Architecture · C2 English Vocabulary List

a covered entrance or porch with columns, typically leading to the main entrance of a building and serving as a decorative architectural feature

"The grand portico had tall white columns at the entrance."

"The grand mansion had a beautiful portico with four white columns supporting a triangular roof above the main entrance door."

a row of connected posts placed at the edge of a height such as stairway, balcony, etc. in order to protect people from falling

"The balustrade is safe."

"The stone balustrade lined the grand staircase."

a shelf that is made of wood or stone and is above a fireplace

"The clock on the mantelpiece chimed loudly."

"She placed family photographs and a beautiful clock on the wooden mantelpiece above the fireplace in her cozy living room."

a style or approach that combines various architectural influences, elements, or styles from different time periods or cultures to create a unique and diverse design

"His design shows eclecticism."

"The design mixes periods with bold eclecticism."

an architectural structure, often made of stone or concrete, that forms a curved or arched ceiling or roof, providing strength, support, and architectural beauty to a space

"The cathedral had a high vault."

"The grand library featured a magnificent vaulted ceiling that created a sense of awe and spaciousness."

the front of a building, particularly one that is large and has an elegant appearance

"The facade of the old church is beautiful."

"A facade is the front exterior face of a building"

the upper part of a house wall in the shape of a triangle where it meets a sloping roof

"The house had a gable."

"The charming cottage was distinguished by its steep roof and decorative triangular gable at the front."

a low protective wall or railing built along the edge of a roof, balcony, bridge, or other elevated structure to prevent people from falling

"The soldier hid behind the stone parapet."

"The soldier crouched behind the stone parapet on the castle wall to avoid being hit by arrows from the attacking army below."

an outdoor structure with a framework of vertical posts and cross-beams, often covered with climbing plants for shade

"The garden has a wooden pergola covered with vines."

"A pergola is an outdoor garden structure with vertical posts and an open lattice roof"

a roofed area with an open front at the ground level, which is attached to the side of a house

"We sat on the veranda watching the sunset."

"The family spent warm summer evenings sitting on the wooden veranda drinking lemonade and watching the sunset over the hills."

a recessed part of a wall that is built further back from the rest of it

"The bed fits perfectly into a small alcove."

"The small dining alcove in the kitchen was just big enough for a tiny table and two chairs for breakfast."

a small, cozy corner created where two walls meet

"She loves reading in a quiet nook by the window."

"She curled up in the cozy reading nook by the window with a thick blanket and her favorite mystery novel."

the semi-circular or triangular space enclosed by the lintel and arch above a doorway, often decorated with sculptural reliefs or intricate designs

"The tympanum is detailed."

"The church tympanum shows religious scenes."

a spiral or scroll-like architectural ornament, typically found at the top of a column capital, staircase railing, or decorative molding

"The column has a volute."

"Ionic columns feature distinctive volutes."

the triangular or curved space between an arch and the surrounding vertical supports, typically filled with decorative elements or panels

"The spandrel has art."

"The spandrel above the arch has paintings."

a decorative element or motif consisting of four overlapping circles or lobes that form a symmetrical shape resembling a four-leaf clover

"The quatrefoil is pretty."

"Quatrefoil shapes appear in Gothic architecture."

the triangular upper portion of the entrance of a building, often seen in buildings with Classical architecture

"The temple has a pediment."

"The classical building has a decorated pediment."

the corner angle of a building, typically formed by masonry blocks or stones

"The stone quoin marks the corner."

"Stone quoins reinforce the building corners."

the horizontal, decorative element that rests on top of columns or pillars in architecture

"The entablature sits on columns."

"The entablature rests on the columns."

stone figures that resemble a hideous creature and that are attached to the top of some old buildings, particularly old churches, for carrying rain water off the roof

"The gargoyle drains the roof."

"The cathedral's rainwater spouts were carved into grotesque gargoyles demonic figures that served the practical purpose of directing water away from the stone walls."

an architectural feature that consists of a series of arched ribs or arches that intersect to form a structural framework supporting a vaulted ceiling

"The rib vault supports the ceiling."

"Gothic churches often feature rib vaults."

a room or gallery that is open in one or more sides, particularly one that is attached to a house and faces a garden on one side

"We stood in the loggia."

"The open loggia overlooked the garden."

a large hall with a roof supported by many columns

"It is a hypostyle hall."

"Ancient Egyptian temples have hypostyle halls."

a protruding structure that supports a building or wall and is made out of bricks or stones

"The buttress held it."

"The ancient cathedral's massive stone buttress provided essential structural support, preventing the tall walls from collapsing outwards."

a large area typically with glass walls or roof in the middle of a building such a shopping center

"The hotel has a big glass atrium."

"The hotel's central atrium had a glass ceiling that let natural sunlight brighten all the surrounding rooms throughout the day."

a floor situated between two other floors of a building, which is smaller compared to the two

"Our seats were on the mezzanine level of the theater."

"A mezzanine is an intermediate floor between the main levels of a building"

a small entrance hall or lobby located just inside the main entrance of a building, serving as a transitional space between the exterior and the interior

"Leave your wet coat in the vestibule"

"We waited in the vestibule for a few minutes before entering the main hall of the theater."

a hollow space in a wall, used for putting in decorative objects such a statue, or other decorative items

"Put it in the niche."

"A small statue of a saint was placed within the ornate stone niche carved into the chapel wall."

a stone located at the top center of an arch, keeping all the other stones together

"The keystone locks the arch."

"The arch would collapse without the keystone."

a flat, stone block that sits on top of a column, used to support the parts above it such as a roof

"The abacus supports the roof."

"The abacus is the top part of a capital."