Architectural Studies

Architectural StudiesArchitectural StudiesTyler Wells, 2011Tyler Wells, 2011

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MachicolationMachicolation

A projecting gallery at the top of a A projecting gallery at the top of a castle wall, having openings in the castle wall, having openings in the floor through which stones, molten floor through which stones, molten lead, or boiling oil could be cast upon lead, or boiling oil could be cast upon an enemy beneath.an enemy beneath.

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MastabaMastaba

An ancient Egyptian tomb made of An ancient Egyptian tomb made of mud brick, rectangular in plan with a mud brick, rectangular in plan with a flat roof and sloping sides, from flat roof and sloping sides, from which a shaft leads to underground which a shaft leads to underground burial and offering chambers.burial and offering chambers.


MegaronMegaron

A building or semi-independent unit A building or semi-independent unit of a building, typically having a of a building, typically having a rectangular principal chamber with a rectangular principal chamber with a center hearth and a porch, often of center hearth and a porch, often of columns in antis.columns in antis.


Melon domeMelon dome

A bulbous ribbed dome, found A bulbous ribbed dome, found especially in Islamic especially in Islamic architecture.architecture.


MerlonMerlon

One of the solid parts between One of the solid parts between the crenels of a battlement.the crenels of a battlement.


MesaMesa

A natural flat-topped elevation with A natural flat-topped elevation with one or more cliff-like sides, common one or more cliff-like sides, common in arid and semiarid parts of the in arid and semiarid parts of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.southwestern U.S. and Mexico.


MetopeMetope

Any of the panels, either plain or Any of the panels, either plain or decorated, between triglyphs in decorated, between triglyphs in the Doric frieze. Also called the Doric frieze. Also called intertriglyph.intertriglyph.


MouchetteMouchette

A dagger-like motif found in A dagger-like motif found in Gothic tracery, formed by Gothic tracery, formed by elliptical and ogee curves.elliptical and ogee curves.


NaveNave

The principal or central part of a The principal or central part of a church, extending from the church, extending from the narthex to the choir or chancel narthex to the choir or chancel and usually flanked by aisles.and usually flanked by aisles.


NecessariumNecessarium

The privy of a medieval castle or The privy of a medieval castle or monastery. Also called monastery. Also called garderobe.garderobe.


NeckingNecking

The upper part of a column, just The upper part of a column, just above the shaft and below the above the shaft and below the projecting part of the capital, when projecting part of the capital, when differentiated by a molding, groove, differentiated by a molding, groove, or the omission of fluting.or the omission of fluting.


NecropolisNecropolis

A historic burial ground, especially A historic burial ground, especially a large, elaborate one of an a large, elaborate one of an ancient city.ancient city.


Nonbearing wallNonbearing wall

A wall supporting no load other A wall supporting no load other than its own weight.than its own weight.


OculusOculus

A circular opening, especially A circular opening, especially one at the crown of a dome.one at the crown of a dome.


Onion domeOnion dome

A bulbous, domelike roof terminating A bulbous, domelike roof terminating in a sharp point used especially in in a sharp point used especially in Russian Orthodox churches to cover Russian Orthodox churches to cover a cupola or tower.a cupola or tower.


OpisthodomosOpisthodomos

The rear vestibule of a classical The rear vestibule of a classical temple. Also called posticum, temple. Also called posticum, epinaos.epinaos.


OublietteOubliette

A secret dungeon having an A secret dungeon having an opening only in the ceiling, opening only in the ceiling, through which prisoners were through which prisoners were dropped.dropped.


OxeyeOxeye

A comparatively small round or A comparatively small round or oval window, as in a frieze or oval window, as in a frieze or dormer.dormer.


PalazzoPalazzo

A large, imposing public building A large, imposing public building or private residence, especially or private residence, especially in Italy.in Italy.


ParterreParterre

The rear section of seats, and The rear section of seats, and sometimes also the side sometimes also the side sections, of the main floor of a sections, of the main floor of a theater, opera house, or concert theater, opera house, or concert hall.hall.


PedimentPediment

A wide, low-pitched gable A wide, low-pitched gable surmounting a colonnade or a surmounting a colonnade or a major division of a façade.major division of a façade.


PendentivePendentive

A spherical triangle forming the A spherical triangle forming the transition from the circular plan of a transition from the circular plan of a dome to the polygonal plan of its dome to the polygonal plan of its supporting structure.supporting structure.


PergolaPergola

A structure of parallel colonnades A structure of parallel colonnades supporting an open roof of beams supporting an open roof of beams and crossing rafters or trelliswork, and crossing rafters or trelliswork, over which climbing plants are over which climbing plants are trained to grow.trained to grow.


Peripteral CollonadePeripteral Collonade

Having a single row of columns Having a single row of columns on all sides.on all sides.


PeristylePeristyle

A colonnade surrounding a A colonnade surrounding a building or a courtyard.building or a courtyard.


PilasterPilaster

A shallow rectangular feature A shallow rectangular feature projecting from a wall, having a projecting from a wall, having a capital and a base and capital and a base and architecturally treated as a column.architecturally treated as a column.


PillarPillar

An upright, relatively slender shaft or An upright, relatively slender shaft or structure, usually of brick or stone, structure, usually of brick or stone, used as a building support or used as a building support or standing alone as a monument.standing alone as a monument.


PinnaclePinnacle

A subordinate vertical structure A subordinate vertical structure terminating in a pyramid or terminating in a pyramid or spire.spire.


Pocket DoorPocket Door

A door that slides into and out of A door that slides into and out of a recess in a doorway wall.a recess in a doorway wall.


PodiumPodium

A solid mass of masonry visible A solid mass of masonry visible above ground level and serving above ground level and serving as the foundation of a building. as the foundation of a building. Also called stereobate.Also called stereobate.


PortcullisPortcullis

A strong iron grating or timber hung A strong iron grating or timber hung over the gateway of a fortified place over the gateway of a fortified place in such a way as to be able to be in such a way as to be able to be lowered quickly to prevent passage.lowered quickly to prevent passage.


PorticoPortico

A porch having a roof supported A porch having a roof supported by columns, often leading to the by columns, often leading to the entrance of a building.entrance of a building.


PostPost

A stiff vertical support or timber A stiff vertical support or timber used in timber house framing.used in timber house framing.


Post & LintelPost & Lintel

Wall construction utilizing a Wall construction utilizing a framework of vertical posts and framework of vertical posts and horizontal beams to carry floor horizontal beams to carry floor and roof loads.and roof loads.


PosternPostern

A private or side entrance, as A private or side entrance, as one for pedestrians.one for pedestrians.


PraetoriumPraetorium

A structure in a Roman city or A structure in a Roman city or fortification that was used as fortification that was used as the home or headquarters of the the home or headquarters of the leader or commander.leader or commander.


PylonPylon

A monumental gateway to an ancient A monumental gateway to an ancient Egyptian temple, either consisting of Egyptian temple, either consisting of a pair of tall truncated pyramids and a pair of tall truncated pyramids and a doorway between them, often a doorway between them, often decorated with painted reliefs.decorated with painted reliefs.


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