Art History 2 - Architectural Terms
Terms
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- Spire
- An elongated, pointed structure which rises from a tower, turret, or roof.
- Key Stone
- The voussoir at the top of an arch; in vaulting it occurs at the intersection of the ribs of a rib vault. Important structurally because it marks the apex of the arch.
- Doric
- The lowest/earliest order of the Greek columns. Resembles a cushion
- Rib
- An arch of masonry, often molded, which forms part of the framework on which a vault rests.
- Cross-section
- A diagram showing a building as if it had been cut at right angles to the ground plane.
- Ambulatory
- A semicircular or polygonal aisle that leads around the east end of the choir separating the choir from apses or chapels.
- Corinthian
- The latest/highest order of Greek columns, not really Greek at all. Capital contains acanthus leaves.
- Ionic
- The middle order of the Greek columns. Contains the volutes which look like scrolls of paper.
- Capital
- Decorative element that divides a column or pier from the masonry which it supports.
- Dome
- A hemispherical vault.
- Colonade
- A row of columns which support horizontal members, called an architrave rather than arches.
- Voussoire
- One of the wedge-shaped stones used in constructing an arch.
- Transept
- A rectangular area which cuts across the main axis of a basilica-type buiding and projects beyond it.
- Baptistry
- A building or part of a church used for baptism.
- Apse
- A vaulted extension or projection, usually from a choir or chapel and generally circular or plygonal in shape.
- Campanile
- Italian name for a bell tower, usually one that is detached from the main building.
- Flying Buttress
- A free-standing support attached to the main vessel (nave, choir, or transept wall) by an arch or half-arch which transmits the thrust of the vault to the support attached tot he outer wall of the aisle.
- Atrium
- An open courtyard at the entrance of a church, usually surrounded by covered aisles.
- Crossing
- An area of a church where the nave, choir, and transept intersect.
- Choir
- The area of the church between a transept and main apse. it is the area where the service is sung and clergy may stand, and the main or high altar is located.
- Span
- The horizontal distance between the two supporting members of an arch of vault.
- Portal
- Any doorway or entrance but especially one that is large and imposing.
- Central Plan
- A building in which the sides are of equal length and in which the main space is symmetrical when bisected laterally and longitudinally.
- Lintel
- A flat horizontal beam which spans the space between two supports.
- Pier
- An upright support, generally square, rectangular, or composite.
- Rose Window
- A circular window composed of patterned tracery arranged in petal-like formation.
- Column
- A cylindrical support, usually structural but often decorative.
- Drum
- A cylindrical wall which supports a dome.
- Arch
- A curved structural member spanning an opening or recess.
- Clerestory
- An upper story of a building with windows above adjacent roofs.
- Aisle
- Open area of a church parallel to the nave and separated from it by columns or piers.
- nave
- The central longitudinal space of a basilica church.
- Springer
- The lowers voussoir on each side of an arch. It is where the vertical support for the arch terminates and the curve of the arch begins.