In a series of posts, Alta Fronte will provide simple lessons in architectural designs and terms from antiquity to the present day. This post looks at architectural columns including their bases and capitals:
Columns can be round or square, on their own or together forming part of a bigger structure. Whatever form they take, and wherever they are situated they generally take the form of a base (the foundation structure which joins the shaft of the column to the floor), the column itself and the capital (the section joining the column to the ceiling/roof).
Columns are most often used as part of a structure, sometimes lined up in a row supporting a horizontal lintel (the beam over an opening). This type of structure is known as a colonnade. An example of a famous colonnade is the piazza of Saint Peter’s in the Vatican.
Columns can also line up together to support a series of arches, this is known as an arcade. An example of a famous arcade is the Great Mosque of Damascus. It is a common architectural form used in religious buildings. Both of these architectural forms can be seen in the photo above.
Pilaster
A pilaster is a flat column with a base and a capital, all of which is attached to a wall. Pilasters are cosmetic, giving the impression of columns without the structural function. Pilasters provide an aesthetic function, creating a sense of grandeur and symmetry and can also be used with arches. An example of pilasters can be seen in the picture below.
Monolithic vs. Drums
A column constructed from one singular piece of stone is known as ‘monolithic‘ or in French as en délit. Columns, though appearing to be made of one continuous piece of stone, can also be constructed in segments, these are known as drums. An example of monolithic columns can be seen in the photograph below, while an example of drums can be seen in the feature image at the top of this post.
Volute
Some capitals feature protruding knots in the upper corners, these are created to help the capital transition with the structure above, these are called volutes. Volutes are usually carved into aesthetic features such as shapes, grotesques or foliage like the leaf-like structres in the image example below.
More architecture posts will be published in due course under the aesthetics category. Is there a particular area of architecture that interests you or that you would like covered? Contact us or leave a comment below.