Architectural Elements Vocabulary

the front or face of a building

“The ornate facade concealed a simple interior.”

a beam or structure supported at only one end

“The balcony was a dramatic cantilever over the cliff.”

a central open space within a building

“The hotel's atrium rose ten stories with a glass roof.”

a row of columns supporting a roof or arches

“The colonnade provided shaded walkways.”

a structure built against a wall for support

“Flying buttresses allowed Gothic cathedrals to soar.”

a horizontal molded projection crowning a building

“The elaborate cornice defined the roofline.”

a covered entrance with columns

“The neoclassical portico announced the building's importance.”

a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony

“The castle's parapet protected defenders.”

the central part of a church between the aisles

“The nave stretched toward the distant altar.”

a small dome on top of a roof

“The cupola crowned the state capitol.”