Illustrated Dictionary of Building

Peter Brett

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9781135138561
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Construction & Architectural Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

An Illustrated Dictionary of Building is ideal for practitioners and students on GNVQ, NVQ Construction and The Built Environment and Building Craft Operative courses. The guide is also useful reference for those in Higher Education on Professional, Architectural and other associated courses with a building element.First published in 1989 as Building Terminology, this second edition has been expanded and updated to cover an even wider range of terms, concepts and new practices. Including slang and regional variations, these are clearly defined and cross-referenced, many with the aid of illustrations, to provide an insight into the building industry as a whole.The logical A-Z arrangement in each section makes this an ideal reference source. The book is also highly illustrated with over 350 diagrams and photographs. The subjects covered include: architectural style; building construction; documentation, administration and control; materials and scientific principles and services and finishes.Peter Brett was formerly a Head of Faculty for construction at Brooklyn College, Birmingham. He is now in private practice undertaking design, construction and consultancy projects. Brett is an Honorary Member of the City and Guilds of London Institute and a Construction Education Consultant, in addition to being a Chief Examiner and Assessor for various UK, overseas and NVQ schemes.

A

Abacus The slab at the top of a column capital. See also Orders. (39)

Abbey Originally the dwelling of the head of a monastery or convent. Later used to include the church and all buildings associated with a monastic establishment.

Abutment A pier from which an arch springs. Also the junction where building elements meet.

Acanthus

Acanthus A spiny, thick-leaved plant used to model the leaves for the capital of Corinthian columns. See also Orders.

Adam’s style A classical style of architecture, furniture and interior decoration associated with Robert Adam in the eighteenth century. Laid out much of London, introduced stucco to England – main features include moulded plaster, spider’s web fanlights, white fireplaces and fine pictures on ceilings. (24)

Aedicule An opening (door, window cr shrine etc.) framed by columns or pilasters and topped by an entablature and pediment. Such an opening is said to be aediculated.

Aesthetics The beauty or otherwise of an object.

Adam’s style

Aisle An area of a church flanking the nave on either side. Divided from the nave by arcades. (38)

Alcove Recess in a room set aside to hold a bed. Often closed off with doors or railed off with a balustrade.

Alley An aisle, a narrow street or passage in a built-up area, an enclosed garden walkway.

Alms house A dwelling provided for the shelter of poor persons.

Ambulatory A walkway or church aisle.

Amphitheatre An elliptical or circular building with rising tiers of seats. Originally used by the Romans for public spectacles.

Aedicule

Ancient light A window that has had continuous access to light for a substantial number of years. It is legally entitled to the continuance of that light, unobstructed by the construction of any new building, structure or addition.

Ancones The decorated brackets or consoles with support cornices above openings in classical buildings.

Anta A classical pilaster, the base and capital of which does not conform to the order of adjacent columns. These usually occur at the ends of the flanking walls of a portico. If there are columns between the flanking walls they are said to be in antis. See also Prostyle. (21)

Antechamber or anteroom A room which is used to provide access to a further room beyond.

Anticum The porch to a front door.

Apartment A single room or suite of rooms that are self-contained and form a complete dwelling.

Apse A semicircular, arched or domed recess. See also Church.

Aqueduct An elevated trough or channel for the conveyance of water. See also Viaduct.

Araeostyle One of five forms of intercolumniation, having an arrangement of columns spaced four shaft diameters apart. See also Diastyle, Eustyle, Pycnostyle and Systyle.

Arcade A series of arches supported on columns or piers. See also Arch. (38)

Arch

Arch A curved structure bridging an opening and capable of supporting a load. Built of separate components each supporting one another by mutual pressure. Variously named according to shape.

Architect One who designs a building. See also heading under Documentation, administration and control.

Architecture A distinctive style of building. Also the science of building design.

Architrave The lowest division of the entablature resting directly on the supporting column capitals. Also used to describe the trim around doors and windows which covers the joint between wall and frame. (21, 39)

Arcuated A building which uses the arch principle as its form of construction, as opposed to the post and beam trabeated method.

Area The sunken space around a building to allow light into the basement storey and prevent damp penetration. Also used to mean the surface of a space or the superficial extent of a figure.

Area

Arena The central area of an amphitheatre where the contest or action took place.

Armoury A storage place for weapons.

Arris The sharp edge or corner where two surfaces join.

Arsenal A public storage place for weapons.

Art Deco The decorative style of the 1920s and 1930s which derives its name from a Paris exhibition of decorative and industrial arts in 1925. It is characterized by geometric design and bright metalic surfaces.

Arris

Art Nouveau A style of decorative art which reached its height between 1890 and 1910. It was a move away from the imitation of past style. Characterized by curved designs based on either natural or abstract forms.

Articulation The design of a buildin...

Table of contents

• Fornt Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• How to use this guide
• 1 Architectural style
• 2 Building construction
• 3 Documentation, administration and control
• 4 General
• 5 Materials and scientific principles
• 6 Services and finishes
• Alphabetical index