EXTERIORS
What is the purpose of exterior treatments?
 Energy
 Protection
 Beautification
WOOD EXTERIOR
Requires the most
maintenance
Not as expensive as brick
Type depends on supply,
location, cost
BRICK EXTERIOR
One of the most expensive
Low or no maintenance
SHINGLES
materials that are
relatively thin, enough to
be overlapped as they are
put in place.
SIDING
Inexpensive
Aluminum or vinyl
Low or no maintenance
STONE EXTERIOR
Price depends on market
Low or no maintenance
Can be as much as brick
TIMBER
Construction of
timber frame having
the spaces filed with
masonry or plaster
Most of current
construction is
decorative
STUCCO
Cement stucco is a man-made rock
material that is incredibly strong.
Texture and patterns for stucco are
infinite.
Long Lasting
DOORS, WINDOWS
AND ROOFS
DOORS
What is the purpose of a door?
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Entry
Security
Privacy
Beauty
Energy (heat and cold, in and out)
TYPES OF DOORS
Swinging: Operate on hinges and usually open in one
direction. Space is allowed in the floor plan for the door
to open and close
Sliding: Set on a track and glide open and close on that
track.
Folding: Unfolds when closed and opens into a multi-section
stack.
DOOR STYLES
Standard door
Dutch door
Paneled door
Louvered door
Framed Glass or French
door
Pocket Door
Jalousie door
DOOR STYLES
Transom window
Folding door
Sliding doors
Screen door
Sliding doors
Batten door
Bi-Fold door
TRANSOM
BACK
SINGLE
BACK
FRENCH
BACK
SLIDING
BACK
FOLDING
BACK
BI-FOLD
POCKET
BACK
WINDOWS
Why do we have windows?
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Light
Ventilation
Beauty
Energy (heat and cold, in and out)
View
TYPES OF WINDOWS
Sliding: Operate vertically or horizontally.
Swinging: Operate on hinges and usually open in one
direction.
Fixed: Admit light and may provide a view. They do not
open.
TYPES OF WINDOWS
French window
Bay window
Fanlight and
sidelight window
Bow window
Palladian window
Jalousie window
TYPES OF WINDOWS
Double-hung
window
Dormer
Gliding Sash
window
Picture
Hinged-casement
window
Skylight
PARTS OF A WINDOW
Frame
Sash
Casing
Glass
Sill
Apron
CASEMENT
BACK
DOUBLE HUNG (SASH)
PICTURE
BACK
BAY
BACK
BOW
BACK
PALLADIAN
BACK
SKYLIGHT
BACK
FAN/HALF-ROUND
BACK
SIDE LIGHT
BACK
SLIDING
BACK
DORMER WINDOWS
A window in a small gablelike projection built out from a
sloping roof
ROOF TYPES
A-Frame: Steep slopping
roof.
Was inspired by the
teepee.
ROOF TYPES
Dovecote: is a circular or free
standing structure or built into the
end of a house or barn.
It was intended to house pigeons or
doves.
ROOF TYPES
Flat
ROOF TYPES
Gambrel
A ridged roof with two slopes on either side, the lower slope
having the steeper pitch
Often flared beyond the front and rear of the house forming a
deep overhang
ROOF TYPES
Gabel: A very triangular roof
Cross Gable has two parts that
cross
Low pitch
Cross Gable
High Pitch
High Pitch
ROOF TYPES
Hipped
A roof with four sloped sides
ROOF TYPES
Mansard
A roof with two slopes, the lower almost vertical to allow extra roof space
for the attic rooms
ROOF TYPES
Saltbox
Similar to a gable roof, but the two sides
of it are not symmetrical.
ROOF TYPES
Shed
A roof shape having only one sloping plane
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