- Arcade. A series of arches atop columns or posts supporting a roof or covering over a walkway.
- Arch. Curved piece that covers a small or large space and can hold weight.
- Attic. A small space on top of a house that’s contained within the roof line.
- Ball and flower. Decoration used in early architecture involving a flower surrounding a ball.
- ball flower. Decoration used in early architecture involving a flower surrounding a ball.
- Baluster. Support post taking on a rounded or squared shape, often found in a series as a railing.
- Barrel vault. One curve that spans a long space such as a barrel vaulted ceiling.
- Basement. Lowest area of a building, usually located below the ground.
- Bay window. A window that protrudes beyond the façade of a building.
- Bays. Divisions of a building identified by exterior divisions such as windows or columns.
- Belfry. Area located inside a tower where bells are placed.
- Bond. Way in which bricks are laid down before mortar is applied.
- Bow window. A curved window that protrudes beyond the façade of a building.
- Bracket. Load bearing decorative piece that holds another object in place.
- Bullseye Window. small round or oblong window, often made of hand blown glass.
- Canted window. Protruding window with curved or angled sides.
- Casement Window. hinged window that’s typically used in a vertical fashion.
- Cincture. Small ring located on a column to differentiate between the base and shaft.
- Copping. Wall covering used prior to wallpaper or paint.
- Cornice. A protruding shelf located on the roofline of some buildings that sits on brackets.
- Dipteral. Temples with columns doubled up in the center.
- Doric order. Ancient Greek order, notably due to the columns that lack decoration and have no base.
- Dormer. Protruding additions on the roof of a building.
- Fanlight. Small windows with a flat bottom and curved or arched top.
- Flushwork. Ashlar stone and flint used to create a decorative façade on a building.
- Gable roof. Roof with two sides that slope on either side.
- Gable. Triangular raised decoration that lays flush with the roofline.
- Gambrel roof. Similar to a gable roof, but with two pitches on the roof, popular with Dutch Colonial style homes.
- Hip roof. Roof with four sides that all have a downward angle.
- Keystone. Decoration placed in the middle of an arch.
- Latticework. Thin pieces of wood that form a pattern.
- Mansard roof. Flat roof with sloped sides.
- Modillion. Decorated blocks or brackets placed below a cornice.
- Molding. Strip used for decoration.
- Mullion. Dividers placed inside a window; typically made of wood or metal.
- Oriel window. Protruding window that sits on brackets, typically located on the ground level.
- Piano nobile. Main floor in an older house.
- Portico. Arches supporting a roof to form a small patio in front of a building.
- Returns. Edges placed on the sides of a gambrel roof.
- Revolving door. Rotating door with separate areas placed inside.
- Round arch. Arch with a rounded top.
- Sash. Upper part of a window, may be set in place.
- Shingle. Material used to cover a roof; typically made of asphalt, slate or wood.
- Spandrel. Section of glass that differentiates between two floors.
- Sunburst. Popular pattern used in Art Nouveau to mimic the look of the sun’s rays.
- Surround. Decorative piece that covers the exterior of a window.
- Transom bar. Piece of wood located above the door and below the transom.
- Transom. Small window or wood block above a door, but still in the doorframe.
- Turret. Tower typically located on the side of a building.
- Volute. Spiral shapes found on columns, usually paired.
Sources Cited
Design Training, Architectural Terms Glossary, http://www.design-training.com/architecture/architectural-terms-glossary.html. Last accessed September 20, 2018.
Key Facts
At time of upload on January 6, 2021: