AP Art History Architecture Vocab

ambulatory

a place for walking, esp. an aisle around the apse or a cloister in a church/monastary

aisle

a row between seats in a church

apse

a large, semicircular recess, arched or with a domed roof, typically at the EAST end of a church, containing the alter

clerestory

upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts, containing a series of windows (admits light to the central part of the building)

nave

central aisle of the church; intended to accomodate most of the congregation

nave arcade

sepparation between a nave and its side aisles (columns, not seats)

transcept

either of the two extending "arms" of a basilica-plan

atrium

open roofed enterance hall

bay

the space between supporting vaults in a cathedral

compound pier

engaged column (suggests performance of structural objects)

archivolts

a band of molding, resembling an architrave, around the lower curve of an arch

barrel vault

a vault forming a 1/2 cylinder

choir

between the alter and the nave; used by the choir and the clergy

cloister

a covered walk in a convent/monestary/cathedral; wall on one side, colonnade open to a quadrangle

crossing square

gives access to the nave, choir, transcept arms (used and the basis of measurment)

gallery

balcony (esp. platform/upper floor) projecting from back; provides a space for audience or muscians

groin vault

produced by the intersection at right angels of two barrel vaults

portal

entryway; door

rib vault

allow for higher ceilings (distrubution of weight)

vault

a roof of an arch, or series of arches

flying buttress

a buttress forming from a sepperate pier, typically forming an arch with the wall it supports

relieving triangle

an empty slit above post and lintel style doorway; distributes the force of gravity so that the lintel stone is not crushed

triforium

a gallery or arcade above the arches of the nave, choir, and transepts

apadana

audience hall

buttress

thickened wall areas that provide support and protection

capital

the top of a column (decorative part)

column

round, 3D support for post-and-lintel architecture

ziggurat

signature architecture of ANE; raised platform, constructed from glazed mud brick; protected the temple from floods.

engaged column

a column embedded in a wall and partly projecting

facade

the front (outside face) of a building

hypostyle hall

post-and-lintel architecture; "forest of columns"

post-and-lintel

Architecture; construction using two columns and a flat stone lain horizontally over the columns

mastaba

Ancient egyptian brick or stone structure with sloping sides erected over a subterranean tomb chamber connected with the outside by a shaft

necropolis

"city of the dead"

obelisk

Egyptian; stone pillar, typically having a square or rectangular cross section and a pyramidal top, set up as a monument or landmark.

pyramid

Egyptian; a monumental structure with a square bottom; tomb for pharoahs

stepped pyramid

architectural structure that uses flat platforms, or steps, receding from the ground up, to achieve a completed shape similar to a geometric pyramid

architrave

a main beam resting across the tops of columns, specifically the lower third entablature.

balustrade

a railing supported by balusters, especially an ornamental parapet on a balcony, bridge, or terrace.

caryatid

Greece; stone carving of a draped female figure, used as a pillar to support the entablature.

cella

inner area of a temple; used to house cult statue

collonade

a row of columns supporting a roof, entablature, or arcade

entablature

a horizontal, continuous lintel, supported by columns or a wall (comprises the architrave, frieze, and cornice)

frieze

a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration (adorns the entablature)

metope

a square space between triglyphs in a doric frieze

pediment

the triangular upper part of the front of a building in the classical style; typically surmounting a portico of columns

peristyle

a row of columns surrounding a space within a building

triglyph

a tablet in a doric frieze with 3 vertical grooves (alternate w/ metopes)

citadel

a fortified city, typically on high ground

rustication

when the bottom of a building is dramatically textured, to make it appear more stable

basilica plan

central plan

cruciform plan

dome

a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure, typically with a circular base.

Oculus

a round or eyelike opening on the roof of a dome

drum

in architecture, any of the cylindrical stone blocks composing a column that is not a monolith.

niche

a shallow recess, especially one in a wall to display a statue or other ornament.

palazzo

a palatial building, especially in Italy

mihrab

a niche in the wall of a mosque, at the point nearest to Mecca, toward which the congregation faces to pray.

qibla wall

houses the mihrab

minbar

a short flight of steps used as a platform by a preacher in a mosque.

minaret

a tall slender tower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer.

pilaster

a rectangular column, especially one projecting from a wall.

roundel

a small disk, especially a decorative medallion.

cupola

(dome)

international style

Style; clean, unadorned skyscrapers

art deco

the predominant decorative art style of the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colors, and used most notably in household objects and in architecture.

voussior

wedge shaped stones used to create arches (KEYSTONE)