Dictionnaire Architecture

School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape
Global Urban Research Unit
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Electronic Working Paper No 35
AN ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY OF ARCHITECTURAL AND
CONSTRUCTIONAL TERMS: FOR STUDENTS AND NEWLY QUALIFIED
PLANNER IN PRACTICE
Previously published in May 1998 as Working Paper No. 68
By John Pendlebury and Tim Townshend
Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU
Contact: [email protected]

ISBN: 0 905770 67 6

The Authors
John Pendlebury and Tim Townshend
John Pendlebury is a part-time lecturer and consultant on historic environment issues. John
joined the Department in 1996 after ten years working for local and central government.
Research interests focus on the conservation of the historic environment. Active projects
include work on public perceptions of conservation areas, the protection of historic parks and
gardens and urban open space. He is active in a variety of professional forums including the
RTPI and the Northumbria Gardens Trust.
Tim Townshend is a is a lecturer in the theory and practice of conservation and urban design,
specifically including environment and behaviour research, conservation policy and practice,
conservation led urban regeneration and public perception of conservation policy. He too
came from a practice background, including conservation-led urban regeneration work at
Saltaire, whilst employed by Bradford Metropolitan Council; work which has subsequently
been awarded a number of awards including Civic Trust and Europa Nostra.

How to use this Illustrated Glossary
This illustrated glossary is intended as a useful companion of architectural and constructional
terms for students and newly qualified planners in practice. It is not simply an architectural
dictionary, there are plenty of these available, instead it attempts to elucidate architectural and
construction terminology in a straightforward way. The glossary has been divided into 6
planning sections, a summary of the contents of each is provided Overleaf:-
Page
Section 1 Architectural Styles and Periods 3
Section 2 Materials 8
Section 3 Common Building Problems* 11
Section 4 Construction Details 14
Section 5 Architectural Terminology 20
Section 6 Useful References 27
Section 7 Alphabetical Index of Terms 29
Information provided is generally applicable throughout the UK. It is not possible , however,
to include all regional variations and colloquial terms, sometimes used in the construction
industry.
There is a full alphabetical index of terms at the rear of the glossary, which will guide you to
the appropriate page for each term. A page for personal notes has also been provided.
*Disclaimer - Please note that the information provided in this glossary is advisory only, the
care and conservation of buildings and structures should not be undertaken without seeking
advice from a suitably qualified expert.

Summary of Sections
Section 1 Architectural Styles and Periods - this section briefly outlines the major
architectural styles and movements evident in most British cities. It is not a comprehensive
history of British Architecture, for more detailed information refer to the references continued
in Section 6. It should be noted that the terms continued in Section 1 are used in two ways; in
relation to the original historical period from whence these styles derive; and to describe
subsequent revivals of the style. Thus, for example Baroque architecture refers to a style that
reached Britain in the late 17th and early 18th Centuries. Edwardian Baroque, on the other
had denotes a revival of the style in the early 20th Century.
Section 2 Building Materials - Buildings are generally either of a load bearing or frame
construction. The former includes buildings built of such materials as brick or stone which
carry the weight of the floors and roof. Traditional frame buildings would normally have a
timber frame. Today steel frames are very common. With a frame building the external visible
building material is essentially just filling in the spaces between the frame (unless the frame
itself is visible!). This infill material may well include, for example, brick. Historically for
most buildings materials would be found in the near locality, though there have always been
exceptions for more prestigious or expensive projects - such as Stonehenge for example! The
use of local materials is one of the important factors for local distinctiveness and giving local
character. It was with improved communications in the nineteenth century that this began to
change and today there is a global market in some building materials (see slate below). The
concept of sustainability is helping a move back towards using local materials and towards
not using unsustainable materials such as tropical hardwoods.
Section 3 Common Building Problems - Buildings which have been erected for some time,
(and even some new ones!), will often display one or a number of fairly common problems,
such as patches of damp penetration, minor cracks due to settlement and so on. Section 3
provides a brief guide to recognising some of the most common problems and their causes.
Most require specialist treatment to solve or eradicate. However, all problems are best spotted
in their early stages and treated as quickly as possible. It is particularly important to prevent
water penetration into buildings through, for example, ensuring rain-water goods are
functional.
Section 4 Construction Details - This section is designed to give an introductory guide to
how some common elements of traditional buildings were put together. Through illustrations