Glossary Chapter 10 Acquisition To buy (a work of art). Adobe An unburnt, sun-dried brick. Aqueduct A bridgelike structure that carries a canal or pipe of water across a river or valley. From Latin roots meaning to carry water. Arch A curved or pointed structure consisting of wedge-shaped blocks that span an open space and support the weight of material above by transmitting the load outward and downward over two vertical supports, or piers. Balloon framing In architecture, the construction of the wooden skeleton of a building from prefabricated studs and nails. Barrel vault A roofed-over space or tunnel that is constructed by placing arches behind one another. Bay In architecture, the area or space spanned by a single unit of vaulting that may be marked off by piers or columns. Brick A hard substance made from clay, fired in a kiln or baked in the sun, and used in construction. Buttress To support or prop up construction with a projecting structure, usually built of brick or stone; a massive masonry structure on the exterior wall of a building whose function is to press inward and upward in order to hold the stone blocks of arches in place. Flying buttresses connect the exterior buttresses with the vaults of the nave arcade. Cast iron A hard alloy of iron that contains silicon and carbon and is made by casting. Centering In architecture, a wooden scaffold used in the construction of an arch. Clapboard In architecture, siding composed of thin, narrow boards placed in horizontal, overlapping layers. Clerestory In a Latin Cross plan, the area above the triforium in the elevation of the nave, which contains windows to provide direct lighting for the nave. Compressive strength The degree to which a material can withstand the pressure of being squeezed. Conservator A person who protects or repairs damaged works of art. Cornice In architecture, a horizontal molding that projects along the top of a wall or a building. The uppermost part of an entablature. Curator A person in charge of a collection of works or of a museum. Deacquisition To sell (a work of art). Deconstructivist architecture A postmodern approach to the design of buildings that disassembles and reassembles the basic elements of architecture. The focus is on the creation of forms that may appear abstract, disharmonious, and disconnected from the functions of the building. Deconstructivism challenges the view that there is one correct way to approach architecture. Dome In architecture, a hemispherical structure that is round when viewed from beneath. Dry masonry Brick or stone construction without use of mortar. Entablature In architecture, a horizontal structure supported by columns which, in turn, supports any other element, such as a pediment, which is placed above. Reading from top to bottom, the entablature consists of a cornice, a frieze, and an architrave. Façade A French word meaning the face or front of a building. Fenestration The arrangement of windows and doors in a structure. Ferroconcrete Same as reinforced concrete. Flying buttress A structure that connects a buttress on the exterior of a building with the interior vault that it supports. Gallery A long, narrow corridor or room; a place for exhibiting or selling works of art. Groin vault In architecture, a vault that is constructed by placing barrel vaults at right angles, so that a square is covered. Keystone In architecture, the wedge-shaped stone placed in the top center of an arch. Kiva A circular, subterranean structure built by Native Americans of the Southwest for community and ceremonial functions. Modernism A contemporary style of architecture the deemphasizes ornamentation and uses recently developed materials of high strength. Naturalism Art that strives to imitate nature rather than express intellectual theory. Ottonian Of the period characterized by the consecutive reigns of German kings named Otto, beginning in 936 ce. Pendentive In architecture, a spherical triangle that fills the wall space between the four arches of a groin vault in order to provide a circular base on which a dome may rest. Pier In architecture, a column like support member whose profile is rectilinear rather than cylindrical. Piers generally support arches. Pilaster In architecture, a decorative element that recalls the shape of a structural pier. Pilasters are attached to the wall plane and project very little. They may have all the visual elements of piers, including base, shaft, capital, and entablature above. Plywood Sheets of wood that resist warping because they are built up from layers whose grain is oriented in different directions. Pointed arch An arch that comes to a point at top rather than being rounded. Post-and-beam construction A type of construction in which vertical elements (posts) and horizontal timbers (beams) are pieced together with wooden pegs. Post-and-lintel construction A type of construction in which vertical elements (posts) are used to support horizontal crosspieces (lintels). Also termed trabeated structure. Postmodernism A contemporary style of art and architecture that provides ornamentation drawn from Classical and historical sources. Prefabricate In architecture, to build beforehand at a factory rather than at the building site. Quarry tile Reddish-brown tile, similar to terra cotta. Reinforced concrete Concrete that is strengthened by steel rods or mesh. Same as ferroconcrete. Rib In Gothic architecture, a structural member that reinforces the stress points of groin vaults. Rotunda A round hall or room, especially domed. Service systems In architecture, mechanical systems that provide structures with transportation, heat, electricity, waste removal, etc. Siding In architecture, a covering for an exterior wall. Steel A hard, tough metal composed of iron, carbon, and other metals, such as nickel or chromium. Steel cable A strong cable composed of multiple steel wires. Steel-cage construction A method of building that capitalizes on the strength of steel by piecing together slender steel beams to form the skeletons of structures. Tier A row or rank. Truss A rigid, triangular frame used for supporting structures such as roofs and bridges. Tympanum The semicircular space above the doors to a cathedral. Vault In architecture, any series of arches other than an arcade used to create space. See barrel vault and groin vault. Veneer In architecture, a thin layer of high-quality material used to enhance the appearance of the façade of a structure. Voussoir A wedge-shaped stone block used in the construction of an arch. Webbing In architecture, a netlike structure that comprises that part of a ribbed vault that lies between the ribs.