KIM CORNELISON
Are you eager to gain some architectural knowledge before designing an exterior or space of your own?
Or maybe you’re just looking to learn something new.
Either way, acquainting yourself with these widely-used architectural terms might come in handy.
Credit:KIM CORNELISON
Knowing how to describe structures and their details makes it easier to articulate your vision for your own home.
Delve into these common terms and see how they appear in residential architecture.
These structuresserve a purposethey’re sometimes used as lookouts or provide air and ventilation to the building below.
Credit:John Merkl
They also provide visual interest to an otherwise plain roof and are often seen onbarns or sheds.
Bay Window
Bay windowsoften make for acozy reading nookand allow extra light inside a home.
These unique windows jut out from the home’s interior and extend from the exterior.
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They often consist of one large window in the center with two smaller windows on each side.
The triangular part of the wall between the pitched roof is what’s called a gable.
Gables allow for more attic space and better rainfall and snow shedding.
Credit:Ed Gohlich
Painting the boards and battens one color creates a cohesive look.
If the turret is large enough, it can provide a round room on each floor of the home.
Portico
Helen Norman
Aporticois a small roofed porch near a home’s doorway.
Credit:Anthony Masterson
It’s often held up by columns or brackets, offering a classical look to the house’s exterior.
Porticos also help protect guests from rain or snow when entering or leaving the house.
Parapet
Brie Williams
Parapets are essentially small walls or thick railings around the outside of a roof.
Credit:Stacy Zarin Goldberg
They are usually extensions of the walls that project slightly higher than the roof.
These short walls can helpprotect the rooffrom wind, water, debris, and fire.
A facade is the front or “face” of a house’s exterior.
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Dormer
Adormeris a roofed vertical window set on a slanted roof.
They also add dimension and interest to the roof.
Wainscoting
Laurey Glenn
Wainscotingis a wall treatment that adds extra texture and interest.
Credit:Helen Norman
They can also be seen indoors to show the divide of a room.
A classical-inspired colonnade is the perfect addition for extra drama in a space.
Cornice
Julie Soefer
Cornices add a decorative element to a home.
Credit:Brie Williams
They are always horizontal and often help create a beautiful transition from the wall to the ceiling.
They serve both decorative and functional purposes.
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Credit:Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Credit:Laurey Glenn
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Credit:Julie Soefer
Credit:John Bessler
