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Archispeak
A key skill of an Architect is to communicate ideas to clients, industry professionals and other project experts with specific terminology 'archispeak', quick sketches, detailed drawings, physical models and digital technology imagery.
The information on this page will help to increase your vocabulary to speak like an architect.
These are 104 of the most common words used in architecture.
Aesthetic architecture emphasizes harmony, balance, and visual beauty through the thoughtful use of form, color, texture, and proportion. It prioritizes sensory experience and emotional impact, creating spaces that are both pleasing to the eye and inspiring to the soul.
Revised set of drawings submitted by a contractor upon completion of a project or a particular job. They reflect all changes made in the specifications and working drawings during the construction process, and show the exact dimensions, geometry, and location of all elements of the work completed under the contract.
Asymmetry in architecture refers to a deliberate imbalance or lack of mirror-image correspondence in a building’s design, creating dynamic visual interest and movement. It challenges traditional symmetry by arranging elements of varying size, shape, or placement to evoke a sense of spontaneity and uniqueness.
A large open space within a building, often featuring a glass roof, designed to bring natural light and ventilation to interior rooms.
Axis is an imaginary straight line that organizes and guides the arrangement of spaces, structures, or elements within a design to create balance and harmony. It often serves as a central spine or reference line that directs movement and sightlines, enhancing the spatial coherence of a building or landscape.
Balcony
A platform projecting from the wall of a building, usually enclosed by a railing, providing outdoor space above ground level.
Balustrade
A railing supported by a series of small posts or balusters, commonly found on staircases, balconies, and terraces.
Basement
A floor of a building partially or entirely below ground level, often used for storage or mechanical systems.
A horizontal structural element that can be comprised of a number of materials (including steel, laminated wood, concrete etc ) to span between supports (walls, columns, posts)
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
A digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility, serving as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle.
Brise-Soleil: A sun-shading structure, typically consisting of louvers or fins, attached to the exterior of a building.
A sun-shading structure, typically consisting of louvers or fins, attached to the exterior of a building.
Design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.
Buttress
A projecting support built against a wall to reinforce and resist lateral forces pushing the wall outward.
Building Envelope (or Building Skin)
The physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building including the resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer.
A cantilever is a structural element that extends horizontally and is supported at only one end, allowing it to project beyond its support without additional bracing. This design creates dramatic overhangs and open spaces, often used to achieve bold, floating architectural forms.
An intense period of design or planning activity.
Chimney
A vertical structure that provides ventilation for smoke and gases from a fireplace or furnace.
Cladding
The application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer, protecting the structure and enhancing appearance.
Open space in a wall or window of a room that is higher than the surrounding roofs to light the interior space below
A recessed panel in a ceiling or vault, often decorative and arranged in a grid pattern to reduce weight and add visual interest.
a vertical, load-bearing structural element, often made of stone, wood, or metal, that supports a building or other structure
The comprehensive drawings and specifications used for building a project.
Contour
Contour refers to the outline or the defined edge of a building or structure, shaping its overall form and silhouette. It emphasizes the visible boundary that separates the built form from its surrounding environment, guiding the perception of mass, depth, and spatial flow.
A decorative horizontal molding that crowns a building or wall, often projecting outward to throw rainwater away from the building’s face.
A non-structural exterior building envelope, typically made of glass and metal.
The lower part of a wall, typically differentiated by paneling, paint, or wallpaper.
A Datum Point is a fixed reference point or benchmark from which measurements, elevations, and alignments are established during the design and construction process. It serves as a consistent and precise coordinate to ensure spatial accuracy and coherence across a building project.
Dentil
A series of small, rectangular blocks resembling teeth, used as a decorative molding in classical cornices.
The phase where the approved initial sketch design of a project is refined and detailed.
A detail drawing is a precise, scaled architectural representation that focuses on a specific part of a building or structure, such as a joint, connection, or material interface. It reveals construction techniques, dimensions, and materials with high clarity to ensure accurate execution on-site.
Dormer
A window that projects vertically from a sloping roof, adding space and light to attic rooms.
Eaves
The overhanging edges of a roof which extend beyond the building walls to direct rainwater away.
An elevation is a scaled drawing that shows one vertical side of a building, illustrating the façade's design, materials, and height relationships. It provides a flat representation of how the building will appear from a specific viewpoint, typically including dimensions, windows, doors, and surface details.
Entablature
The horizontal structure supported by columns, consisting of the architrave, frieze, and cornice, typical in classical architecture.
The front or principal exterior face of a building, often the most architecturally emphasized side.
A flat horizontal band or board, often forming the edge of a roof or cornice.
Fenestration
The arrangement, design, and placement of windows and other openings in a building’s facade, influencing light, ventilation, and aesthetics.
Finial
An ornamental topping, usually a small carved detail, placed on a gable, spire, or roof peak.
Form refers to the shape, structure, and configuration of a building or space, encompassing both its physical geometry and its spatial presence. It is the manifestation of design intent, where proportion, scale, and volume come together to create a coherent visual and functional whole. Refer to the famous "form follows function" quote.
Function refers to the intended use or purpose of a space or structure, guiding its form, layout, and organization. It ensures that design elements support practical needs, such as circulation, comfort, and utility, aligning the building’s form with its everyday use. Refer to the famous "form follows function" quote.
A carved stone grotesque figure, often functioning as a water spout to direct rainwater away from a building.
The "spirit of place," emphasizing the unique character and atmosphere of a site.
The slope or incline of a ramp, measured as the ratio of vertical rise to horizontal run. It describes how steep or gradual a ramp, path or road is. The incline gradient ratio % (eg, 1:8 = 1 metre rise over 8 metres long) is crucial for determining its usability and accessibility for various users, aged, disabled, mobility challenged, wheelchair bound but also for moving items on trolleys or vehicles.
An area of undeveloped land surrounding an urban area, intended to restrict urban sprawl.
Heating, Ventilation,Air Conditioning. The systems used to control the internal environment of a building.
The construction of new buildings on underutilized land within existing urban areas.
Jamb
The side posts or surfaces of a doorway or window opening.
An arch built with a central keystone wedge-shaped stone at the apex of the arch, locking the other stones into position.
Lattice
A crisscrossed framework of strips of wood, metal, or other materials, used as a decorative or structural element.
Lintel
A horizontal structural beam placed above doorways or windows to support the weight of the wall above.
The qualities and inherent characteristics of the materials used in a design and how they contribute to the overall concept and experience.
Mezzanine
An intermediate floor between main floors of a building, typically open to the floor below.
A type of urban development that blends residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment uses into one space.
A decorative strip of material with a profile, used to ornament edges and surfaces.
Mullion
A window divided into sections by vertical or horizontal bars called mullions. A vertical or horizontal element that divides adjacent window panes or panels, providing structural support and aesthetic articulation. Relates to Transom.
A recessed space in a wall, typically designed to hold a statue or decorative object.
Oculus
A circular opening at the apex of a dome or in a wall or ceiling, often used to admit light or air.
A style of architecture characterized by the use of digitally-based algorithmic processes to generate complex geometries and forms.
Parapet
A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, balcony, or terrace, providing safety and sometimes decorative detailing.
A design strategy that uses natural environmental conditions (like sunlight, cool night air, and prevailing breezes) to heat, cool, or light a building.
A subsidiary building or a projecting part of a main building, often symmetrical and decorative.
A triangular gable found above the horizontal structure of a classical building, often decorated with relief sculpture.
A philosophical approach focusing on human experience and how architecture is perceived and encountered.
Pilaster
A shallow rectangular column projecting slightly from a wall, often decorative and mimicking the form of a supporting column.
A plan is a scaled drawing that represents a horizontal section of a building, typically viewed from above, showing the arrangement of spaces, walls, doors, and windows. It serves as a fundamental tool for visualizing spatial relationships and guiding construction.
Plinth
The base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, or statue rests, often slightly projecting from the wall.
Portico
A covered entrance supported by columns, providing a sheltered transition into a building.
Prefabrication is an architectural construction method where building components are manufactured off-site in a controlled factory environment and then transported to the construction site for quick assembly. This approach enhances efficiency, reduces waste, and allows for greater precision and quality control compared to traditional on-site construction
A formal document outlining a client's requirements and objectives for a building or structure. It serves as a foundation for the design process, providing architects with the information needed to develop a feasible and suitable solution. The project brief evolves as the design progresses, incorporating feedback and insights gained from consultations with the client and other stakeholders.
Proportion refers to the harmonious relationship between the dimensions of different elements within a structure, ensuring balance and visual coherence. It governs how parts relate to each other and to the whole, often drawing on mathematical ratios or human scale to create aesthetic and functional unity.
Quoining
The masonry blocks at the corner of a wall, often differentiated from the wall surface by size or texture for emphasis.
Rafter
A sloping beam that supports the roof deck and its loads.
The ability of a building, community, or system to withstand and recover from adverse conditions, such as natural disasters or climate change.
Rose window
A large circular stained-glass window, typically found in Gothic cathedrals, featuring intricate tracery.
Scale refers to the perceived size of a building or space in relation to human dimensions, helping users intuitively understand and navigate their environment. It balances proportion and context, ensuring that architectural elements feel appropriate and harmonious within their surroundings.
A scale ruler is a tool used to measure lengths and transfer measurements from drawings to real-world dimensions, or vice versa, at a fixed ratio. It's essential for working with scaled architectural drawings, which are representations of buildings or objects at a smaller size than their actual dimensions.
A section drawing is a vertical cut-through drawing of a building or structure, showing the internal arrangement of spaces, walls, floors, and other elements as if sliced along an imaginary plane. It reveals the spatial relationships and construction details that are not visible in plan views, offering insight into height, volume, and structural composition.
The site refers to the specific plot of land or location where an architectural project is situated, encompassing its physical, environmental, and cultural context. It plays a critical role in shaping the design by influencing orientation, access, views, climate response, and integration with the surrounding landscape or urban fabric.
Sketch Design (Schematic Design)
The initial phase of design, where the architect designs the general project concept, preliminary drawings and an initial estimate of cost.
Soffit
The underside of an architectural element, such as an arch, balcony, or eave.
A document prepared near the end of a construction project listing work not conforming to contract specifications that the contractor must complete prior to final payment.
A rigid, lightweight, truss-like structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern.
Spire
A tapering conical or pyramidal structure atop a tower or roof, often on churches.
A structure is an engineered assembly designed to support loads and resist forces, providing stability and safety for its intended use. It typically consists of interconnected elements such as beams, columns, and foundations that work together to transfer stresses efficiently.
Designing and constructing buildings that minimize environmental impact, often focusing on energy efficiency, renewable resources, and a healthy indoor environment.
Symmetry in architecture refers to the balanced and proportional arrangement of elements on either side of a central axis, creating harmony and visual stability. It often conveys order and formality, enhancing the aesthetic appeal through mirrored repetition and precise alignment.
The art and science of construction and the way elements are assembled, often with an emphasis on expressing the constructional and material qualities.
Texture refers to the tactile and visual quality of a surface, shaped by the materials, patterns, and finishes used in construction. It influences how light interacts with a building, adding depth, character, and sensory richness to the overall design.
A point of transition between two spaces, often carrying symbolic or experiential significance or a space or building element (step or landing) space that marks the boundary between two different areas or environments.
Topography in architecture refers to the detailed study and design response to the natural contours, elevations, and features of a site’s landscape. It shapes how buildings interact with the terrain, guiding placement, orientation, and integration with the environment to create harmony between structure and landform.
A horizontal crosspiece over a door or window, often containing a decorative window above the door. Relates to Mullion
Truss
A framework of beams, usually arranged in triangles, that supports roofs or bridges by efficiently distributing loads.
The classification of (usually physical) characteristics commonly found in buildings and urban places, according to their association with different categories, such as intensity of development (from natural or rural to highly urban), degrees of formality, and school of thought.
The physical character of an urban area, including street patterns, building types, and open spaces.
An urban design movement which promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types.
A systematic method to improve the "value" of goods or products and services by using an examination of function. Value, as defined, is the ratio of function to cost.
Vault
An arched form used to provide a ceiling or roof, distributing weight downwards and outwards.
Traditional building styles of a particular region, often characterized by the use of local materials and response to climate.
Volume refers to the three-dimensional space enclosed within a structure, defining its physical mass and spatial presence. It shapes how light, shadow, and movement interact within and around the building, influencing both form and function.
A Japanese worldview centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection, often influencing minimalist and natural material aesthetics.
Wooden paneling that covers the lower part of interior walls, both decorative and protective.
The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time, often reflected in architecture.
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