![A
A0 a standard international paper size of 841 mm
1189 mm (33 463
⁄4), whose measurements
are derived from its area (1 m2
) and the ratio of
the lengths of its sides (1:
ffiffiffi
2
p
); smaller derivative
sizes A1–A10 are half the area of the subsequent
size with the same ratio of side lengths (A1 is
841 mm 594 mm etc.); see B0, C0. !130, !Table 6
Aaron’s rod architectural ornament depicting a rod
with foliage, almonds and sometimes a serpent
twined around it; from biblical episodes in which
Aaron placed his staff before the tabernacle,
after which it bloomed, and before the Pharaoh,
at which it became a serpent; see also staff of
Asclepius, Mercury. !120
abaciscus Lat.; diminutive form of the word abacus;
a patterned tile or rectangular area in a mosaic.
abacus 1 Lat.; a flat squared slab at the very top of a
classical column, the upper part of a capital above
an echinus and below an entablature. !80, !81
see classical orders illustration. !78, !79
see classical capitals illustration. !81
see caryatid illustration. !76
see Romanesque and Gothic capitals illustration. !115
2 see abaciscus.
abatis see abattis. !104
abaton Gk; the sacred area in a classical Greek
temple, to which public entry was forbidden.
abattis a number of sharpened stakes embedded
into the ground in front of a fortification or castle
to inhibit oncoming attackers; also written as
abatis; see chevaux de frise, caltrap. !104
abattoir, slaughterhouse; a building in which
animals are slaughtered for the production of
meat and other products.
Abbasid architecture a classical phase in Islamic
architecture, the time of the caliph dynasty who
ruled Damascus and Baghdad from 750 to 1258
AD, characterized by lavish palaces and great
mosques.
see Abbasid spiral minaret illustration. !67
abbey 1 a community of monks overseen by an
abbot, or of nuns by an abbess; also the main
buildings of this community.
see Carolingian abbey illustration. !98
2 see abbey church. !98
abbey church, abbey; the church of an abbey.
see Carolingian abbey church illustration. !98
abbozzo in painting, the sketching out of a
composition in a single colour as a guide for a
final work of art.
abele see white poplar.
aberration see chromatic aberration.
Abies spp. see fir.
Abies alba, see silver fir.
Abies balsamea, see balsam fir, Canada balsam.
Abies concolor, see white fir.
Abies sibirica, see Siberian fir.
ablution ritual cleaning of the body prior to religious
activity; a room in a temple associated with this. !66
ablution fountain see wash fountain.
ablution trough see washing trough.
above ground see surface.
abraded finish see ground, honed, rubbed finish.
abrading the rubbing smooth or wearing down of a
surface with an abrasive.
abrasion the act of being rubbed or worn down.
abrasion resistance the resistance of a surface,
coating etc. to marking or scratching.
ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
abscissa in a system of coordinates, one of the two
coordinates as a distance from an axis; usually
the distance of a point from the Y-axis, measured
parallel to the X-axis. !127
absidiole see apsidiole. !95, !98
absinthe green a shade of greyish green named
after green absinthe liqueur, flavoured by the
wormwood plant, Artemisia absintium.
absinthe yellow a shade of greyish yellow named
after yellow absinthe liqueur; see also absinthe
green.
absolute humidity the moisture content of air
measured as the weight of water vapour per unit
volume of air; SI units are kg/m3
.
absolute zero the lowest attainable temperature,
equivalent to 0 C kelvin or 273.16 C.
absorber 1 in acoustics, any component, unit or
surface treatment for absorbing sound in a space.
2 see resonator.
absorbing glass see tinted solar control glass.
absorption 1 a physical phenomenon, the soaking up
of a liquid by a porous solid, a gas by a liquid, or
energy in the form of sound, heat or light by matter.
2 see sound absorption.
3 see attenuation.
absorption coefficient 1 in room acoustics, a
measure of the capacity of a material or construc-
tion to absorb sound of a given frequency incident
upon it.
2 see sound absorption coefficient.
absorption unit see metric sabin.
absorptivity 1 a material property, the ability of a
solid to absorb a liquid, radiation, energy etc.
2 thermal absorptivity.
3 see light absorptivity.
abstract art a branch of art which is non-
representational or freely represents reality in the
form of patterns and colours.
abutment 1 the meeting place, joint or lap of two
adjacent components, parts of construction etc.
2 the planar joint formed by two surfaces or edges
placed adjacent to or touching one another. !3
3 the meeting of the upper edge or verge of a
pitched roof and a balustrade, parapet or upper
wall surface; especially the vertical surface or
structure which rises from this.
4 the part of a loadbearing system or member from
which loads are supported.
5 walling or support on either side of the impost of
an arch to prevent it from splaying outwards. !22
6 see bridge abutment. !31, !64
7 see end abutment.
abutment flashing in roof construction, a vertical
sheetmetal flashing used with profiled sheet or
interlocking tile roofing at an abutment. !56, !57
abutting tenon joint, butt tenon joint; a timber
joint in which the grain ends of two tenons inserted
in a common mortise from opposite sides abut
each other. !5
abyss see fess point. !124
AC see alternating current.
acacia [Acacia spp.] a genus of bushes and hardwood
trees from warm climates.
Acacia melanoxylon, see Australian blackwood.
academic relating to higher education or an academy;
of art which follows the formal conventions of the era.
academy a place of higher education in the arts; a
scientific or cultural society or institution.
acanthus Lat.; carved and decorative ornament
found especially adorning classical Corinthian capi-
tals, based on stylized leaves of the Mediterranean
acanthus plant, Bear’s breech or brank-ursine](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-19-320.jpg)
![[Acanthus molla, Acanthus spinosa]; akanthos in
Greek. !81, !82, !121
Accadian period see Akkadian period.
accelerated curing see heat treatment.
accelerated set in concretework, an increase in the
rate of stiffening during the setting of concrete.
accelerating admixture 1 see set accelerating
admixture.
2 see strength accelerating admixture.
acceleration the progressive increase in velocity of
a moving body, in units of m/s2
.
acceleration lane see merging lane.
accelerator 1 see set accelerating admixture.
2 see strength accelerating admixture.
accent lighting interior lighting designed to illuminate
or accentuate features in a room, such as artwork,
architectural details and furnishings.
acceptance in project administration, the agreeing
by a client to a contractor’s tender bid thereby
creating a binding contract.
accepted risk, excepted risk; in project administra-
tion, known risks in construction such as uncertain
ground conditions etc., referred to in the building
contract, for which the client accepts liability.
acceptor a metal or extruded plastics product
attached at the edge of a wall opening, to which
a door or window frame can be easily attached.
access, 1 passage; internal or external circulation
space leading to a building, opening or technical
installation, or used as a route.
2 see entry.
3 see site access.
4 see vehicular access.
5 in computing, the means of getting to and
handling information, often involving the use of
codewords.
access balcony, walkway; a long approach balcony
or external corridor providing access to the front
doors of flats or other units of accommodation in
an apartment block.
see balcony-access flats in residential building
illustration. !61
access barrier see vehicular barrier.
access bridge see walkway.
access control any of a number of security systems
using locks, surveillance equipment and card
readers within buildings or restricted areas to
allow the circulation of authorized persons but
inhibit the passage of intruders.
access cover a covering hatch, plate or construction
attached over an access opening in a drainage pipe,
duct or vessel.
access door, access window, trapdoor; a remova-
ble panel in formwork which allows for internal
inspection, cleaning etc.
access floor, 1 cavity floor, raised floor; flooring
supported above a main floor structure to allow for
the passage of electric and computer cables, ducts
and other services beneath.
see access floor illustration. !44
2 raised access floor, see platform floor. !44
access gallery see access balcony.
see gallery-access flats in residential building
illustration. !61
access gully a drainage gully with a rodding eye for
cleaning.
accessibility 1 in town and traffic planning, a mea-
sure of how easily and by which mode of transport a
particular area can be reached.
2 the ability of a component or construction to be
easily accessed for maintenance, repair, replacement
etc.
access ladder 1 a ladder attached to the external
wall of a building to provide maintenance access to
the roof; also called a roof access ladder.
2 see roof ladder.
3 see chimney ladder. !54
4 loft ladder, see disappearing stair.
access order in town planning and land manage-
ment, an order issued by a local planning authority
to ensure legal public access to private land for
throughfare, recreation etc.
accessory any small components used to affix
or supplement a construction, or fixings and
trim supplied with a product, component or
system.
access pipe a drainage pipe with an opening for
cleaning.
access platform see gantry. !54, !61
access stair, service stair; a secondary stairway
providing access to plant or other installations.
access time, search time; in computing, the time
taken for a computer or search engine to find
required data.
access window see access door.
accidental air see entrapped air.
accidental colours see afterimage.
accidental point in perspective drawing, any
additional vanishing points not on the axes of the
main points.
accommodation road a road through private land
which another person or persons have the legal
right to use, usually as a route to their own land,
and often in return for land concessions.
accordion door a folding door with a number of
hinged vertical panels which fold together when
the door is open. !50
account 1 a written record showing financial
transactions as tables of figures.
2 an arrangement with a bank or other financial
establishment whereby money or assets are kept.
3 a personal arrangement with a supplier, shop or
other commercial facility for the payment of goods,
services etc.
accountancy, accounting, bookkeeping; the
upkeep of the financial records of a company or
organization.
accountants, bookkeepers; professionals employed
to look after the books and accounts of a company.
accounting see accountancy.
accounting period a set period after which
revenues and expenditures for a company are
calculated.
accoupled in classical architecture, a description of
columns or pilasters arranged in pairs, twinned or
joined together.
Accrington brick a hard, dark red brick made of
shale from East Lancashire in England, used for
engineering and industrial purposes.
accuracy an expression of the range and magnitude of
error in measurement, manufacture of products etc.
Acer spp. see maple.
Acer nigrum, see black maple, hard maple.
Acer pseudoplatanus, see sycamore.
Acer rubrum, see red maple, soft maple.
Acer saccharinum, see silver maple, soft maple.
Acer saccharum, see hard maple, sugar maple.
acetal see polyoxymethylene.
acetate a salt or ester of acetic acid, used for many
plastic household products, as cellulose acetate for
record discs and clear plastic sheet etc.; acetate
compounds included as separate entries are listed
below.
amyl acetate.
cellulose acetate, CA.
lead acetate.
polyacetate, see polyoxymethylene, POM.
polyvinyl acetate, PVA.
acetone a colourless, strong-smelling, volatile and
flammable liquid distilled from organic compounds
and used as a solvent.
acetylene black a form of the pigment carbon black
made by cracking acetylene gas under heat.
Achaean art, Achaian art; art predating that of the
Dorians, produced in Thessaly, ancient Greece, by
the Achaean peoples from 2000 to 1100 BC.
4 Accadian period](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-20-320.jpg)
![to which priests only were allowed access; the
Greek form of the word is aduton or adyton.
see adytum in classical peristyle temple illustra-
tion. !85
adz see adze.
adze, adz; an axe-like hand tool for the rough shaping
and smoothing of wood; it has a sharp curved steel
blade whose cutting edge is perpendicular to the
handle.
adze eye hammer a hammer whose head is fixed to
the shaft by means of a sleeve at the base of the head.
aedicula Latin form of aedicule. !112
aedicule, aedicula (Lat.); in classical architecture, a
niche, recess or pedimented structure, especially
one housing a statue, surrounded by columns,
pilasters or colonnettes. !112
Aegean art art from the bronze-age cultures of the
Aegean Sea coasts from 2600 to 1500 BC, variously
known as Minoan (Crete), Helladic (mainland) and
Cycladic (islands) art.
see Asian and Mediterranean columns and capitals
illustration. !69
aeolian deposit, wind deposit; any soil which has
been deposited by the action of the wind.
Aeolic capital in classical architecture, a forerunner
of the Ionic capital with a rectangular upper section
supported by volutes divided by palmette decora-
tion. !69
aerarium Lat.; in classical Roman architecture,
the public treasury of a community, originally the
treasury of the temple of Saturn.
aerated concrete, cellular concrete, porous
concrete; various types of lightweight concrete
for in-situ work and precast products with good
thermal insulation, produced by the introduction
of bubbles of gas into the mix, either by a foaming
agent, by adding foam, by mechanical foaming
or by adding a chemical which reacts with the
concrete to produce gas bubbles; see also gas con-
crete, foamed concrete.
aeration the introduction of air into a material such as
soil, water, concrete etc.; especially the introduction
of oxygen into raw sewage to reduce the quantity of
other dissolved gases.
aeration tank, oxidation tank; a tank in a waste
water treatment plant in which raw sewage is treated
by biological action initiated by the introduction of air.
aerator see tap aerator.
aerial, 1 antenna, (pl. antennae); a telecommuni-
cations receiver for airborne electromagnetic
transmissions.
2 see satellite link aerial.
aerial amplifier an electronic device for increasing
the strength of signals picked up by an antenna or
aerial.
aerial perspective, 1 a perspective drawing in
which the object or scene is viewed as from the
air; usually a panoramic view.
2 atmospheric projection; a method of rendering
a drawing to achieve the illusion of depth by
drawing objects in the background less distinctly.
aerial photograph a photograph of a site, building
or geographical feature taken from the air.
aerial ropeway a transportation system using ropes
supported between towers to convey goods.
aerial survey the photographing of areas of land
and coastline from the air for photogrammetrical
map-making.
aerial view a presentation drawing, graphic
visualization or photograph in which the subject
or scene is viewed from above.
aerodrome see airfield.
aerodynamics a science which deals with gases in
motion.
aerosol a suspension of fine particles of solid or
liquid in a gas, usually air.
aerosol glue see spray adhesive.
aerosol spraying the spraying of a paint, varnish, glue
or other liquid from a pressurized airtight container to
form an aerosol; used for applying even coatings.
aerostatics a science which deals with the
equilibrium and pressure of gases.
Aesculapian column see serpent column. !69
Aesculapius see staff of Asclepius. !120
Aesculus spp. see horse chestnut.
Aesculus hippocastanum, see European horse
chestnut.
aesthete 1 a follower of the Aesthetic Movement in
the 1800s.
2 any person who lives with a sense of artistic
sensibility.
aesthetic pertaining to the visual nature of an object
or work of art; visually and sensually pleasing, beau-
tiful.
aesthetic control in town planning, the control
of development with respect to its external
appearance, massing, materials etc.
Aestheticism a theory of art developed by
Immanuel Kant in the 1700s, based on the premise
that art can be judged only within the bounds of an
aesthetic philosophy.
Aesthetic Movement an artistic movement in
England from the late 1800s promoting the idea
of art for art’s sake.
aesthetics the philosophy of beauty in art; the study
of an object with regard to its visual and sensual
impact.
aetoma see aetos. !86
aetos, aetoma; Gk; in classical Greek architecture,
the tympanum of a pediment, usually ornamented
with figures. !86
afara see limba.
afforestation, forestation; in landscaping and
forestry, the planting of open land, mountainsides,
recreation areas and derelict industrial areas with
trees to form woodland or forest.
affronted a description of ornament or sculptured
figures depicted facing towards the front or
situated face to face; see also addorsed.
A-frame a simple triangulated framework of two
leaning beams meeting at a ridge, connected by a
stiffening collar.
African cherry see makore.
African ebony [Diospyros crassiflora, Diospyros
piscatoria] a tropical African hardwood with
especially heavy, dark timber.
African mahogany, khaya; [Khaya ivorensis, Khaya
spp.] a group of West African hardwoods with
relatively strong and durable orange-brown
timber; used for interior joinery, furniture and
boat-building.
africanum see opus africanum. !83
African walnut, alona, Congo wood; [Lovoa
trichilioides, Lovoa klaineana] a West African
hardwood with plain golden brown timber; used
for furniture, panelling and veneers.
African whitewood see obeche.
afrormosia, kokrodua; [Pericopsis elata] a West
African hardwood with rich yellow-brown timber
used for internal and external joinery, furniture
and as a substitute for teak.
afterimage, accidental colours; in colour
physiology, an image which appears in comple-
mentary colours on a neutral or white background
when the gaze is removed from a strong chromatic
image.
afzelia, doussie; [Afzelia spp.] a group of African
hardwoods with durable reddish brown timber;
used for interior and external joinery and cladding.
against the grain in the milling of timber, the
direction of cutting in which the grain of
the piece is sloping upwards and into the milling
edge.
agalma Gk; a work of art, votive sculpture etc.
dedicated to a deity in a classical Greek temple.
!84, !86
8 adz](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-24-320.jpg)
![2 a longitudinal corridor flanking the nave of a
church, basilica etc., bounded by an arcade or row
of columns.
see Roman basilica illustration. !93
see Early Christian church illustration. !95
see Byzantine domical church illustration. !96
see Carolingian abbey church illustration. !98
see Romanesque church illustration. !99
see Gothic cathedral illustration. !100
see Scandinavian hall church illustration. !102
3 an open corridor running down the side of certain
traditional timber-framed buildings, bounded by
main posts and side walls.
aisled building a traditional timber-framed
building type with rows of intermediate posts to
support roof construction, thus forming side aisles
in plan.
aisle post, arcade post; in traditional timber-
framed building, one of a number of intermediate
posts supporting a roof and forming an interior
aisle or arcade.
akanthos Greek form of acanthus. !81, !82, !121
akheiropoeitos Greek form of acheiropoeitos.
Akkadian period, Accadian period; a naturalistic
period in Mesopotamian art from the Akkadian age,
2470–2285 BC.
akropodion Greek form of acropodium.
akropolis Greek form of acropolis. !94
akroterion Greek form of acroterion. !78
ala 1 Lat., pl. alae; a small opening, alcove or room off
the atrium in a Roman dwelling. !88
2 one of the side extensions of the rear wall of the
cella of an Etruscan temple. !85
3 a side aisle in a basilica.
alabaster 1 a compact, fine-grained form of pure
gypsum (calcium sulphate) with similar rocks such
as calcareous sinter or onyx marble; easily worked,
and used for interior decoration and sculptured
ornament.
2 marble white, orange grey; a shade of light
orange grey which takes its name from the above
and some pale-coloured forms of marble.
alabastron an ancient Greek round-bottomed
ceramic jug for containing ointment, perfume and
oil; especially one made from alabaster.
alae plural form of ala. !85
alarm 1 any security or safety device which produces
a signal in the form of a noise or light once
triggered by a detector.
2 see fire alarm.
alarm bell a metal percussive device which
produces a noise as an alarm sound.
alarm glass laminated glass whose interlayer is
inlaid with fine electric wires connected to a circuit,
which activate an alarm if broken.
alarm system 1 a system of warning bells, lights
and other means which react to the presence of
hazards in buildings such as fire, toxic gases and
unauthorized entrants.
2 see intruder alarm system.
alarm thermometer a thermometer which sounds
an alarm when a certain temperature has been
reached.
alatorium Lat.; a wall-walk behind the battlements
of a Roman fortification to enable defending
soldiers to protect their position from above; an
alure or parapet walk.
albarium opus Lat.; see opus albarium. !83
albedo see reflectance.
album Lat.; a tablet where announcements and
messages were left, set in a public place in a
Roman town.
albumen glue glue manufactured from egg
protein.
albumen print a type of early photographic print,
introduced in 1850, produced on paper coated with
albumen (egg-white) and salt with silver nitrate.
alburnum see sapwood. !1
alcazar a Spanish fortified dwelling or palace, in
particular a Moorish palace in an urban setting,
inhabited by the regional military governor.
alcove 1 any recess formed in the thickness of, or
bounded by, the wall of a room.
2 a similar recess to contain a bed.
3 see ala. !88
alder [Alnus spp.] a group of hardwoods with light,
soft, fine-textured, non-durable, pinkish timber.
Alnus glutinosa, see common alder.
Alnus incana, see grey alder.
Alnus rubra, see red alder.
aleatorium Lat.; a room for playing dice games in a
classical Roman building.
aleipterion Gk; see alipterion. !91
Aleurites spp. see tung oil.
Alexandrian blue see Egyptian blue.
alexandrinum see opus alexandrinum.
algebra a mathematical system of calculation and
investigation in which numbers are substituted by
symbols.
algorithm a set of rules or procedures for solving
calculations, the basis of a computer program.
aliasing in computer graphics, imperfections in
lower resolution graphics which make diagonal
lines appear stepped.
alidade, diopter; a sighting device for a surveying
level.
alien house a monastic settlement founded in
England in the Middle Ages by monks from abroad,
usually France.
alignment 1 the compositional lining up of a series
of building masses or adjacent constructional
surfaces, points and patterns.
2 a prehistoric straight row of standing stones,
laid out for ceremonial, astronomical or symbolic
purposes.
alipterion, unctuarium (Lat.); a room in a Roman
bath house in which bathers were anointed with
oils; alternative spelling is aleipterion (Gk). !91
alizarin 1 a red dye used by the ancients and
produced by grinding the root of the common
madder plant, [Rubia tinctorum]; after 1868 it has
been manufactured artificially from anthraquinone.
2 alizarin colour; a range of dyestuffs manufactured
in this way, with the addition of metal oxides to impart
different shades of colour.
alizarin blue a range of artificial blue dyes used in
printing inks; see alizarin.
alizarin brown, madder brown, brown madder;
a brown form of the pigment alizarin crimson.
alizarin colour see alizarin.
alizarin crimson, alizarin lake, alizarin red, alizarin
scarlet; an organic synthetic red pigment obtained
from anthracene, a coal tar derivative, introduced in
1868 and used in water-based and oil paints.
alizarin lake see alizarin crimson.
alizarin red see alizarin crimson.
alizarin scarlet see alizarin crimson.
alizarin violet, violet madder lake; a clear
transparent purple pigment manufactured from
purpurin.
alizarin yellow a synthetic transparent dull yellow
pigment; see alizarin.
alkali a water-soluble base or salt, especially
hydroxide, which reacts with acids.
alkali-aggregate reaction, concrete cancer; an
undesirable chemical reaction in concrete between
alkalis contained in the Portland cement binder and
some aggregates, causing internal swelling, rupture
and scaling of the surface.
alkali feldspar a mineral, potassium feldspar or
sodium-enriched plagioclase rock.
alkali metal one of a group of soft reactive metals
from group Ia of the periodic table (lithium, sodium,
potassium etc.) which form soluble hydroxides.
alkaline having the characteristics of an alkali;
containing an alkali.
aisled building 11](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-27-320.jpg)
![reverence of the sun god; named after the Nile city
established as the kingdom’s capital.
amber, succinite; the fossilized resin from pine
trees, a yellowish brown organic mineral; used as
a gemstone, for decoration and as a raw material in
some paints.
amber yellow a shade of greyish yellow which takes
its name from the fossilized resin, amber.
ambient sound see background noise.
ambitus Lat.; in classical architecture, a niche in
a tomb for a body or urn, or the area round the
tomb.
ambo, 1 ambones (Lat.); a raised stone pulpit or
dais in an Early Christian or Byzantine church, often
surmounted by an altar at either side. !95
2 see epistle ambo. !95
3 see gospel ambo. !95
ambones Latin form of ambo.
ambrosia beetle [Scotylidae, Platypodidae] a
number of species of insect which cause damage
to unseasoned hardwood and softwood by
burrowing.
ambrotype a pioneering photographic process
patented in 1854, which utilized a bleached glass
negative laid against a black background.
ambry see aumbry.
ambulatio Lat.; an open area or courtyard in a
Roman bath house for taking exercise. !91
ambulatorium Latin form of ambulatory.
ambulatory 1 a place for walking in a cathedral or
abbey church, a cloister, apse aisle etc.
2 a semicircular extension of side aisles of a church
to form a walk behind the high altar and round the
apse; any similar processional way in a church.
see Late Antique church illustration. !95
see Romanesque church illustration. !99
see Gothic cathedral illustration. !100
see altar illustration. !116
Amen see Amun. !74
amendment see revision.
amendment arrow see arrowhead. !130
amendment block see revision panel. !130
amendment cloud see revision cloud. !130
amenity grassland in town planning, an extensive
area of grass, parkland etc. with functional or
aesthetic value, designated for recreational use.
American ash [Fraxinus spp.] a common name for
the green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and the
white ash, Fraxinus americana, North American
hardwoods with tough and flexible grey-brown
timber used for furniture, interiors and tool handles.
American axe see felling axe.
American beech [Fagus grandifolia] a North
American hardwood with whitish pink timber;
used for interiors and furniture.
American bond see English garden-wall bond. !19
American caisson see box caisson.
American cherry, black cherry (Am.); [Prunus
serotina] a North American hardwood with reddish
brown timber; used for furniture.
American elm [Ulmus americana] a North American
hardwood with strong, tough and flexible pale
reddish brown timber; used for interior joinery,
furniture and coffins.
American lime see basswood.
American mahogany see mahogany.
American plane, buttonwood, sycamore;
[Platanus occidentalis] a North American hardwood
with reddish brown timber, used for interiors and
furniture.
American Standard Code for Information
Interchange see ASCII.
American walnut, black walnut; [Juglans nigra] a
North American hardwood with rich dark brown
timber, valued for its decorative figure; used for
furniture, panelling and veneers.
American white oak [Quercus alba] one of a
number of similar species of North American
hardwood used for flooring and other hardwearing
applications.
American whitewood see tulipwood.
American with Flemish bond see Flemish
stretcher bond. !18
americium a radioactive chemical element, Am.
amethyst 1 a form of purple or violet crystalline
quartz, used mainly as gemstones and for
decorative ornament.
2 amethyst violet; a shade of violet named after
the above.
amethyst violet see amethyst.
aminobenzene see aniline.
amino-plastic a group of thermosetting resins
formed by copolymerizing urea or melamine with
an aldehyde, used for pressings, adhesives, coat-
ings and laminates.
ammeter an electrical instrument for measuring the
flow of current in an electrical circuit.
ammonia a colourless, water-soluble, gaseous,
chemical compound, NH3, which is strongly
alkaline in solution and is corrosive to alloys of
copper; used as a refrigerant and as a cleaning
agent.
ammonium chloride, sal ammoniac; a white,
crystalline, water-soluble, chemical compound,
NH4Cl, used in soldering flux, dry cells and in iron
cement.
ammonium nitrate a white, crystalline, water-
soluble, chemical compound, NH4NO3, used in
explosives, fertilizers and freezing mixtures.
ammonium phosphate a chemical compound,
N2H9PO4, used as a fire retardant and in fertilizers.
Amon see Amun. !74
amoretto see cupid. !122
amorino see cupid. !122
amorphous referring to a material whose molecules
and atoms do not form a crystalline structure, or
one with no determinate shape or structure.
amortization the repayment of a debt in regular
instalments.
amount a value defining how much or how many of
a given substance or product there is.
amp see ampere.
ampere, amp; abb. A; SI unit of electrical current
equal to a flow of one coulomb per second.
amphibole a black, dark green or brown rock-forming
mineral with a double chain silicate structure, which
increases the strength and toughness of the rocks in
which it is found.
amphibolite a durable grey-green metamorphic
rock formed from gabbro or basalt.
amphiprostyle in classical architecture, referring to
a temple with rows of columns and a portico at
each end but not along the sides; amphiprostylos in
Greek. !84
amphiprostyle temple see above. !84
amphitheater see amphitheatre.
amphitheatre, 1 amphitheater (Am.); a classical
arena for gladiatorial contests and spectacles
consisting of an oval or round space surrounded
by tiered seating for spectators; amphitheatron in
Greek. !90
see Roman amphitheatre illustration. !90
2 any curved or tiered structure, such as a natural
hollow in the landscape used as theatre seating, a
large housing mass etc.
amplifier see aerial amplifier.
amplitude the depth of a wave, measured from its
midpoint to its lowest point.
ampulla pl. ampullae; a small clay storage vessel or
vase for oils and perfumes; in the Catholic church, a
vessel containing oil used for religious rituals; also a
similar ornamented orb used in regal coronations
or a vessel used by Christian pilgrims etc. to contain
ceremonial lamp-oil. !95
Amsterdam, School of a movement in Dutch
architecture from the 1920s and 1930s
14 amber](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-30-320.jpg)
![anhydrite, 1 anhydrous calcium sulphate;
natural mineral calcium sulphate, CaSO4; used as
a form of plaster and often produced by burning
gypsum at high temperatures.
2 see synthetic anhydrite.
anhydrous calcium sulphate see anhydrite.
anhydrous lime see quicklime.
aniline, aminobenzene; a colourless oily liquid,
originally produced by the distillation of the indigo
plant [Indigofera anil, Indigofera suffruticosa,
Indigofera tinctoria], now manufactured from
nitrobenzene and used as a base in the production
of dyes, drugs, plastics and rubber products.
aniline colour a group of synthetic organic
pigments, distilled from coal tar and in use prior
to the introduction of more permanent pigments.
animal capital see protome capital. !115
see bull capital. !69
see eagle capital.
see lion capital. !69
animal column, beast column; a decorative
Romanesque stone column-type richly sculpted
with intertwined animal figures. !114
animal fibre animal hair traditionally used as a
building material by adding to a binder as
reinforcement for plasters and mortars, or by
pressing into slabs as insulation.
animal-fibre reinforced referring to composites of
animal hair in a binder, traditionally used for cast
and in-situ plasterwork, insulation, building boards
and panels.
animal glue 1 glue made from collagen, a protein
released by boiling the bones, hides and muscles of
animals.
2 see bone glue.
3 see hide glue.
animal interlace, lacertine; any ornament which
consists of stylized animal motifs.
see decorative motifs illustrations. !122
see Christian symbols illustrations. !119
animal ornamentation any ornamentation
which features animals as decorative or symbolic
motifs.
see column styles in European architecture illustra-
tion. !114
see Romanesque and Gothic capitals illustration. !115
see decorative motifs illustrations. !122
see Christian symbols illustrations. !119
animation 1 the running of a series of still images
in quick succession to achieve the illusion of
movement.
2 see computer animation.
anion, negative ion; a negatively charged chemical
ion, one attracted to an anode.
anionic bitumen emulsion a dispersion of
bitumen in water, with an emulsifying additive
which coats the particles of bitumen with a
negative ion, causing them to repel one another
and to remain as separate droplets.
anisotropic referring to a material, object or
construction which does not display the same
properties in all directions; see also isotropic.
ankh, ansated cross, crux ansata (Lat.), Egyptian
cross; a cross-like symbol whose upper limb is a
loop, the symbol of life in ancient Egypt; also
sometimes called the cross of Horus, handlebar
cross, Coptic cross, key of life or key to the Nile.
!74, !117
annealed glass ordinary untoughened glass that
has been heated in an oven then cooled slowly to
relieve internal stresses that would otherwise arise;
cf. toughened glass. !53
annealed wire see binding wire.
annealing a heat treatment to soften steel and
relieve internal stresses caused by work hardening
or welding; the temperature is raised by heating
right through to a certain level and then lowered
slowly and evenly.
annex see annexe.
annexe, annex; a supplementary or subsidiary
building constructed as an addition to a main
building, but not necessarily attached to it
physically.
annosus root rot, butt rot; [Fomes annosus,
Heterobasidion annosum] a fungus which decays
the roots of living trees of all ages, especially
conifers, spreading into the lower part of the
trunk and causing death of the tree.
annotation 1 written text or references which
provide supplementary clarification about drawn
objects in design drawings and documentation.
2 see lettering.
annual in landscaping, any non-woody, shallow-rooted
plant grown from seed and which flowers, seeds and
dies the same year.
annual report a document required by law to be
produced on a yearly basis by the directors of a
company for its shareholders to show the financial
state of the company.
annual ring, growth ring; one of the ringed
markings in the cross-section of a tree trunk,
laid down annually as a new layer of timber is
formed, appearing as a grain figure in converted
timber. !1
annuity, instalment; a periodic payment made at
regular intervals towards a loan, pension fund or
other such financial agreement.
annuity system a method of repayment of a loan in
instalments such that the size of instalment remains
the same regardless of the proportion of interest.
annular in the shape of a ring or closed circle.
annular bit see hole saw. !42
annular nail, 1 improved nail, jagged-shank nail,
ring-shanked nail; a nail, usually 19 mm–75 mm in
length, with a series of ringed protrusions around its
shaft to increase its fixing strength when driven into
timber. !35
2 see plasterboard nail.
annular vault a barrel vault in the form of a ring or a
hollow doughnut halved horizontally.
annulated column a Romanesque column type with
a number of rings or annulets carved at intervals
around its shaft; also called a banded or ringed
column. !114
annulet, annulus (Lat.), shaft ring; a small
semicircular or angular moulding carved round
the shaft of a Doric column beneath the capital. !81
annuletted cross see cross annuletty. !118
annulus Lat.; see annulet. !81
annunciator see indicator panel.
Anobiidae see furniture beetle.
Anobium punctatum see common furniture
beetle.
anode in electrochemical processes, a positive
electrode or terminal to which anions or negatively
charged ions are attracted.
anodic dip painting see electro-dip painting.
anodic oxide coating 1 a layer of aluminium oxide
laid down as a protective coating during anodizing.
2 see anodizing.
anodization see anodizing.
anodized electrochemically coated with aluminium
oxide.
anodizing, anodic oxide coating, anodization;
the electrochemical application of a layer of
coloured aluminium oxide as a corrosion-resistant
and hardwearing protective surface coating for
aluminium products and components.
anorthosite a variety of dark gabbro made up of
spectral plagioclase or labradorite; see also Spectrolite.
Anpu see Anubis. !74
ansated cross see ankh. !117
anse de panier see three-centred arch. !24
answering machine, answerphone; an electronic
apparatus which receives and stores telephone
messages.
anhydrite 17](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-33-320.jpg)
![anti-thrust action a latch mechanism in a
mechanical lock whose latch bolt cannot be
retracted manually.
anti-vacuum valve, vacuum breaker; a valve in a
system of pipework which can be opened to admit
air as compensation for loss of pressure.
anti-vandal glass a class of special laminated
glasses which are relatively resistant to vandalism.
!53
anti-vibration cork a resilient cork product used as
a damper under heavy vibrating plant etc.
Antrodia serialis see white spongy rot.
Antwerp blue, Haarlem blue; a pale blue pigment,
Prussian blue reduced with 75% inert pigment,
usually alumina hydrate.
Anubis in Egyptian mythology, the jackal-headed
god of embalming, who guided the deceased
through the court of Osiris to the Underworld;
‘Anpu’ in Egyptian, ‘Anubis’ in Greek. !74
anvil a heavy cast-iron bench on which a blacksmith
or forge-worker hammers hot metals.
apadana in ancient Persian architecture, a columned
hall surrounded by colonnades, used as an
administrational and congregational space.
see apadana column illustration. !114
apartment see flat; types included as separate
entries are listed below. !61
see types of residential building illustration. !61
bedsit, one-room flat.
corner apartment. !61
council flat.
maisonette, duplex apartment.
open-ended unit, through apartment. !61
two-roomed flat.
apartment block, block of flats, residential
block; a multistorey building containing a number
of separate apartments served by one or a number
of stairs. !61
apartment building see apartment block. !61
apartment formwork, room formwork, tunnel
formwork; proprietary formwork used for casting
two concrete side walls and a horizontal slab
spanning between them in one operation.
apartment house, mansion block; a residential
building in a well-to-do urban area, containing a
number of apartments on different levels, all
accessed by the same entry and stair.
apatite a calcium phosphate mineral used as
gemstones and as a raw material in the production
of fertilizer.
Apennine culture the bronze-age culture of the
Italian peninsula from c.1500 BC.
apex the highest point of a geometrical form such as
a triangle or cone, or of a pitched or ridge roof.
apex stone see saddle stone.
apodyterion Gk; a dressing room in a classical Greek
gymnasium or bath house. !91
apodyterium, pl. apodyteria; Lat.; a dressing room
in a Roman bath house. !91
apophyge, apothesis; Gk; a slight curvature of the
top of the shaft of a classical column where it meets
the capital, and bottom where it meets the base. !80
apophysis see apophyge. !80
apostilb abb. asb; a unit of measurement of the
luminance or brightness of a surface, equal to
1 lumen/m2
of uniform radiation; see also lux.
apotheca Lat.; a store room on an upper floor of a
Roman dwelling, usually for the keeping of wine.
apothecary a pharmaceutical chemist.
apothesis see apophyge. !80
apotropaic referring to an image, decoration,
succession of spaces or sculptured ornament used
in a building to prevent the influence of evil spirits;
see next entry.
apotrope a symbolic statue, image or construction
intended to provide protection against evil spirits.
!75
apparatus see equipment.
appeal see planning appeal.
appearance see external appearance.
apple [Malus spp.] a genus of European hardwoods
with fine-textured timber valued for its decorative
grain; used for veneers and furniture.
apple green a shade of green which takes its name
from the colour of the unripe fruit of the apple tree
(Malus spp.).
appliance any mechanical device such as a shower,
heater, fan etc. used for a specific task in a building
or technical installation.
appliance flexible connection, flexible rubber
hose; in gas installations, a length of resilient
rubber hose for connecting the outlet of a gas
pipe or riser to an appliance.
appliance governor in gas installations, a device
which regulates the pressure and flow of gas to a
particular appliance.
application 1 in computing, a series of interrelated
software routines designed to perform a specific
function.
2 a formal written request for an action to be
undertaken, to order official services or permits, or
for employment; see below.
planning application.
interim application.
application software in computing, software used
for a specific useful function such as word
processing or CAD.
applied art any art which is both functional and
satisfies an aesthetic need (industrial design,
furniture, architecture, graphics etc.).
applied column see engaged column. !13
applied sash glazing see secondary glazing.
appliqué ornamentation for fabrics and leatherwork
with surface-applied rather than embroidered or
embossed motifs.
apprentice a trainee who works under a tradesman
or craftsman, filling out his training with courses at
a technical college.
appropriation, allocation; in economics, a sum of
money set aside within a budget for a particular
purpose.
approval 1 the acceptance of a design or proposal
by a client or local authority; generally an
announcement to the effect that certain criteria
have been satisfied.
2 see neighbours’ consent.
Approved Document one of a number of
documents approved by the Secretary of State in
Britain, in which guidance and instructions for
detailed design regarding structure, fire spread,
site preparation, drainage, sound control, energy
conservation etc., are given according to the
Building Regulations; although they are not
required to be followed by the letter, the relevant
building regulation is deemed to be satisfied if
they are.
approved school see community home.
approximation a quantity or estimate given as a
close or rounded value, but not an exact one.
apricot, apricot yellow; a shade of yellow which
takes its name from the colour of the ripened fruit
of the apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca).
apricot yellow see apricot.
apron 1 see window apron.
2 see drop apron.
3 that part of a theatre stage in front of the curtain.
4 ramp; a strip of hard ground at an airport where
an aeroplane is parked, refuelled or loaded with
passengers and baggage.
5 see hearth apron. !56
apron eaves piece in sheet roofing, a T-shaped
member used to support an eaves and provide a
drip.
apron flashing a roofing flashing laid at the
junction of the upper end of a pitched or flat
roof and abutting wall or parapet; it is tucked
anti-thrust action 19](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-35-320.jpg)
![architecture 1 the art and science of producing
built form, the product and study of this.
2 in computing, the specification of the contents
and functioning of a particular computer system or
network.
architrave 1 a strip or moulding used around a door
frame to cover the joint between the door and the
surrounding construction.
2 epistyle; in classical architecture, the lower
horizontal band of an entablature, supported by
columns.
see architrave in classical orders illustrations.
!78, !79, !80
3 a beam dividing aisles in a basilica.
archive see tablinum. !88
archivolt arcus volutus (Lat.); a decorated band
above or on the soffit of the intrados in an arch.
arch truss see trussed arch. !33
archway an arched construction, often an open door
or gateway, with a path, corridor or throughfare
passing through it.
arch window a window whose upper edge is in the
form of an arch. !111
arcology a term coined by the Italian architect Paolo
Soleri to define an ecological architecture of future
urban settlements involving minimal use of land
and natural resources.
arcosolium a niche, arched recess or sepulchral cell
housing a tomb in an Early Christian church or late
Roman catacomb.
arc pattern a paving pattern of small stones or
cobbles laid in a series of parallel rows. !15
arcuated of a construction or pattern which features
arches as a main structural device or motif, or is
bowed in shape.
arcuated head see arched head. !111
arcuated lintel a beam over an opening, whose
underside is concave to form an arch; often used
as a decorative motif, see Syrian arch. !24
arcus Lat.; a classical Roman arch, especially a
triumphal arch.
arcus triumphalis see triumphal arch. !93
arcus volutus Lat.; see archivolt.
arc welding a method of fusion welding in which
the metals to be joined are melted together by an
electric arc.
ardhamandapa ‘half mandapa’; the portico or
entrance porch of a Hindu temple.
are abb. a; a unit of area equal to 10 m 10 m= 100 m2
.
area 1 a contained or defined part of the earth’s or
some other surface, often with a specific function,
characteristic or ownership; a district, sector or zone.
2 see surface area.
3 see basement area.
area lighting, floodlighting; the illumination
of large external areas such as sports venues,
industrial sites, airports, storage depots etc.
area of archaeological interest see prehistoric
site.
area of historical interest see historic site.
area of outstanding natural beauty an area of
countryside with fine landscapes etc. protected by
legislation to control development because of its
national value.
arena 1 the main central space of a Roman
amphitheatre or circus, or of a bullring, often
sanded.
see arena in amphitheatre illustration. !90
2 a modern sports or entertainment venue, often
along the lines of the above, a stadium.
3 see stadium.
arenaceous, sandy; pertaining to types of soil, rock
or landscape composed of or containing a large
proportion of sand.
arenaceous rock, arenite; referring to sandstone
or other sedimentary rock composed from sandy
grains.
arenite see arenaceous rock.
areostyle see araeostyle. !77
argentite, silver glance; a lead grey to black
metallic mineral, naturally occurring silver
sulphide, AgS, an important ore of silver.
argillaceous rock, claystone; rock which contains
an abundance of clay materials.
argon a gaseous chemical element, Ar, used in
fluorescent and incandescent lamps.
arithmetic the science of numbers and calculation
thereby.
arithmetic mean in statistics and calculation, an
average value given by the sum of a group of
numbers divided by the amount in the group.
arkose a form of reddish sandstone with a high
content of feldspar.
arma Lat.; the front portion of a Roman contubernium,
a military tent or barrack, where personal equipment
and arms were stored.
armamentarium Lat.; a Roman weapons store,
armoury or arsenal for hand weapons used by
gladiators in an amphitheatre, or legionaries in a
fortified encampment.
armarium Lat.; a cupboard or niche recessed into
a church wall beside an altar, containing
vessels and utensils relating to the liturgy; an
aumbry.
armature in sculpting, a shaped framework used to
support plaster, clay etc. in the building up of
models.
armorial porcelain a Chinese porcelain artifact
decorated with a European heraldic emblem or
coat of arms.
armour see pitching.
armouring metal covering for an electric cable to
afford protection against external forces, abrasion
etc.
armour-plated glass see bullet-resistant laminated
glass. !53
armoury a room or space for the storage of
weaponry and armour in a castle or barracks.
see armamentarium.
Arnaudon’s green an obsolete variety of the
pigment chromium oxide green.
aromatic referring to a chemical compound whose
molecule has a ringed structure, such as benzene.
aromatic cedar [Juniperus virginiana], see eastern
red cedar.
arrangement drawing see general arrangement
drawing.
arras a rich patterned textile, often used as a
tapestry, developed in the French town of Arras.
arrester bed in traffic planning, a strip of soft
material beside a carriageway, usually on a downhill
slope, designed to slow down vehicles which have
veered off the carriageway.
arricciato see arriccio.
arriccio, arricciato; in fresco painting, the coarse
middle of three coats of plasterwork, between the
trullisatio and intonaco, on which the design is
sketched out.
arris 1 a corner or meeting of two planar sides of an
object such as a piece of timber, masonry unit etc.
see arris in conversion of timber illustration. !2
see arris in brickwork illustration. !21
2 eased arris, see pencil round. !14
arris fillet see angle fillet. !49
arris gutter in roof construction, a V-shaped gutter,
often constructed as a raised strip of roofing pro-
truding directly from the roof plane.
arris knot a knot in seasoned timber which appears
on the longitudinal corner of a sawn plank. !1
arrissed edge see pencil round. !14
arrow 1 see arrow-headed bastion. !104
2 see arrowhead.
3 egg and arrow, see egg and dart. !82
4 arrow of Jupiter, arrow of Zeus, see thunderbolt.
!120
arrow cross see cross barbée. !117
22 architecture](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-38-320.jpg)
![asbestos removal, asbestos work; the specialist
work involving the dismantling of hazardous
asbestos construction and its transport, safely
packed, to a place of disposal.
asbestos work see asbestos removal.
Ascension in religious art and ornamentation, a
representation of the soul and body of Christ
ascending to heaven forty days after the Resurrection.
ASCII in computing, a standard representation of
letters, numbers, symbols and punctuation in binary
code; an acronym for American Standard Code for
Information Interchange.
Asclepian column see serpent column. !69
Asclepius see staff of Asclepius. !120
Asian architecture see Asian temples illustration.
!68
see Asian and Mediterranean columns and capitals
illustration. !69
Asiatic base, Ephesian base; a classical Ionic column
base which evolved in Asia Minor, consisting of a
drum with scotia mouldings surmounted by a reeded
torus moulding. !69, !81
ash 1 [Fraxinus spp.] a pale hardwood valued for its
toughness and flexibility; see European ash, American
ash; see Fraxinus spp. for full list of species of ash
included in this work.
2 a deposit or residue that remains after the
combustion of organic material.
3 see ash grey.
ash blonde a shade of grey used for hair colour:
blonde with a hint of grey.
ashcan see refuse bin.
ash grey, ash, cendre; a shade of grey which takes
its name from the colour of slightly yellow ashes.
ashlar, 1 ashlar masonry; masonry blocks or facing
stone which has been dimensioned, squarely
dressed and laid in bonded courses with narrow
joints. !12
2 a single block of squared and dressed stone used
in masonry. !12
see coursed ashlar. !11
see dimension stone. !12
see dry ashlar walling.
see natural stone block. !12
see range work.
see rusticated ashlar, rustic ashlar. !12
see uncoursed ashlar, random ashlar. !11
ashlar facing stone facing for rough or rubble
masonry or concrete which consists of thin
dimensioned and dressed stones; used to
provide a fine finish at a lower cost than ashlar
masonry.
ashlaring, ashlering; in traditional timber pitched
roof construction, short vertical timber members
for concealing the internal triangular gap between
external joists, wall plate and rafters and to brace
the eaves, often lined with board or infilled with
blockwork.
ashlar masonry see ashlar. !12
ashlar post in traditional timber roof construction, a
short post running from a wall plate to a principal
rafter as part of ashlaring. !33
ashlering see ashlaring.
ash pan a vessel or pit inside a fireplace or
solid-fuel appliance, located beneath the grate to
collect ash and other debris from burnt material.
!56
ash pan door a hatch in the front of a fireplace or
solid-fuel appliance from which the ash can be
removed. !56
aspen [Populus tremula, Populus tremuloides]
hardwoods from Europe and North America
respectively with soft, porous, straight-grained,
pale-coloured timber; used as boards for cladding
and for plywood and matches.
asphalt a mixture of bitumen and an aggregate such
as sand used as a hardwearing surface in road
construction and external paved areas.
asphaltic concrete a mixture of asphalt and
concrete used in road production to provide a
strong, stiff, structural surface.
asphalt oil see road oil.
asphalt roofing roofing of molten asphalt laid in
successive layers.
asphalt shingles see strip slates. !49
asphalt surfacing see asphalt topping.
asphalt topping, asphalt surfacing; asphalt laid
as a final durable and flexible surface for roads,
pavements etc.
asphaltum a mixture of asphalt and turpentine used
as a blackish-brown colouring agent.
assembly 1 the putting together of prefabricated
parts of a component, construction or installation
on site.
2 a range of components which functions together
to form a whole, as in a doorset.
see automatic-closing fire assembly.
door assembly, see doorset.
see fire assembly.
see window assembly.
assembly drawing a detailed drawing which
shows how a component, joint or construction is
assembled or put together on site; a construction
drawing.
assembly hall 1 a large main congregational hall in
a building, especially an establishment such as a
school.
2 see lesche. !92
assembly room, 1 meeting room, conference
room, committee room; a large room with
associated facilities used for official meetings.
2 a building for social or societal functions.
asser Lat., pl. asseres; a common rafter in Roman
timber roof construction. !47
asseres Lat.; plural form of asser.
assessor, judge; a person who has been selected to
judge an architectural or town planning competition
and whose decision on the submitted designs is
regarded as final.
assets any property or items of value owned by a
person or company.
assignment model in traffic planning, a
transportation model which determines the most
likely route taken in travelling from a particular
place to a chosen destination.
assistant one who lends aid, gives advice and
generally helps out in various tasks, especially in a
design office.
assisted area in town planning, a region, which may
be deprived, suffering local recession or financial
hardship, designated by an authority for receipt of
aid to stimulate development and stabilization.
association of architects, institute of architects;
a professional body to further the interests and
rights of its architect members; see also AIA, RIBA,
UIA.
as specified referring to stipulations in regulations,
standards, designs, contract documents etc.
Assumption in religious art and ornamentation, a
representation of the Virgin’s soul and body being
taken up to heaven three days after her death.
Assyrian architecture the Middle Eastern
architecture of the organized society in the area
now known as Iraq, at its height around 800 BC,
characterized by single-storey dwellings in mud
brick and expansive palaces and temples.
see Assyrian ziggurat illustration. !67
see Asian and Mediterranean columns and capitals
illustration. !69
Assyrian period an era from c.1200 to 625 BC
during the Babylonian period in Mesopotamian art.
astatine a non-metallic, radioactive element, At,
used as an additive in steel.
astragal 1 ‘knuckle-bone’ (astragalos, Gk); in classical
architecture, a small circular moulding between the
shaft and capital of a column or pilaster, in the
24 asbestos removal](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-40-320.jpg)
![Doric order typically between the trachelion and
hypotrachelion. !81
2 baguette moulding; an ornamental moulding
consisting of a small semicircular projection in
cross-section, often incorporating other motifs
such as bead and reel. !14, !82
3 a small dividing glazing bar in a window. !111
4 a vertical strip attached to the edge of a door leaf
or window frame to close the gap between it and
the frame.
astroturf see synthetic grass.
astwerk see branch tracery.
astylar referring to architecture, usually classical,
which does not contain columns or pilasters.
asymmetrical referring to a figure which has no
symmetry; not symmetrical.
asymmetrical glazing unit, asymmetrical
hermetically sealed double glazing unit; a
glazed unit with two panes of glass of unequal
thickness or consistency sealed around an edging
strip with a gap usually filled with an inert gas.
asymmetrical hermetically sealed double
glazing unit see asymmetrical glazing unit.
asymmetry see asymmetrical.
asymptote in mathematics, a straight line which is
continually approached by a given curve but does
not meet it within a finite distance.
atelier see studio.
Aten the ancient Egyptian solar disc, the chief deity
during the reign of Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) in
1340 BC; one of the many forms of the sun god Ra
(Re), depicted as the sun at midday at its hottest
and brightest, with radiating beams terminating in
life-giving hands; also written as Aton. !74
at grade double mini-roundabout see
mini-roundabout. !62
at grade junction a road junction in which all roads
involved meet at the same level. !62, !63
see at grade junctions illustration. !62
athenaeum, 1 the Athenaeum; originally the
temple of Athena in classical Athens.
2 subsequently a place where professors, orators
and poets gathered to teach and present their
works.
3 athenaeum; a literary or scientific institution,
reading room or library.
atheneum see athenaeum.
Athens Charter a manifesto published by CIAM in
1933 which proposed solutions to the problems of
modern urban dwelling, recreation, work, transport
and historic buildings.
athletic field see playing field.
atlantes the plural form of atlas. !76
Atlantis cross a cross-like design of concentric
circles, according to Plato symbolizing the town
plan of the mythical city of Basilaea, in the lost
land of Atlantis. !123
atlas, telamon (Gk); pl. atlantes; in classical
architecture, a massive carved statuesque stooping
male figure, often serving as a columnar support for
a pediment. !76
Atlas cedar [Cedrus atlantica] a species of cedar tree
from North Africa.
atmospheric burner see natural draught burner.
atmospheric projection see aerial perspective.
atmospheric pressure see barometric pressure.
atom the basic unit of chemistry; each element has
its own atom consisting of a positively charged
nucleus orbited by negatively charged electrons.
atomic power station see nuclear power station.
atomic weight see relative atomic mass.
atomizing oil burner a burner in an oil heating
system in which oil is dispersed into small droplets
and mixed with air prior to combustion.
Aton see Aten. !74
atramentum Lat.; a Roman name for pigments and
inks made from carbon.
atrium 1 Lat.; an open central courtyard in a Roman
dwelling, surrounded by the habitable spaces of
the building; an aula in Greek architecture. !88
see atrium in Roman residential buildings illustra-
tion. !88
2 atrium paradisus; a forecourt, often colon-
naded, in front of the vestibule of an Early Christian
or Romanesque church.
see Early Christian church illustration. !95
see Byzantine domical church illustration. !96
see Carolingian church illustration. !98
3 a large space which functions as a transition
space into more important rooms.
4 a large central space or court with a glazed roof.
5 the glazed roof for such a space.
atrium corinthium, Corinthian hall; Lat.; a Roman
atrium dwelling type with a large central opening
whose edges are supported by rows of columns on
all sides.
atrium displuviatum Lat.; see displuviatum.
atrium house 1 a Roman dwelling type in which the
building mass surrounds a main central space, the
atrium, open to the sky. !88
2 patio house; a modern dwelling type planned
with rooms arranged around facing an open central
space; sometimes constructed with similar
buildings in an adjoined row. !61
atrium paradisus Lat.; see atrium. !95, !96, !98
atrium testudinatum Lat.; see testudinate.
atrium tetrastylum Lat.; see tetrastyle.
atrium tuscanicum Lat.; see tuscanicum.
attached column see engaged column. !13
attached pier a pier structurally connected to or
built into a wall to provide lateral stability.
attack 1 see corrosion.
2 see fungal attack.
attenuation, 1 absorption, loss; the reduction in
strength of a signal in a telecommunications or
sound system with distance from its source.
2 see sound attenuation.
attenuator see muffler.
attic 1 an upper room or space contained within the
pitched roofspace of a residential building; see also
garret.
2 a blindstory raised above the eaves or entablature
line of a classical building to conceal the roof.
Attic base the most common classical column base
consisting of an upper and lower torus and scotia
separated by a fillet, primarily found with the Ionic
order. !81
attic storey 1 the uppermost storey beneath the
pitched roof of a residential building, containing
storage or habitable space.
2 a storey above the entablature or cornice of a
classical building, in strict proportion with lower
elements.
attic truss a roof truss designed so as to allow for
the construction of habitable roof space between
its structural members. !33
atto- abb. a; a prefix for units of measurement or
quantity to denote a factor of 1018
(a million
million millionth). !Table 1
attorney see letter of attorney.
attribute 1 an object or element used by convention
in a work of art, especially painting, to symbolize a
deity, saint or mythological figure.
2 in computer-aided design, a characteristic which
defines the significance of a graphic object or
group.
Atum one of the many forms of the ancient Egyptian
sun god Re (Ra), depicted as the setting sun;
according to Egyptian mythology he was the
first god on earth, born of the primeval watery
chaos, who created all things by spitting or by
masturbation; also written as Tum; see also Aten,
Khepri. !74
aubergine, eggplant; a shade of purple brown
which takes its name from the colour of the edible
fruit of the eggplant [Solanum melongena].
astroturf 25](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-41-320.jpg)
![Aubusson a tapestry or carpet originating in the
French town of the same name in the 1600s.
Aucoumea klaineana see gaboon.
audience hall see apadana.
audio spectrum, acoustic spectrum, sound
spectrum; in acoustics, the range of frequencies
and intensities of sound emitted from a source or
sources at any given time; the measurable make-up
of a sound source.
audio-frequency a frequency of sound within the
audible range; frequencies of any oscillations within
this range.
audit the legally required annual inspection of the
accounts of a company.
auditor a professional accountant whose task is to
examine the accounts of a company.
auditorium 1 that part of a theatre, concert hall etc.
in which the audience is seated.
2 loosely, any building containing the above.
Auditor’s report a document containing the written
details of an official inspection of the final accounts
of a company.
auditory church a spartan church type appearing
in England in the 1600s after the Reformation,
based rather on preaching from a pulpit or lectern
than worship at an altar; a religious auditorium.
auger a corkscrew-like tool or drill bit used for boring
round holes in solid material such as wood or stone.
auger bit a spiral drill bit in the shape of an auger,
used for drilling long large-bore holes, circular
housings etc. !42
augered pile in foundation technology, a form of
bored pile in which the hole is cut with an auger.
!29
augite a dark, crystalline form of the mineral pyroxene,
occurring in volcanic and metamorphic rocks.
aula 1 the surrounded courtyard of an ancient Greek
dwelling, an atrium in Roman architecture.
2 an assembly room in a German school or university.
aulaeum Lat.; the curtain of a classical theatre, raised
through a slot at the front of the stage. !89
aumbry, ambry, almary, almery; a small lockable
cupboard or niche in a church where the communion
chalice and other sacred utensils were stored; an
armarium.
aume a traditional English unit of measurement for
liquid capacity, especially wine, equal to 40 gallons
(approximately 150 l).
au premier coup see alla prima.
aureole, glory, halo, nimbus; in painting and
religious symbolism, light or radiance which
surrounds a saint or sacred person; when limited
to the head, it is called a nimbus, when surrounding
the whole body, an aureole. !119
aureolin see cobalt yellow.
auricular ornament, lobate ornament; decora-
tive ornament, foliage and volutes, resembling
parts of the human ear, found in early Baroque
architecture in northern Europe in the late 1500s
and early 1600s. !122
auripigmentum see king’s yellow.
aurora, aurora red, aurora orange, dawn, rose
dawn; a shade of pink which takes its name from
the colour of the sky at sunrise.
aurora orange see aurora.
aurora red see aurora.
aurora yellow see cadmium yellow.
aurum mussivum see mosaic gold.
austenite a solution of carbon and other materials
appearing in gamma iron, formed when iron is
heated over 910C; found in some stainless steels
used for cutlery.
austenitic stainless steel stainless steel which
contains 16–19% chromium and 4–6% nickel.
Australian blackwood, black wattle (Aust.);
[Acacia melanoxylon] an eastern Australian
hardwood with strong, flexible, golden brown
timber; used for furniture, interior joinery and
woodwind instruments.
authoritarian planning town planning which
emphasizes the power of the state over its
inhabitants, characterized by the use of a grand
scale for governmental buildings, axial streets
terminated with patriotic monuments, and spartan
uniformity of layout and form for residential
buildings.
autoclave a sealed pressure vessel which contains
steam at high temperatures, used for curing
concrete and calcium silicate bricks.
autoclave curing see autoclaving.
autoclaved aerated concrete a form of aerated
concrete often containing aluminium or zinc
powder as a foaming agent, which has been
steam cured in an autoclave to control the aerating
process.
autoclaving, high pressure steam curing,
autoclave curing; a method of curing concrete,
usually lightweight concrete, by exposing it to high
pressure superheated steam in a sealed vessel for a
given time in order to increase dry shrinkage and
speed up hardening.
autodestructivism a term coined for certain types
of artworks of the 1960s and 1970s which are
designed ultimately to destroy themselves.
autodidact one who is self-taught.
autogenous shrinkage, hardening shrinkage; in
concretework, a reduction in size caused by further
hydration of cement during final hardening, much
less than during initial drying.
autograph 1 in the arts, a term sometimes used for
an unsigned work of art of a known artist, to which
the author can be attributed.
2 see signature.
automat an automatic machine from which a service
such as parking tickets, telephone calls and goods
can be bought by pushing money or a credit card
into a slot.
automated data processing, ADP; see computing.
automatic-closing fire assembly a motorized
fire door, shutter etc., normally kept in an open
position, which closes automatically in the event
of fire; an automatic fire door.
automatic door a motorized door controlled by an
optical or motion sensor, which operates door gear
and opens and closes it automatically.
automatic door gear the range of mechanisms
and equipment for controlling the opening and
closing of an automatic sliding or swinging door,
operated by signals from detector devices, remote
controls etc.
automatic door operator a motorized device
which controls the opening and closing of a door leaf.
automatic fire door see automatic-closing fire
assembly.
automatic fire extinguisher a fire extinguisher
operated automatically by detectors in the event
of outbreak of fire.
automatic fire-extinguishing system, auto-
suppression system; any system for detecting a
building fire by means of light, heat or smoke
sensors and for extinguishing it using an auto-
mated system such as a sprinkler system.
automatic fire valve see fire valve.
automatic lighting controller see photoelectric
lighting controller.
automatic lock see coin operated lock.
automatic writing see Automatism.
automation 1 the functioning of a process, installation
or system without the use of continuous human input.
2 door automation, see automatic door gear.
Automatism, automatic writing; spontaneous
activity or art related to surrealism in which
conscious will and thought are eliminated.
automobile, passenger car, motor car, car; a
four-wheeled motor vehicle, often privately
owned, for carrying a small number of passengers.
26 Aubusson](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-42-320.jpg)
![B
B0 a standard international paper size of 1000 mm
1414 mm (39 55), used for posters and card;
successive smaller sizes B1–B10 are derived by halv-
ing the area of the next size up; see A0, C0. Table 6
baby blue a shade of pale greyish blue which takes
its name from the colour of the clothes of infant
boys.
Babylonian period a period in Mesopotamian art
from the time of the Kassite invasion in c.1800 BC
culminating with the onset of Persian rule in
539 BC.
Bacchus, staff of see thursus. !120
back 1 the reverse, inferior or secondary face of a
piece, component, building etc.
2 worse face; the surface of a timber board to the
reverse side of the outer, usually finished surface.
3 the edge of a sawtooth adjacent to its cutting
edge.
4 see window back.
back bed in glazing, bedding compound or a proprietary
product applied to a rebate in a window frame, against
which a pane is fixed.
back boiler 1 in a heating system, a boiler fitted to
the rear of a solid fuel heater, which provides the
thermal energy for water heating.
2 see high output back boiler.
back clearance in glazing, the horizontal distance
between the inner face of the pane or glazing unit
and its supporting frame.
back cut veneer decorative veneer formed by
peeling the inner side of a half log or flitch
off-centre on a lathe. !10
backdraught, smoke explosion; a rush of air into a
room containing smouldering contents due to the
opening of a door during a hazardous building fire,
causing spontaneous ignition.
backer see back-up material.
backfill, fill; in sitework, earth replaced and
compacted into an excavation to cover subsoil
foundations and services once they have been laid.
backflap hinge a hinge whose leaves are long rather
than tall, used for applications such as furnishings and
table flaps where a butt hinge is insufficient. !38
backflow a phenomenon in which liquid flows along
a pipe or channel in the reverse direction to that
intended, caused by pressure or a partial vacuum;
see also backsiphonage.
backflow prevention device a device for
inhibiting the backflow of water in a drainage or
sanitary installation.
backflow valve, 1 back-siphonage preventer,
backwater valve, back-pressure valve; a check
valve in a water system which allows water in a
pipeline to flow in one direction only.
2 see pipe interrupter.
back form in concreting, formwork or formwork
surfaces used in locations which remain hidden in
the final structure; back formwork, in full.
back gutter in roof construction, a channel or gutter
formed at the junction of a pitched roof and
abutment wall, or behind a parapet or chimney to
convey water away. !56
background see plastering background.
background noise, ambient sound; in acoustics,
general noise present in an environment.
background noise level in acoustics, the level of
background noise in a space.
back hearth the lowest masonry construction on
which combustion takes place beneath a flue in a
fireplace or fireplace recess; the floor of an open
fireplace. !55
backing 1 a structural base such as concrete, masonry
or a framework onto which cladding is fixed.
2 see back-up material.
backing coat see plaster undercoat.
backing strip see back-up material.
backings see plastering background.
backland open or bounded land to the rear of
existing buildings as viewed from a road or street.
backnut 1 a nut at a threaded pipework joint which is
tightened to secure the joint between two fittings.
2 see stop nut.
backplane see motherboard.
back-pressure valve see backflow valve.
back putty, bed putty; in glazing, a fillet of putty
applied to a rebate in a window frame, against
which a pane is bedded.
backsaw a handsaw with a rectangular blade whose
back is reinforced with a metal strip to inhibit bending;
used for carpenter’s benchwork.
backset the horizontal distance from the face of the
forend of a lock to the centre of the keyhole.
backsiphonage backflow of a liquid in pipework
caused by siphonage; see also backflow.
back-siphonage preventer see backflow valve.
back sliced veneer decorative veneer sliced from
the heart side of a half log or flitch. !10
Backsteingotik see brick Gothic.
back-to-back housing a form of basic urban
housing in Britain from the late 1800s and early
1900s consisting of rows of terraced or attached
houses constructed with frontages to streets in
opposite directions and sharing common party
walls on either side and to the rear. !61
back to wall pertaining to a soil appliance such as a
bidet or WC which is connected to a wall or vertical
surface, through which all pipes, drains and outlets
etc. are connected.
backup a failsafe copy of a file or program.
back-up material, backer, backing; material such
as foam rubber strip placed into a construction
joint to limit the depth of overlaid sealant. !53
backwater valve see backflow valve.
back yard an enclosed yard or garden to the rear of
a building as viewed from the street.
badia an Italian abbey, a monastery or monastic
church headed by an abbot.
baffle a strip of material applied into construction
joints between components or materials as
weather or soundproofing.
bagasse board a building board manufactured
from the waste fibres from sugar cane processing.
baguette moulding see astragal. !14
Bahia rosewood [Dalbergia nigra] a Brazilian tropical
hardwood with yellowish brown streaked timber;
used in veneers and for interiors.
bail 1 see shackle. !39
2 see bailey. !103
bailey, 1 bailey wall; the fortified outer wall of a
castle, its first line of defence; often known as a
curtain wall. !103
2 ward; the open area of land, yard or court
enclosed by a castle fortification wall, between the
keep and curtain wall. !103
bail and bayle (trad.) are synonymous with both
meanings of bailey.
3 see enceinte. !103
4 see curtain wall. !103
Bailey bridge a prefabricated trussed steel bridge
used by the military and constructed in small sections
to allow for speedy assembly and dismantling.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-44-320.jpg)
![bailey castle 1 see keep and bailey castle. !103
2 see motte and bailey.
bailey walk see alure. !103
bailey wall see bailey. !103
baked see stove enamelled.
baked enamel, stoving enamel; any hardwearing
protective polymeric coating for metal components,
building boards etc. which requires elevated
temperatures to activate a curing process; also
known as baking enamel, baking finish,
stoved enamel, stoved finish; see also powder
coating.
baked finish see baked enamel.
bakelite see phenol formaldehyde.
baking see stove enamelling.
baking enamel 1 see baked enamel.
2 see acrylic stoving enamel.
3 see alkyd stoving enamel.
baking finish see baked enamel.
balance bridge see bascule bridge. !64
balanced construction the pairing of matched
layers in plywood or composite boards around
either side of the central layer to form a symmetrical
construction and prevent warping. !9
balanced door an automatic door assembly in
which the counterbalanced leaf swings open
around an eccentrically placed pivot. !50
balanced pressure tap a mixer tap, usually of
stainless steel, fitted with a regulating device
which produces equal pressures of hot and cold
water drawn from it.
balanced seat see self-raising seat.
balanced step see dancing step. !45
balance sheet in business management, a document
which shows all the credits and debits, and their
difference, of a company or organization and thus
its financial situation.
balaneion Gk; see balneum.
balbides Gk; the starting line or place for contests in
an ancient Greek stadium. !89
balcony an accessible outdoor or glazed and
balustraded platform projecting from the external
face of a building, often for recreational use. !54
see balcony illustration. !54
see balcony in residential building illustration. !61
see internal balcony in office building illustration. !60
balcony-access flats see gallery-access block. !61
balcony deck the structural floor of a balcony; see
also balcony slab. !54
balcony drain see balcony outlet. !54
balcony glazing a proprietary or specially designed
openable glazing assembly which provides shelter
from the elements by closing off the front and sides
of a balcony above its balustrade. !54
balcony outlet, balcony drain; a fitting in an
exposed balcony through which rainwater and melted
snow from a balcony floor or deck is conveyed to a
downpipe or other drainage system. !54
balcony slab the structural concrete or stone floor
of a balcony. !54
baldacchino see baldachin. !112
baldachin, baldacchino, baldaquin; an ornamental
canopy of or representing fabric over an altar, throne,
bed or doorway; see ciborium. !112
baldachin altar a church altar situated beneath a
highly ornate canopy supported by columns, an
altar type typical in Baroque church architecture,
see also ciborium altar.
baldaquin see baldachin. !112
balection moulding see bolection moulding.
balineum Lat.; see balneum. !88
balistraria a narrow cross-shaped opening in the
external wall of a castle or fortification for crossbow
archers (balisters) to fire arrows at potential attackers;
also known as an arbalestina; see also arrow loop.
!103
balk see baulk. !2
Balkanization in town planning, the natural
fragmentation of groups according to social,
religious or ethnic background, forming areas
of distinctive quality and often interrelated
conflicts.
ball and flower, ballflower; an ovular decorative
motif found in the church architecture of the early
1300s, a stylized three-petalled flower enclosing a
small globule. !123
ballast 1 material such as gravel, concrete slabs or
cast concrete laid above an insulating layer on roofs
and walkways to provide weight and prevent its
removal and deterioration by the forces of weather
and wind.
2 an electronic component for maintaining
a constant current applied to a discharge or
fluorescent lamp.
ball-bearing a construction or component consisting
of a number of steel spheres arranged in a ring and
cased, providing a frictionless support for a rotating
attachment. !38
ball-bearing butt hinge see ball-bearing hinge.
!38
ball-bearing hinge, ball-bearing butt hinge; a
hinge with a ball-bearing incorporated between
adjacent knuckles to reduce friction between
them. !38
ball catch, bullet catch; a catch which holds a door
closed by means of a sprung ball in a casing, fixed into
the edge of the door leaf; see also roller catch. !39
ball clay a fine textured, plastic, adhesive natural
clay used in the manufacture of earthenware and
firebricks.
ballcock see ballvalve.
ballflower see ball and flower. !123
ball hinge a hinge whose pins rotate upon a
ball-bearing to reduce friction in turning. !38
ballium 1 Lat.; the enclosed courtyard of a medieval
castle; a bailey.
2 see bailey. !103
balloon see wire balloon.
balloon frame a form of timber frame construction
in which vertical studs rise from sole plate to
header plate through two or more stories;
intermediate floors are carried on wall plates nailed
to the inside face of the studs. !57
ball peen hammer a hammer whose peen is hemi-
spherical. !40
ball pen, ball point pen; an ink pen having a small
metal ball at its point, which regulates the flow of
ink through rolled contact with the paper or base.
ball point pen see ball pen.
ballroom a large main hall in a mansion, institute
or public building, often used for celebratory
functions, especially dances.
ballvalve, 1 ballcock, floatvalve, float operated
valve; a valve in the flushing cistern of a soil
appliance which controls the level of water therein
with the aid of a float; a flushing valve.
2 in plumbing pipework, a valve containing a per-
forated ball, which can be turned to align with
ports in the casing and allow liquid to pass through.
balm see balsam.
balneolum Lat.; see balneum.
balneum, 1 balineum (Lat.), balneolum, balaneion
(Gk); Lat., plural balneae; in Roman architecture, a
small public or private bath house, suite of rooms
etc.; see also thermae. !88
2 a bathing pool in a Roman bath house or dwell-
ing. !91
balsam a fragrant and medicinal resinous exudation
from certain conifers; see oleoresin.
balsam fir [Abies balsamea] a Canadian softwood
whose cream-coloured timber is used for construction
work and packaging.
balsam poplar [Populus balsamifera, Populus
tacamahaca] a North American hardwood with
pale brown timber; used in plywood, as sawn
boards and for furniture.
bailey castle 29](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/63412-250225064844-86b4e098/85/Dictionary-of-architecture-and-building-construction-1st-ed-Edition-Davies-45-320.jpg)
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- 5. Dictionary of architecture and building construction 1st ed Edition Davies Digital Instant Download Author(s): Davies, Nikolas;Jokiniemi, Erkki ISBN(s): 9780750685023, 0750685026 Edition: 1st ed File Details: PDF, 24.39 MB Year: 2008 Language: english
- 7. Dictionary of Architecture and Building Construction
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- 9. Dictionary of Architecture and Building Construction Nikolas Davies and Erkki Jokiniemi AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON • NEW YORK • OXFORD PARIS • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO Architectural Press is an imprint of Elsevier
- 10. Architectural Press is an imprint of Elsevier Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA First edition 2008 Copyright 2008, Nikolas Davies and Erkki Jokiniemi. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved The right of Nikolas Davies and Erkki Jokiniemi to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone (þ44) (0) 1865 843830; fax (þ44) (0) 1865 853333; email: permissions@elsevier.com. Alternatively you can submit your request online by visiting the Elsevier web site at http://elsevier.com/locate/permissions, and selecting Obtaining permission to use Elsevier material Notice No responsibility is assumed by the publisher or authors for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress ISBN: 978-0-7506-8502-3 For information on all Architectural Press publications visit our website at www.books.elsevier.com Typeset by Integra Software Services Pvt. Ltd, Pondicherry, India www.integra-india.com 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Working together to grow libraries in developing countries www.elsevier.com | www.bookaid.org | www.sabre.org
- 11. Contents Preface vii Part I A-Z entries 3 Part II Illustrations 429 Part III Tables 693 Bibliography 699 Architects and locations referred to in the illustrations 721 v
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- 13. PREFACE This book, which has been compiled by its authors over a 15 year period, is an illustrated dictionary of English language terms and concepts relating to architecture and building construction. While it is intended primarily for professional and academic use, it is also an invaluable resource for students and those otherwise interested in the subject. The dictionary contains over 20 000 entries alphabetically arranged, each with a clear definition, synonyms and a reference to illustrations and tables, where applicable. There are over 260 illustrative plates arranged by subject, high-quality line drawings produced by the authors expressly for this book. It encompasses all aspects of architecture and building construction from history and ornamentation to current modern technologies and professional project management, making it one of the most exten- sive and comprehensive books of its kind on the world market in terms of quality and content. Content and layout Subject areas covered by terminology can be roughly identified as follows: • Building materials and methods: timber, metals, stone, plastics, ceramics, concrete, adhesives etc. • Components and finishes: windows, doors, roofing, hardware • Tools, trades and crafts, industrial production and fabrication • Building construction and other technical aspects, building ser- vices, plumbing, acoustics • Structural and civil engineering • Landscape architecture • Interior design, furnishing and decoration • Town planning • Traffic engineering: roads, bridges, traffic systems • Building types (historical and contemporary) • Conservation and restoration • Architectural Styles • History of architecture • Ornamentation, art and sculpture • Project management and professional practice: contract and site practice, regulations • Basic concepts: units of measurement, chemical elements and compounds, perspective drawing Part (i) is a glossary of 20 000 terms arranged in strict alphabetical order. Regardless of whether the entry is a single word, letter, com- pound word or abbreviation, it is arranged alphabetically as if hyphens, spaces or other punctuation were absent. Each entry con- tains the following components: a headword, possible synonyms, a definition, references to illustrations (where applicable), and a list of related subentries (where applicable). Part (ii) comprises the illustra- tive material, 260 pages of 130 full-page layouts arranged by subject. There are over 4000 line images produced especially for this book. Each illustrative page spread is devoted to a single subject, and all illustrations are logically arranged and located together rather than scattered randomly throughout the text, forming a ‘book within a book’, an illustrative guide to the diverse subject matter. By placing similar concepts on the same page we have achieved an accuracy of definition not possible with disparate images. When buildings or parts of buildings have been presented, we have tried to use existing, familiar and key buildings as examples, drawn to the indicated scale. Other information such as the name, architect, year of execution and location of the building has also been included for the added interest of the reader. Part (iii) includes the bibliography, tables, and a com- prehensive list of names and locations of the buildings etc. appearing in the illustrations. Scope The original version of this book is a bilingual work in English and Finnish offering translations and definitions in both Finnish and English definitions. As a starting point, this aspect has had the effect of drawing on a wider base of concepts, and has helped greatly in clarifying their definitions. Our aim in this English-language edition has been to cater for the international nature of the contemporary world-wide building and academic community and the modern construction industry. English is the world language of international communication, despite the fact that many architectural and building professionals and students involved use it as a second language. This book has been written with a clearness and simplicity with those in mind. As with most works of this kind, a major dilemma is that, although English is also spoken as a first language by many hundreds of millions of people throughout the world, terminological and spelling vii
- 14. conventions are in many cases localized so that there may be devia- tions in meaning and spelling in the specific language used. While this has not proved to be an insurmountable problem, certain deci- sions (often based on common sense) have had to be taken. We have thus adhered to the spelling conventions outlined in the Oxford English Dictionary (whilst including North American and other spel- lings where applicable), and tackled punctuation problems, especially the age-old three-pronged dilemma of the hyphen versus the com- pound word versus the space in a logical and consistent manner. Many capital letters have been dropped to reflect the common modern usage of terms such as nylon and other products. The amount of synonyms in this book is also testament to the sheer number of terms existing for the same or similar concept world-wide. There are many terms from non-English speaking cultures in this book, especially the historical terminology of Ancient Greece and Rome. By convention these entries would usually be in italics to indicate their foreign origin. Because of the diverse and specialist nature of terms within this book, and also the fact that many of these terms could be regarded as specialist English-language terms, we have dispensed with this procedure, indicating their origin with the abbreviations ’Lat.’ or ’Gk’. instead. This frees us up to use italics for species of flora and fauna according to the Linnaeus classification, a surprising number of which make an appearance as entries. This book is in essence descriptive rather than normative, which means that it relates to the wider use of words rather than to terms defined for use exclusively for norms, standards and committees. This makes it accessible to both the professional and layman alike, and promotes an understanding of the day-to-day aspects of buildings, as well as those relating to areas of specialist expertise. It also means that the book is unsuitable for use in cases where the strict definition of a term may be a subject of legal dispute. There are many works on the market intended expressly for this purpose. One innovation of this book lies in the nature of its structure, that is to say, the way in which it has been compiled, collated and put together. We have attempted to produce a work of an encyclopaedic nature, an aid not only for the user who is looking for the meaning of a particular term, but also for those who know the vague area in which a term exists. Consequently many entries are referred to or listed under subject headings, called headwords; for example, different types of adhesive may be found listed under the headword ‘adhesive’, and so on. This concept is echoed in the illustrations, in which double-page spreads are arranged by subject, showing at a glance the comparative features of items within subject category. This duplicates the flexibil- ity of electronic media by creating a series of links to equivalent or sub-entries, an essential aid in identifying the differences between otherwise similar concepts. A thorough and logical system of cross- referencing is essential for a book of this kind, making it more than just a list of words or set of illustrative plates. Our book is aimed primarily at those working as professionals within the construction industry, and at academics and architectural histor- ians: this includes those working in the fields of architecture, design and construction: architects and engineering, building services, land- scaping and interior design consultants, builders and contractors, suppliers, product and component manufacturers, property and estates management professionals, town-planners, surveyors, crafts- men and those working with historical buildings, as well as officiating bodies. Because of the very wide scope of written material and selection of illustrations, our book also lends itself to use as a study aid. Finally, as a definitive work on building and buildings, its content has a household familiarity which appeals to the general consumer with a passing interest in DIY, building and buildings, interior design and decoration, architectural history, etc. A note about the authors Nikolas Davies and Erkki Jokiniemi are practising architects located in Helsinki. Together they have more than 50 year’s experience in the private and public sector, and have been involved in the design of buildings of all shapes and sizes in places as diverse as Australia, Japan, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. They teamed up in 1987 whilst working in the offices of Gullichsen Kairamo Vormala Architects in Helsinki, and as well sharing a fondness for buildings and books, soon discovered other common interests and pastimes of tennis, football, good beer and the music of a certain Mr Zimmerman. Although for the most part the burden of work was shared evenly, each brought his own specialist skills and interests to the forum; the area of history, especially Roman architecture, was predominantly Erkki’s domain, while Nikolas brought his passion for natural sciences to the project. It should also be mentioned that this has been in every sense an independent project, unaffiliated to any academic, commer- cial or industrial institution, and this has given the authors the free- dom to manoeuvre the book in any direction they have seen fit, and full control over matters of style, content, structure and appearance. Acknowledgements Particular acknowledgements and thanks are given to all those who contributed time and support for the project over the last 15 years, especially our architect colleagues Timo Vormala, Kristian Gullichsen and Erkki Kairamo (who sadly passed away in 1994) and their staff; viii Preface
- 15. thanks also to Timo Hirvonen and Vesa Huttunen for their invaluable input, and to the very many who have helped us out in some way, in particular Chris Bearman, Mikko Bonsdorff, Mikael Davies, Ville Hara, Vuokko Hosia, Timo Jokivaara, Jukka Jokilehto, Aulikki Korhonen, Sakari Laitinen, Jukka Laurila, Mikko Lindqvist, Matti Muonivaara, Meri Mäkipentti, Raili Pietilä, Anu Puustinen, Veikko Saarnio, Jyrki Sinkkilä, Matti Tapaninen, Kaisu Taskinen, Martti Tiula, Kati Winter- halten. A project of this sort is reliant on grants from private and public organizations for its survival, a debt of gratitude is therefore due to the following: the Kordelin Foundation, especially Esko Koi- vusalo, who was especially supportive of the project; the editor and linguist Kalevi Koukkunen who offered us insights into the mysteries of Greek and Latin; our English-language publisher The Architectural Press and its excellent staff and consultants; SAFA (the Finnish Association of Architects); the Finnish Cultural Foundation; the Wihuri Foundation, and the many other organizations whose back- ing has helped to transform an ambitious idea to the book you have in your hand. A special mention should be given to Nigel Davies for reading an early version of the English manuscript and for many useful sugges- tions, and to Timo Hirvonen for reading the original Finnish manu- script (not published in this edition). Finally, and most important of all, thanks to our partners Paula and Liisa, and all our wonderful children Eeva-Maija, Pauli, Maria, Sara, Robin and Samuel, whose patience in having to share their households with the spectre of the dictionary project for many years has been so magnificent. Nikolas Davies Erkki Jokiniemi Preface ix
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- 17. Part I
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- 19. A A0 a standard international paper size of 841 mm 1189 mm (33 463 ⁄4), whose measurements are derived from its area (1 m2 ) and the ratio of the lengths of its sides (1: ffiffiffi 2 p ); smaller derivative sizes A1–A10 are half the area of the subsequent size with the same ratio of side lengths (A1 is 841 mm 594 mm etc.); see B0, C0. !130, !Table 6 Aaron’s rod architectural ornament depicting a rod with foliage, almonds and sometimes a serpent twined around it; from biblical episodes in which Aaron placed his staff before the tabernacle, after which it bloomed, and before the Pharaoh, at which it became a serpent; see also staff of Asclepius, Mercury. !120 abaciscus Lat.; diminutive form of the word abacus; a patterned tile or rectangular area in a mosaic. abacus 1 Lat.; a flat squared slab at the very top of a classical column, the upper part of a capital above an echinus and below an entablature. !80, !81 see classical orders illustration. !78, !79 see classical capitals illustration. !81 see caryatid illustration. !76 see Romanesque and Gothic capitals illustration. !115 2 see abaciscus. abatis see abattis. !104 abaton Gk; the sacred area in a classical Greek temple, to which public entry was forbidden. abattis a number of sharpened stakes embedded into the ground in front of a fortification or castle to inhibit oncoming attackers; also written as abatis; see chevaux de frise, caltrap. !104 abattoir, slaughterhouse; a building in which animals are slaughtered for the production of meat and other products. Abbasid architecture a classical phase in Islamic architecture, the time of the caliph dynasty who ruled Damascus and Baghdad from 750 to 1258 AD, characterized by lavish palaces and great mosques. see Abbasid spiral minaret illustration. !67 abbey 1 a community of monks overseen by an abbot, or of nuns by an abbess; also the main buildings of this community. see Carolingian abbey illustration. !98 2 see abbey church. !98 abbey church, abbey; the church of an abbey. see Carolingian abbey church illustration. !98 abbozzo in painting, the sketching out of a composition in a single colour as a guide for a final work of art. abele see white poplar. aberration see chromatic aberration. Abies spp. see fir. Abies alba, see silver fir. Abies balsamea, see balsam fir, Canada balsam. Abies concolor, see white fir. Abies sibirica, see Siberian fir. ablution ritual cleaning of the body prior to religious activity; a room in a temple associated with this. !66 ablution fountain see wash fountain. ablution trough see washing trough. above ground see surface. abraded finish see ground, honed, rubbed finish. abrading the rubbing smooth or wearing down of a surface with an abrasive. abrasion the act of being rubbed or worn down. abrasion resistance the resistance of a surface, coating etc. to marking or scratching. ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. abscissa in a system of coordinates, one of the two coordinates as a distance from an axis; usually the distance of a point from the Y-axis, measured parallel to the X-axis. !127 absidiole see apsidiole. !95, !98 absinthe green a shade of greyish green named after green absinthe liqueur, flavoured by the wormwood plant, Artemisia absintium. absinthe yellow a shade of greyish yellow named after yellow absinthe liqueur; see also absinthe green. absolute humidity the moisture content of air measured as the weight of water vapour per unit volume of air; SI units are kg/m3 . absolute zero the lowest attainable temperature, equivalent to 0 C kelvin or 273.16 C. absorber 1 in acoustics, any component, unit or surface treatment for absorbing sound in a space. 2 see resonator. absorbing glass see tinted solar control glass. absorption 1 a physical phenomenon, the soaking up of a liquid by a porous solid, a gas by a liquid, or energy in the form of sound, heat or light by matter. 2 see sound absorption. 3 see attenuation. absorption coefficient 1 in room acoustics, a measure of the capacity of a material or construc- tion to absorb sound of a given frequency incident upon it. 2 see sound absorption coefficient. absorption unit see metric sabin. absorptivity 1 a material property, the ability of a solid to absorb a liquid, radiation, energy etc. 2 thermal absorptivity. 3 see light absorptivity. abstract art a branch of art which is non- representational or freely represents reality in the form of patterns and colours. abutment 1 the meeting place, joint or lap of two adjacent components, parts of construction etc. 2 the planar joint formed by two surfaces or edges placed adjacent to or touching one another. !3 3 the meeting of the upper edge or verge of a pitched roof and a balustrade, parapet or upper wall surface; especially the vertical surface or structure which rises from this. 4 the part of a loadbearing system or member from which loads are supported. 5 walling or support on either side of the impost of an arch to prevent it from splaying outwards. !22 6 see bridge abutment. !31, !64 7 see end abutment. abutment flashing in roof construction, a vertical sheetmetal flashing used with profiled sheet or interlocking tile roofing at an abutment. !56, !57 abutting tenon joint, butt tenon joint; a timber joint in which the grain ends of two tenons inserted in a common mortise from opposite sides abut each other. !5 abyss see fess point. !124 AC see alternating current. acacia [Acacia spp.] a genus of bushes and hardwood trees from warm climates. Acacia melanoxylon, see Australian blackwood. academic relating to higher education or an academy; of art which follows the formal conventions of the era. academy a place of higher education in the arts; a scientific or cultural society or institution. acanthus Lat.; carved and decorative ornament found especially adorning classical Corinthian capi- tals, based on stylized leaves of the Mediterranean acanthus plant, Bear’s breech or brank-ursine
- 20. [Acanthus molla, Acanthus spinosa]; akanthos in Greek. !81, !82, !121 Accadian period see Akkadian period. accelerated curing see heat treatment. accelerated set in concretework, an increase in the rate of stiffening during the setting of concrete. accelerating admixture 1 see set accelerating admixture. 2 see strength accelerating admixture. acceleration the progressive increase in velocity of a moving body, in units of m/s2 . acceleration lane see merging lane. accelerator 1 see set accelerating admixture. 2 see strength accelerating admixture. accent lighting interior lighting designed to illuminate or accentuate features in a room, such as artwork, architectural details and furnishings. acceptance in project administration, the agreeing by a client to a contractor’s tender bid thereby creating a binding contract. accepted risk, excepted risk; in project administra- tion, known risks in construction such as uncertain ground conditions etc., referred to in the building contract, for which the client accepts liability. acceptor a metal or extruded plastics product attached at the edge of a wall opening, to which a door or window frame can be easily attached. access, 1 passage; internal or external circulation space leading to a building, opening or technical installation, or used as a route. 2 see entry. 3 see site access. 4 see vehicular access. 5 in computing, the means of getting to and handling information, often involving the use of codewords. access balcony, walkway; a long approach balcony or external corridor providing access to the front doors of flats or other units of accommodation in an apartment block. see balcony-access flats in residential building illustration. !61 access barrier see vehicular barrier. access bridge see walkway. access control any of a number of security systems using locks, surveillance equipment and card readers within buildings or restricted areas to allow the circulation of authorized persons but inhibit the passage of intruders. access cover a covering hatch, plate or construction attached over an access opening in a drainage pipe, duct or vessel. access door, access window, trapdoor; a remova- ble panel in formwork which allows for internal inspection, cleaning etc. access floor, 1 cavity floor, raised floor; flooring supported above a main floor structure to allow for the passage of electric and computer cables, ducts and other services beneath. see access floor illustration. !44 2 raised access floor, see platform floor. !44 access gallery see access balcony. see gallery-access flats in residential building illustration. !61 access gully a drainage gully with a rodding eye for cleaning. accessibility 1 in town and traffic planning, a mea- sure of how easily and by which mode of transport a particular area can be reached. 2 the ability of a component or construction to be easily accessed for maintenance, repair, replacement etc. access ladder 1 a ladder attached to the external wall of a building to provide maintenance access to the roof; also called a roof access ladder. 2 see roof ladder. 3 see chimney ladder. !54 4 loft ladder, see disappearing stair. access order in town planning and land manage- ment, an order issued by a local planning authority to ensure legal public access to private land for throughfare, recreation etc. accessory any small components used to affix or supplement a construction, or fixings and trim supplied with a product, component or system. access pipe a drainage pipe with an opening for cleaning. access platform see gantry. !54, !61 access stair, service stair; a secondary stairway providing access to plant or other installations. access time, search time; in computing, the time taken for a computer or search engine to find required data. access window see access door. accidental air see entrapped air. accidental colours see afterimage. accidental point in perspective drawing, any additional vanishing points not on the axes of the main points. accommodation road a road through private land which another person or persons have the legal right to use, usually as a route to their own land, and often in return for land concessions. accordion door a folding door with a number of hinged vertical panels which fold together when the door is open. !50 account 1 a written record showing financial transactions as tables of figures. 2 an arrangement with a bank or other financial establishment whereby money or assets are kept. 3 a personal arrangement with a supplier, shop or other commercial facility for the payment of goods, services etc. accountancy, accounting, bookkeeping; the upkeep of the financial records of a company or organization. accountants, bookkeepers; professionals employed to look after the books and accounts of a company. accounting see accountancy. accounting period a set period after which revenues and expenditures for a company are calculated. accoupled in classical architecture, a description of columns or pilasters arranged in pairs, twinned or joined together. Accrington brick a hard, dark red brick made of shale from East Lancashire in England, used for engineering and industrial purposes. accuracy an expression of the range and magnitude of error in measurement, manufacture of products etc. Acer spp. see maple. Acer nigrum, see black maple, hard maple. Acer pseudoplatanus, see sycamore. Acer rubrum, see red maple, soft maple. Acer saccharinum, see silver maple, soft maple. Acer saccharum, see hard maple, sugar maple. acetal see polyoxymethylene. acetate a salt or ester of acetic acid, used for many plastic household products, as cellulose acetate for record discs and clear plastic sheet etc.; acetate compounds included as separate entries are listed below. amyl acetate. cellulose acetate, CA. lead acetate. polyacetate, see polyoxymethylene, POM. polyvinyl acetate, PVA. acetone a colourless, strong-smelling, volatile and flammable liquid distilled from organic compounds and used as a solvent. acetylene black a form of the pigment carbon black made by cracking acetylene gas under heat. Achaean art, Achaian art; art predating that of the Dorians, produced in Thessaly, ancient Greece, by the Achaean peoples from 2000 to 1100 BC. 4 Accadian period
- 21. Achaemenian art art with Assyrian influences predating the age of Alexander the Great, produced in Persia by the Achaemenid peoples from 559 to 330 BC. Achaian art see Achaean art. acheiropoeitos a sacred image in Byzantine art, not created (or thought not to have been created) by man; akheiropoeitos in Greek. achromatic see colourless. achromatic colour in colour science, a mixture of varying degrees of solely black and white. acid a sour, alkali-neutralizing chemical substance capable of corroding metals. acid cleaning a cleaning treatment for metals using sulphuric, phosphoric or citric acids in combination with surfactants to remove contaminants, rust and scale from the surface. acid-curing lacquer a two-pack lacquer used on interior timber surfaces, based on urea or melamine formaldehyde resins; see next entry. acid-curing paint a two-pack paint for interior use based on urea or melamine formaldehyde resins, with good surface hardness and long pot-life and which hardens by blending with an acid. acid dew point the temperature at which combustion gases rich in sulphur and chlorine condense as liquid acid. acidic rock, acid rock; types of igneous rock whose silica content is greater than 66%. acidity, degree of acidity; the acid level of a soil, solution etc., as measured by obtaining its pH level. acid rock see acidic rock. acid wash a cleaning treatment for concrete and stonework by sponging with a solution of acid salts. ACM see polyacrylate rubber. acorn an ovoid finial resembling the fruiting body of an oak tree; used as an ornamental terminating element for a balustrade or pier etc., often unembellished; see pineapple, pine cone. !121 acorn nut see cap nut. !37 acoustic, acoustical; dealing with or based on sound, or the treatment of sound. acoustic absorber see absorber, muffler. acoustic absorption see sound absorption. acoustic absorption coefficient see sound absorption coefficient. acoustical see acoustic. acoustical analysis a study of the sound insulating, absorbing and reflecting characteristics of a building or space, or a project at design stage. acoustical design the design of a building or space with respect to absorption, insulation or enhancement of sound. acoustical glass see sound control glass. acoustical treatment see acoustic treatment. acoustic attenuation see attenuation. acoustic attenuator see muffler. acoustic board softboard whose surface is shaped, perforated or machined to improve its properties of sound absorption. acoustic ceiling a ceiling designed to provide sound insulation or absorption for a space. acoustic consultant see acoustician. acoustic control glass see sound control glass. acoustic engineer see acoustician. acoustic glass see sound control glass. acoustician, acoustic engineer; an expert who provides professional consultancy on acoustic matters. acoustic insulation see sound insulation. see soundproofing in floors and flooring illustra- tion. !44 acoustic intensity see sound intensity. acoustic intensity level see sound intensity level. acoustic isolation see sound insulation. acoustic level see sound level. acoustic level meter see sound level meter. acoustic mortar see acoustic plaster. acoustic panel a panel designed to absorb sound and thus regulate the acoustic quality of a space. acoustic plaster plaster containing lightweight or other porous aggregates, used for its acoustic properties, especially sound absorption; also called acoustic mortar. acoustic plasterwork plasterwork containing aggregate which has acoustic properties; finished work in acoustic plaster. acoustic power see sound power. acoustic power level see sound power level. acoustic pressure see sound pressure. acoustic pressure level see sound pressure level. acoustic propagation see sound propagation. acoustics 1 the study of sound and hearing. 2 the properties of a room pertaining to sound. 3 see acoustical treatment. 4 see room acoustics. acoustic spectrum see audio spectrum. acoustic treatment, acoustics; physical or spatial measures, materials or components added to affect the acoustic perception and performance in a space with respect to sound insulation, absorption and reflection. acre an imperial unit of area equivalent to 4047 m2 . acrolith in classical Greek architecture, a statue whose head, hands and feet are of marble fixed to a timber torso. acropodium Lat.; in classical architecture, a pedes- tal or plinth for a statue; akropodion in Greek. acropolis in classical Greek architecture, a city stronghold or fortress constructed on higher ground than surrounding urban fabric. !94 across the grain perpendicular to the general direction of the grain in timber. acroter see acroterion. !78 acroterion, acroter; in classical architecture, a plinth or pedestal for statues, set at the apex or eaves of a temple; also often the statues or ornaments them- selves; plural acroteria; Latin form is acroterium, Greek is akroterion. !78 see acroterion in classical temple illustration. !86 acroterium Latin form of acroterion. !78 acrylate adhesive acrylic-based polymer adhe- sive used for soft plastic seams and adhesive tapes. acrylic a synthetic polymer resin used in plastics, paints, adhesives and textiles. acrylic baking enamel see acrylic stoving enamel. acrylic cellular sheet, cellular acrylic sheet; cellular sheet glazing or cladding manufactured from transparent acrylic resin. acrylic coating see acrylic finish. acrylic finish, acrylic coating; any surface covering or coating, such as tiling, boarding and paints, whose finish is acrylic. acrylic flooring compound a hardwearing flooring for sports halls, corridors etc. laid over concrete floor slabs as a mixture of liquid acrylic, powdered hardener and fine aggregate. acrylic paint emulsion paint based on a dispersion of acrylic in water. acrylic polymer flooring see acrylic flooring compound. acrylic powder coating, stoved acrylic; a hardwearing decorative coating whose binder is acrylic resin, applied to metal components as a powder and baked on. acrylic primer acrylic paint used as a primer or undercoat. acrylic rubber see polyacrylate rubber. acrylic sealant an acrylic-based flexible sealant used for dry applications. acrylic sheet strong translucent or opaque lightweight sheet of polymethyl methacrylate Achaemenian art 5
- 22. plastics used for glazing and cladding; marketed as Perspex and Plexiglas. acrylic stoving enamel, acrylic baking enamel; a hardwearing paint coating used in the automotive industry, based on acrylic resin applied to metal surfaces as a liquid spray and baked on. acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ABS; a tough, strong thermoplastic used for waste pipes, garage doors, small vehicles and taxi-cab roofs. actinium a radioactive, silver-white, metallic chemical element, Ac, which glows in the dark. action area in town planning, a particular area designated by a planning authority to merit special change such as development, redevelopment or improvement. activated carbon, activated charcoal; granular or powdered forms of porous carbon or charcoal processed to remove tarry components, used for adsorbing gases and odours from air, or dissolving contaminants from liquid solutions. activated charcoal see activated carbon. activated sludge organic mass produced from sewage aerated by blowing air through it, used in the treatment of waste water for the digestion of incoming sewage. activated-sludge process the biological treatment of waste water using organisms in aerated sludge to digest the solid matter from incoming sewage. active earth pressure the pressure of earth acting against the side of a wall and against which it provides resistance. active fire protection mechanical or electronic control systems such as sprinklers, fire alarms etc. for indicating the presence of or extinguishing hazardous fires in buildings. active leaf the door leaf in a double door usually used for throughfare. !50 activity analysis a study of the overall patterns of behaviour and activities of a particular user group such as inhabitants, consumers or occupants, used as a basis for the formulation of a design brief or town plan. activity space, hobby room, recreation room; a space in a residential building or dwelling primar- ily used for leisure activities and hobbies. act of God see force majeure. actual size the size of an object as obtained by measurement; see also nominal dimension. acute angle an angle of less than 90. acute arch see lancet arch. !24 Adam style a style in interior decoration in England from 1760 to 1770 named after the Adam brothers, John, Robert and James, and characterized by classical motifs and bold colours. adapter see adaptor. adaptive use in town planning, the change in use or function of a building from that for which it was originally designed. adaptor, adapter; 1 a device for converting mains current to that suitable for operating electronic devices. 2 see plug adaptor. 3 see flue adaptor. !58 addendum a separate explanatory statement intended to clarify, amend or supplement a document, drawing etc. addition 1 the process of adding numbers together to produce a sum. 2 an extension to an existing building. additional work see extra work. addition polymerization, polyaddition; the chemical joining together of two or more molecules of a compound such that the molecular weight of the polymer thus formed is a multiple of that of the original compound; the general form of polymerization. additive a substance added to a material or process to modify its chemical or physical properties. additive mixture in colour science, lighter colours formed when beams of coloured light are combined, thus adding spectral components together. additive order the building of Romanesque and early Gothic churches with additional transepts, chapels and chancels. !97 addorsed a description of ornament or sculptured figures standing or situated back to back; see also affronted. !122 addressable system, intelligent fire alarm; an electronic installation for indicating the location and severity of an outbreak of hazardous fire in a building. adhering knot see tight knot. adhesion, bond; the action of sticking together; the strength of the attractive or fastening force evolved between a surface material or coating and its backing, or between two components which have been glued or bonded together. adhesive a sticky solid or liquid bonding substance used for the firm sticking, surface joining and holding together of materials and components; the words adhesive and glue are generally synonymous, although adhesive is often applied to more technologically advanced products, while glues are often of plant or ani- mal origin; a cement is an inorganic adhesive which sets in hard, brittle form; types of adhe- sive included as separate entries are listed below. aerosol glue, see spray adhesive. albumen glue. anaerobic adhesive. animal glue. aqueous adhesive, see water-borne adhesive. bituminous adhesive. bone glue. brushing adhesive. casein glue. cassava. cellulose adhesive. cold curing adhesive. cold glue, see cold setting adhesive, cold curing adhesive. cold setting adhesive. collagen glue, see animal glue. contact adhesive. cyanoacrylate adhesive. elastomeric adhesive. emulsion glue, emulsion adhesive. epoxide resin adhesive, see epoxy resin adhesive. epoxy adhesive, see epoxy resin adhesive. epoxy glue, see epoxy resin adhesive. epoxy resin adhesive. film adhesive, see film glue. film glue. fish glue. gluten glue. gun applied adhesive. gunnable adhesive, see gun applied adhesive. hide glue. hot-melt adhesive, see thermoplastic adhesive. hot-melt glue, see thermoplastic adhesive. hot setting adhesive, see thermosetting adhesive. hot setting glue, see thermosetting adhesive. interior adhesive. isinglass, see fish glue. melamine formaldehyde glue. moisture curing adhesive. moisture resistant adhesive. one-way stick adhesive. phenol formaldehyde glue. polymer adhesive, see polymerizing adhesive. polymer glue, see polymerizing adhesive. polymerizing adhesive. polyvinyl acetate glue. protein glue. 6 acrylic stoving enamel
- 23. PVA glue, polyvinyl acetate glue. resin adhesive, see synthetic resin adhesives. resin glue. resorcinol formaldehyde glue. rubber adhesive, see elastomeric adhesive. rubber glue, see elastomeric adhesive. rubber solution. Scotch glue. single spread adhesive, see one-way stick adhesive. solvent adhesive. solvent-based adhesive, see solvent-borne adhe- sive. Solvent-borne adhesive. soya glue. spray adhesive. starch adhesive. structural adhesive. super glue, see cyanoacrylate adhesive. synthetic resin adhesive. synthetic rubber glue, see elastomeric adhesive. thermoplastic adhesive. thermoplastic glue, see thermoplastic adhesive. thermosetting adhesive. two pack adhesive, two component adhesive, two part adhesive. two-way stick adhesive. urea formaldehyde glue. vegetable glue. water-borne adhesive. waterproof glue, see water-resistant adhesive. waterproof adhesive, see water-resistant adhesive. water-resistant adhesive. water-based adhesive, see water-borne adhesive. wood adhesive. wood glue, see wood adhesive. adhesive failure, bond failure; the failure of a glued joint due to a reduction in bonding between a glue or binder and glued parts. adhesiveness the ability of a glue to provide a bond between two surfaces. adhesive tape paper or plastics tape with adhe- sive on one or both sides and manufactured in rolls; used for fastening, fixing, masking, insula- ting etc. adhocism a term coined by the architect Charles Jencks to describe modern eclectic styles of architecture which contain random references and historical motifs. adiabatic referring to a thermodynamics process which occurs without the transfer of heat. adit, aditus (Lat.); a passage or entranceway, especially one to a Roman building. !89, !90 aditus Latin form of adit. !89, !90 adjacent building a building on a site next to that of a proposed or existing building, such that there is space between the two. adjoining building a building on a site next to that of a proposed or existing building, such that they are physically joined to one another. adjustable the ability of a device, tool, machine, furnishing etc. to be able to be adjusted to suit the needs of the user or a process. adjustable item an item in a bill of quantities for which provided information is insufficient and whose quantities are subject to reassessment. adjustable prop see telescopic prop. !30 adjustable set square in technical drawing, a set square in which the angle of the hypotenuse can be adjusted by a sliding mechanism. !130 adjustable spanner a spanner with screw- adjustable jaws to suit a range of widths. adjustable wrench see adjustable spanner. adjustment see formula price adjustment. adjustment screw in field surveying, a screw on an optical levelling instrument for making fine adjustments; a similar component on other devices. administration, management; the overseeing, planning and direction of affairs and personnel in an organization. administrative building a building connected to an institution, public building or industrial complex, from which it is governed. admiralty brass an alloy of copper and zinc with additional tin to improve corrosion resistance and increase strength. admixture a material added in small quantities to affect the properties of a concrete or mortar mix; types of admixture included as separate entries are listed below; see also agent. accelerating admixture, see set accelerating admixture, strength accelerating admixture. air-detraining admixture. air-entraining admixture. anti-foaming admixture. antifreezing admixture. bonding admixture. colouring admixture. corrosion inhibiting admixture. expansion producing admixture. flocculating admixture. foam forming admixture. fungicidal admixture. gas forming admixture. high range water-reducing admixture, see super- plasticizing admixture. mortar admixture. permeability-reducing admixture, see pore filler. plasticizing admixture. set accelerating admixture. set retarding admixture. strength accelerating admixture. superplasticizing admixture. thickening admixture. water-reducing admixture. water-resisting admixture. waterproofing admixture, see water-resisting admixture. adobe 1 clay and unfired brick which has been baked in the sun; see mud brick. 2 forms of construction making use of this. ADP acronym for automated data processing, see computing. adsorption 1 the intake of a liquid or gas by a solid. 2 a water purification treatment in which water is percolated through solid granular material, to which impurities adhere. adularia a transparent variety of the mineral orthoclase or potash feldspar found in the Alps. see moonstone. aduton Greek form of adytum. !85 advance, advance payment, prepayment; a payment made prior to receipt of goods or services, such as that paid by a client to a contractor after the contract is signed but before the start of work. advanced decay, typical decay; a late stage of decay in wood indicated by softening and loss of structural strength. advanced work an outer defensive structure built close enough to main fortifications to gain covering fire from it; an outwork or first line of defence; also called a forework. !104 see fortification illustration. !104 advance payment see advance. advent cross see tau cross. !117 adventure playground an area of landscaped ground, often with climbing frames etc., for children to play on. advocacy planning in town planning, the preparation of plans or planning proposals on behalf of an organization, interest group or a community rather than by an official agency. adyton see adytum. !85 adytum, sanctuary; Lat.; in classical architecture, the most sacred inner chamber of a Greek temple, adhesive failure 7
- 24. to which priests only were allowed access; the Greek form of the word is aduton or adyton. see adytum in classical peristyle temple illustra- tion. !85 adz see adze. adze, adz; an axe-like hand tool for the rough shaping and smoothing of wood; it has a sharp curved steel blade whose cutting edge is perpendicular to the handle. adze eye hammer a hammer whose head is fixed to the shaft by means of a sleeve at the base of the head. aedicula Latin form of aedicule. !112 aedicule, aedicula (Lat.); in classical architecture, a niche, recess or pedimented structure, especially one housing a statue, surrounded by columns, pilasters or colonnettes. !112 Aegean art art from the bronze-age cultures of the Aegean Sea coasts from 2600 to 1500 BC, variously known as Minoan (Crete), Helladic (mainland) and Cycladic (islands) art. see Asian and Mediterranean columns and capitals illustration. !69 aeolian deposit, wind deposit; any soil which has been deposited by the action of the wind. Aeolic capital in classical architecture, a forerunner of the Ionic capital with a rectangular upper section supported by volutes divided by palmette decora- tion. !69 aerarium Lat.; in classical Roman architecture, the public treasury of a community, originally the treasury of the temple of Saturn. aerated concrete, cellular concrete, porous concrete; various types of lightweight concrete for in-situ work and precast products with good thermal insulation, produced by the introduction of bubbles of gas into the mix, either by a foaming agent, by adding foam, by mechanical foaming or by adding a chemical which reacts with the concrete to produce gas bubbles; see also gas con- crete, foamed concrete. aeration the introduction of air into a material such as soil, water, concrete etc.; especially the introduction of oxygen into raw sewage to reduce the quantity of other dissolved gases. aeration tank, oxidation tank; a tank in a waste water treatment plant in which raw sewage is treated by biological action initiated by the introduction of air. aerator see tap aerator. aerial, 1 antenna, (pl. antennae); a telecommuni- cations receiver for airborne electromagnetic transmissions. 2 see satellite link aerial. aerial amplifier an electronic device for increasing the strength of signals picked up by an antenna or aerial. aerial perspective, 1 a perspective drawing in which the object or scene is viewed as from the air; usually a panoramic view. 2 atmospheric projection; a method of rendering a drawing to achieve the illusion of depth by drawing objects in the background less distinctly. aerial photograph a photograph of a site, building or geographical feature taken from the air. aerial ropeway a transportation system using ropes supported between towers to convey goods. aerial survey the photographing of areas of land and coastline from the air for photogrammetrical map-making. aerial view a presentation drawing, graphic visualization or photograph in which the subject or scene is viewed from above. aerodrome see airfield. aerodynamics a science which deals with gases in motion. aerosol a suspension of fine particles of solid or liquid in a gas, usually air. aerosol glue see spray adhesive. aerosol spraying the spraying of a paint, varnish, glue or other liquid from a pressurized airtight container to form an aerosol; used for applying even coatings. aerostatics a science which deals with the equilibrium and pressure of gases. Aesculapian column see serpent column. !69 Aesculapius see staff of Asclepius. !120 Aesculus spp. see horse chestnut. Aesculus hippocastanum, see European horse chestnut. aesthete 1 a follower of the Aesthetic Movement in the 1800s. 2 any person who lives with a sense of artistic sensibility. aesthetic pertaining to the visual nature of an object or work of art; visually and sensually pleasing, beau- tiful. aesthetic control in town planning, the control of development with respect to its external appearance, massing, materials etc. Aestheticism a theory of art developed by Immanuel Kant in the 1700s, based on the premise that art can be judged only within the bounds of an aesthetic philosophy. Aesthetic Movement an artistic movement in England from the late 1800s promoting the idea of art for art’s sake. aesthetics the philosophy of beauty in art; the study of an object with regard to its visual and sensual impact. aetoma see aetos. !86 aetos, aetoma; Gk; in classical Greek architecture, the tympanum of a pediment, usually ornamented with figures. !86 afara see limba. afforestation, forestation; in landscaping and forestry, the planting of open land, mountainsides, recreation areas and derelict industrial areas with trees to form woodland or forest. affronted a description of ornament or sculptured figures depicted facing towards the front or situated face to face; see also addorsed. A-frame a simple triangulated framework of two leaning beams meeting at a ridge, connected by a stiffening collar. African cherry see makore. African ebony [Diospyros crassiflora, Diospyros piscatoria] a tropical African hardwood with especially heavy, dark timber. African mahogany, khaya; [Khaya ivorensis, Khaya spp.] a group of West African hardwoods with relatively strong and durable orange-brown timber; used for interior joinery, furniture and boat-building. africanum see opus africanum. !83 African walnut, alona, Congo wood; [Lovoa trichilioides, Lovoa klaineana] a West African hardwood with plain golden brown timber; used for furniture, panelling and veneers. African whitewood see obeche. afrormosia, kokrodua; [Pericopsis elata] a West African hardwood with rich yellow-brown timber used for internal and external joinery, furniture and as a substitute for teak. afterimage, accidental colours; in colour physiology, an image which appears in comple- mentary colours on a neutral or white background when the gaze is removed from a strong chromatic image. afzelia, doussie; [Afzelia spp.] a group of African hardwoods with durable reddish brown timber; used for interior and external joinery and cladding. against the grain in the milling of timber, the direction of cutting in which the grain of the piece is sloping upwards and into the milling edge. agalma Gk; a work of art, votive sculpture etc. dedicated to a deity in a classical Greek temple. !84, !86 8 adz
- 25. agate 1 a microcrystalline variety of the mineral chalcedony, of variable colour and pattern; used in technology, as gemstones and for decoration. 2 henna; a shade of reddish brown resembling the colour of the above, or the pigment prepared from the leaves of the tropical plant henna, Lawsonia inermis. Agave sisalana see sisal. agent 1 a material or substance used for its effect on another material or process; in concreting it is often called an admixture; types of agent included as separate entries are listed below. air-detraining agent, see air-detraining admixture. air-entraining agent, see air-entraining admixture. alkaline cleaning agent. binding agent, see binder. bonding agent. cleaning agent. colouring agent, see colourant. emulsifying agent, see emulsifier. flocculating agent, see flocculating admixture. foaming agent. polishing agent, see polish. release agent. retarding agent, see retarder. surface-acting agent. suspension agent, see thickening admixture. thickening agent, see thickening admixture. 2 one employed to organize matters on behalf of another. see site agent. agger Lat.; a Roman earthwork or rampart formed by heaping soil and other material from ditch excavation; the filling material of earth, sand, stone and wood therein. !104 agglomerated cork a light, porous, buoyant material manufactured by reconstituting granulated cork to form slabs and other products. agglomeration the collecting together of very small particles in a suspension to form larger lumps which settle to the bottom. aggregate inert granular material such as sand, gravel, crushed rock and clinker used as a main solid constituent in concrete, plaster, tarmacadam and asphalt; types of aggregate listed as separate entries are listed below. angular aggregate. blended aggregate. coarse aggregate. continuously graded aggregate. crushed aggregate. crusher-run aggregate. cubical aggregate. elongated aggregate. expanded aggregate. !49 expanded clay aggregate, expanded shale agg- regate, see expanded aggregate. !49 fine aggregate. flaky aggregate. flaky and elongated aggregate. gap graded aggregate. graded aggregate. light expanded clay aggregate, see expanded aggregate. lightweight aggregate. manufactured aggregate. natural aggregate. rounded aggregate. single sized aggregate. sintered aggregate. wood particle aggregate. aggregate block same as aggregate concrete block. !30 aggregate/cement ratio the ratio of the mass of aggregate to that of cement in concrete or mortar. aggregate concrete block see concrete block, usually refers to a lightweight aggregate concrete block. !30 aggregate exposure a finish treatment for a concrete surface in which water, or in some cases acid, is sprayed to wash away the surface layer of cement, revealing the coarse aggregate; the result is called exposed aggregate concrete. aggregate impact value a measure of the resistance of aggregates used in road construction to fracture under impact, governed by the amount of debris resulting from repeated compactive testing. aggressive water, corrosive water; piped supply water with dissolved carbon dioxide, acids or minerals which pose a corrosive hazard to copper pipework and equipment. agitating lorry see agitating vehicle. agitating vehicle, agitating lorry, truck mixer; a vehicle which both transports and mixes concrete. Agnus Dei Latin for ‘Lamb of God’; in religious symbolism, a representation of Christ as a lamb with a cross and chalice. !119 agora Gk; in classical architecture, a market or meeting place in a Greek city, the hub of public life where the most important public buildings were situated; cf. forum. !94 agreement 1 a binding decision made between two parties, a contract. 2 see articles of agreement. agricultural drain see field drain. agricultural land, farmland; in land use planning, any land used or designated to be used for agriculture. agricultural unit an area of agricultural land and associated buildings farmed as a unit. agriculture see farming. Agromyza spp. see pith flecks. A-hinge a hinge whose leaves are elongated and triangular, forming a lozenge shape when opened out; used for hanging wide or heavy doors. !38 AIA the American Institute of Architects, the national association of architects in the United States. aid any substance added to a process to make it function more efficiently rather than affect the properties of the resulting product. aile a wing or flank of a fortification. aileron in church architecture, a gable with one vertical edge closing the end of an aisle; a half- gable. !113 aims of the competition the particular task for which entrants to an architectural or planning competition are to find suitable solutions. air admittance valve a valve in a drainage system to permit the entrance of ventilating fresh air and to even out pressure differences. airborne sound sound conveyed as pressure waves in air. airborne sound transmission sound transmission through the air rather than the fabric of a building. air brick, ventilating brick; a brick with regular round perforations from stretcher face to stretcher face, used to reduce the weight of walling construc- tion and for ventilating cavity walls, basement spaces etc. !16 airbrushing a graphic technique employing paint sprayed with a special nozzle powered by compressed air. air-change rate, ventilation rate; the specified number of times per hour that ventilating air in a room is completely renewed and old air extracted, expressed as the hourly volume of air provided to a space divided by the volume of the space. air conditioning 1 a mechanical installation system providing warmed, cooled, clean and otherwise treated air into the habitable spaces of a building. 2 see central air conditioning. air-conditioning duct an air duct used in an air-conditioning installation. see air-conditioning duct in office building illustration. !60 agate 9
- 26. air-conditioning unit, air-handling unit; a piece of mechanical services equipment for treating and conveying clean air into a space or building. air content 1 the total amount of air in a substance, expressed as a percentage by volume. 2 in concreting, the total volume of air voids per unit volume in vibrated concrete, expressed as a percentage. air-control tower see control tower. air current the directional movement of heating and ventilation air within a space by convection. air-detraining admixture, air-detraining agent; in concretework, an admixture included in the concrete mix to inhibit the inclusion of air. air-detraining agent see air-detraining admixture. air diffuser in air conditioning, an inlet grille which gives direction to supply air. air diffusion see diffusion. air distribution in air conditioning, the pumping of air via ducting to points of supply. air-distribution system in air conditioning, an installation consisting of ducting and pumping plant for distributing treated air to outlets. air dried, air seasoned; timber having reached equilibrium with outdoor atmospheric humidity, specified as 12% moisture content. air duct 1 in air conditioning and mechanical ventila- tion, a long closed pipe or vessel of sheetmetal for conveying air to its points of use. see air duct in office building illustration. !60 2 see ventilation duct. !60 air-entrained concrete a form of concrete with increased workability and resistance to weathering and frost, into which minute bubbles of air have been introduced using an air-entraining admixture. air-entraining admixture, air-entraining agent; in concretework, an admixture included in the concrete mix to promote the inclusion of air. air-entraining agent see air-entraining admixture. air entrainment, entraining; the deliberate incorporation of tiny air bubbles into concrete to improve its workability and frost resistance. airfield, aerodrome; a non-commercial area of land and associated buildings to accommodate the taking off, landing and administration of aircraft. air filter in air conditioning, a porous barrier to collect impurities and particles from intake air. air flow the directional movement of ventilation air within ductwork, usually induced by a fan. air gap 1 in piped water supply, the vertical height between the outlet of a tap and rim of a sink, or ballvalve and overflow, a measure of the precaution against backsiphonage. 2 a narrow space between adjacent building components or materials allowed for in construction for the circulation of ventilating air, or for insulating purposes. !8 air-gap membrane a resilient membrane of high density polyethylene or similar polymer preformed with a grid of dimples or raised pattern, laid against foundation walls as tanking, also providing a small ventilating gap to allow moisture a passage out of the substructure; also called a cavity drainage membrane or tanking membrane. !29, !57, !59 air-handling luminaire a light fitting so designed that exhaust air from an air-conditioning or ventilation system is extracted through it. air-handling plant room seeventilationplantroom. air-handling unit 1 see air-conditioning unit. 2 see fan unit. airing cupboard, 1 wardrobe; a small ventilated room for the storage of clothes and household fabrics. 2 see drying cupboard. air inlet 1 see fresh-air inlet. !58 2 see fresh-air vent. !58 air intake see return-air terminal unit. air jet, airstream; the directed flow of ventilation and air-conditioning air produced by a supply air inlet. airless spraying, hydraulic spraying; an industrial painting process employing a high pressure pistol with a fine nozzle to apply even coatings to building components and furniture. air lock 1 an intermediate enclosed space or lobby between spaces with different environments or air conditions, affording access from one space to the other with minimal movement of air between the two. 2 an unwanted bubble of air trapped in pipework, inhibiting the flow of water or other fluids. air outlet see supply air terminal unit. !60 air pocket see air void. air pollution pollution caused by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, emissions from various industrial processes, dust and grit from quarries and cement works, and the fumes from chemical works, oil refineries and motor vehicles. airport see air terminal. air-raid shelter see civil defence shelter. !61 air receiver see air vessel. air release valve, bleed valve, pet-cock; a valve for releasing unwanted air or other gases from a system of pipes, cisterns etc. air resistance the property of a pigment in paint to remain stable both in colour and structure when exposed to the effects of air and airborne pollutants. air seasoned see air dried. airstream see air jet. airstrip, runway; a flat strip of land, nowadays paved with tarmac or concrete with systems of markings and guide lights, for aircraft to take off and land. air-supported structure, pneumatic structure; any structure inflated with air as a means of structural support. air terminal, airport; a complex with runways and associated buildings at which commercial aircraft land for loading and unloading of passengers and goods. air terminal unit 1 in air conditioning and ventila- tion, any device, grille, diffuser etc. through which air is supplied to or extracted from a space. 2 see supply air terminal unit. see air terminal unit in office building illustra- tion. !60 air termination a component or system of vertical or horizontal metal rods located on a roof to intercept lightning strikes; part of a lightning protection installation for a building. air test, pneumatic test; a test to inspect and locate leaks in pipework using compressed air which is introduced into the closed system and its pressure monitored over a period of time. airtight, hermetic; furnished with seals, joints or mechanisms to prevent the flow of gas to or from an enclosed space; impermeable to air. air-to-air heat transmission coefficient see U-value. air treatment in air conditioning, the heating, cooling, purifying, filtering and humidifying or dehumidifying of air from the outside prior to distribution. air vent a terminal device designed to allow the passage of fresh air to a space from the outside, or for release of stale air. !56 air vessel, air receiver; a pressurized vessel in an air compression system for the storage of compressed air for use while the pump is not in action. air void, air pocket; in concretework, small spaces or voids in hardened concrete containing air and formed by air bubbles either intentionally introduced as entrapped air or unintentionally as entrapped air. aisle 1 an open passageway in a building for circulation. 10 air-conditioning unit
- 27. 2 a longitudinal corridor flanking the nave of a church, basilica etc., bounded by an arcade or row of columns. see Roman basilica illustration. !93 see Early Christian church illustration. !95 see Byzantine domical church illustration. !96 see Carolingian abbey church illustration. !98 see Romanesque church illustration. !99 see Gothic cathedral illustration. !100 see Scandinavian hall church illustration. !102 3 an open corridor running down the side of certain traditional timber-framed buildings, bounded by main posts and side walls. aisled building a traditional timber-framed building type with rows of intermediate posts to support roof construction, thus forming side aisles in plan. aisle post, arcade post; in traditional timber- framed building, one of a number of intermediate posts supporting a roof and forming an interior aisle or arcade. akanthos Greek form of acanthus. !81, !82, !121 akheiropoeitos Greek form of acheiropoeitos. Akkadian period, Accadian period; a naturalistic period in Mesopotamian art from the Akkadian age, 2470–2285 BC. akropodion Greek form of acropodium. akropolis Greek form of acropolis. !94 akroterion Greek form of acroterion. !78 ala 1 Lat., pl. alae; a small opening, alcove or room off the atrium in a Roman dwelling. !88 2 one of the side extensions of the rear wall of the cella of an Etruscan temple. !85 3 a side aisle in a basilica. alabaster 1 a compact, fine-grained form of pure gypsum (calcium sulphate) with similar rocks such as calcareous sinter or onyx marble; easily worked, and used for interior decoration and sculptured ornament. 2 marble white, orange grey; a shade of light orange grey which takes its name from the above and some pale-coloured forms of marble. alabastron an ancient Greek round-bottomed ceramic jug for containing ointment, perfume and oil; especially one made from alabaster. alae plural form of ala. !85 alarm 1 any security or safety device which produces a signal in the form of a noise or light once triggered by a detector. 2 see fire alarm. alarm bell a metal percussive device which produces a noise as an alarm sound. alarm glass laminated glass whose interlayer is inlaid with fine electric wires connected to a circuit, which activate an alarm if broken. alarm system 1 a system of warning bells, lights and other means which react to the presence of hazards in buildings such as fire, toxic gases and unauthorized entrants. 2 see intruder alarm system. alarm thermometer a thermometer which sounds an alarm when a certain temperature has been reached. alatorium Lat.; a wall-walk behind the battlements of a Roman fortification to enable defending soldiers to protect their position from above; an alure or parapet walk. albarium opus Lat.; see opus albarium. !83 albedo see reflectance. album Lat.; a tablet where announcements and messages were left, set in a public place in a Roman town. albumen glue glue manufactured from egg protein. albumen print a type of early photographic print, introduced in 1850, produced on paper coated with albumen (egg-white) and salt with silver nitrate. alburnum see sapwood. !1 alcazar a Spanish fortified dwelling or palace, in particular a Moorish palace in an urban setting, inhabited by the regional military governor. alcove 1 any recess formed in the thickness of, or bounded by, the wall of a room. 2 a similar recess to contain a bed. 3 see ala. !88 alder [Alnus spp.] a group of hardwoods with light, soft, fine-textured, non-durable, pinkish timber. Alnus glutinosa, see common alder. Alnus incana, see grey alder. Alnus rubra, see red alder. aleatorium Lat.; a room for playing dice games in a classical Roman building. aleipterion Gk; see alipterion. !91 Aleurites spp. see tung oil. Alexandrian blue see Egyptian blue. alexandrinum see opus alexandrinum. algebra a mathematical system of calculation and investigation in which numbers are substituted by symbols. algorithm a set of rules or procedures for solving calculations, the basis of a computer program. aliasing in computer graphics, imperfections in lower resolution graphics which make diagonal lines appear stepped. alidade, diopter; a sighting device for a surveying level. alien house a monastic settlement founded in England in the Middle Ages by monks from abroad, usually France. alignment 1 the compositional lining up of a series of building masses or adjacent constructional surfaces, points and patterns. 2 a prehistoric straight row of standing stones, laid out for ceremonial, astronomical or symbolic purposes. alipterion, unctuarium (Lat.); a room in a Roman bath house in which bathers were anointed with oils; alternative spelling is aleipterion (Gk). !91 alizarin 1 a red dye used by the ancients and produced by grinding the root of the common madder plant, [Rubia tinctorum]; after 1868 it has been manufactured artificially from anthraquinone. 2 alizarin colour; a range of dyestuffs manufactured in this way, with the addition of metal oxides to impart different shades of colour. alizarin blue a range of artificial blue dyes used in printing inks; see alizarin. alizarin brown, madder brown, brown madder; a brown form of the pigment alizarin crimson. alizarin colour see alizarin. alizarin crimson, alizarin lake, alizarin red, alizarin scarlet; an organic synthetic red pigment obtained from anthracene, a coal tar derivative, introduced in 1868 and used in water-based and oil paints. alizarin lake see alizarin crimson. alizarin red see alizarin crimson. alizarin scarlet see alizarin crimson. alizarin violet, violet madder lake; a clear transparent purple pigment manufactured from purpurin. alizarin yellow a synthetic transparent dull yellow pigment; see alizarin. alkali a water-soluble base or salt, especially hydroxide, which reacts with acids. alkali-aggregate reaction, concrete cancer; an undesirable chemical reaction in concrete between alkalis contained in the Portland cement binder and some aggregates, causing internal swelling, rupture and scaling of the surface. alkali feldspar a mineral, potassium feldspar or sodium-enriched plagioclase rock. alkali metal one of a group of soft reactive metals from group Ia of the periodic table (lithium, sodium, potassium etc.) which form soluble hydroxides. alkaline having the characteristics of an alkali; containing an alkali. aisled building 11
- 28. alkaline cleaning agent any highly effective metal cleaning product based on a solution of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) or potassium hydroxide (NaOH, KOH), silicates, or phosphates, with a balanced amount of surfactants in water. alkaline-earth metal one of a group of light volatile metal elements from group IIa of the periodic table (beryllium, calcium, strontium, magnesium, barium and radium), which form strong alkaline oxide. alkalinity the ability of a water-based solution to react with hydrogen ions. alkali-reactive referring to a chemical compound which reacts with an alkali. alkali-resistant paint acrylic or resin paint with good resistance to alkali attack, suitable for use on concrete surfaces. alkali-resistant primer primer used on concrete surfaces beneath other paints to protect them against alkali attack from the concrete. alkali wash a treatment to remove grease and other impurities from metal surfaces with an alkaline solution containing a detergent and a surfactant before coating or painting. alkyd baking enamel see alkyd stoving enamel. alkyd paint an oil paint which contains alkyd resins, used externally as a coating and wood preservative; it is easy to brush, durable and quick drying. alkyd putty a sealing and glazing compound with an alkyd resin binder. alkyd resin a synthetic polyester resin used in the manufacture of paints, formed by combining an alcohol with an acid. alkyd stoving enamel, alkyd baking enamel; a hardwearing paint coating used for metal components, based on a melamine or carbamine and alkyd resin binder, applied as a liquid spray and baked on. alkyd varnish a varnish with alkyd resin as a binder, used as a protective coating for furniture, joinery and timber floors. alla prima, au premier coup; a method of oil painting in which a single layer of pigment is applied to a white canvas without the use of a base, retouching, glazes or underpainting. allegory art which seeks to convey an idea or feeling through the portrayal of a tale, event or situation. allen head screw a screw with hexagonal recess in its head, turned using an allen key. !36 allen key a small L-shaped metal spanner, hexagonal in cross-section, for tightening bolts and screws with a suitably shaped sinking in their heads. alley, close (Sc); a narrow external circulation space in an urban area, a road or path bounded on both sides by built form, intended for pedestrians and vehicles. all-glass balustrade a simple balustrade which is a sheet of toughened and/or laminated glass, secured at its lower edge. !54 all-glass door a door whose leaf is an unframed sheet of structural glass, often tempered or laminated, to which hinges and door furniture are fixed. !51 see types of door illustration. !51 see office building illustration. !60 alligatoring see crocodiling. allocation see appropriation. allotment a small plot of usually public land, often in an urban setting, set aside for the cultivation of vegetables and other plants by local inhabitants. allowance, 1 clearance, installation allowance; spaces left between adjacent components in design such as the space between a hinged door leaf or window casement and its frame, to allow for fitting, installation, manufacturing tolerances, expansion, workmanship and movement. !51 2 see rebate. alloy 1 a composition of two or more chemical elements, one of which is always a metal, combined together to form a metal substance which benefits from their combined properties to provide improved strength, ductility, corrosion resistance etc. 2 the level of purity of a precious metal such as silver or gold, measured in carats. alloy steel steel which contains over 5% carbon and other metals to improve its basic properties of strength, hardness and resistance to corrosion. all-seeing eye see eye of God. !119 all-surface pencil a pencil with a special lead, often coloured, which can leave a line on any surface, including glass. allure see alure. !103 alluvial deposit a soil type which has been deposited by the action of a river or stream. almandine a reddish variety of the mineral garnet. almary see aumbry. almery see aumbry. almond the mystical almond; see mandorla. !119 almond green a shade of dark green which takes its name from the underside of the leaves of the almond tree (Amygdalus communis, Prunus dulcis, Prunus amygdalus). almond tree see almond green. almonry a room or outbuilding in a church or monastery from which alms are distributed to the poor and needy. see almonry in Carolingian monastery illustra- tion. !97 almshouse a dwelling or group of dwellings traditionally provided for the poor and needy by private money or charity. Alnus spp. see alder. Alnus glutinosa, see common alder. Alnus incana, see grey alder. Alnus rubra, see red alder. alona see African walnut. along the grain parallel to the general direction of the grain in timber. alpha and omega the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, and o or A and , signifying the eternity of God, without beginning or end, in religious symbolism. !119 alpha radiation penetrating electromagnetic radiation consisting of positively charged helium nuclei emitted from naturally radioactive elements. altar 1 the focal point of worship in a church, temple or shrine. see types of altar illustration. !116 see Greek residential building illustration. !87 see Scandinavian church illustration. !102 2 see sacrificial altar. 3 see thymele. !89 4 see high altar. !95 5 see side altar, by-altar. !96 6 see hestia. !87 7 see lararium. !88 8 see eschara. !87, !116 9 see bomos. !84, !92, !116 altar canopy in religious architecture, a canopy structure over an altar; a ciborium, baldachin or tabernacle. !95, !116 altare mobile Lat.; see portatile. !116 altare portatile Lat.; see portatile. !116 altar frontal 1 see antependium. !116 2 see antemensale. !116 altarpiece a work of art containing religious themes, placed behind an altar and often surrounded by a frame or portico. see altar illustration. !116 see Scandinavian hall church illustration. !102 altar platform 1 see suppedaneum. !102, !116 2 see bema. !95, !96 altar rail, communion rail; in religious architec- ture, a rail or low balustrade in front of an altar which separates the altar and clergy from the 12 alkaline cleaning agent
- 29. congregation, and at which communion is admi- nistered. !116 see altar illustration. !116 see Scandinavian hall church illustration. !102 altar screen 1 in religious architecture, a screen of wood or metal, often perforated or latticed, which separates the altar from the surrounding spaces; often a rood screen. !95, !98 2 see reredos. altar table, mensa; the table on which the sacrament is administered by the clergy in a church. !116 altar tomb in church architecture, a tomb of a saint or martyr in the form of an altar with an effigy of the deceased lain on top. !116 alteration a minor change to a building, requiring construction work. alternate bay construction see chequerboard construction, alternate lane construction. alternate lane construction, alternate bay construction; a method of casting large areas of concrete floors etc. in which adjacent parallel areas are cast first and harden prior to casting of the remaining voids; see chequerboard construction. alternating current, AC; electric current which reverses its direction of flow at a regular frequency. alternating system of supports see alternation of support. !25, !100 alternating tread stair a stair with wedge-shaped steps arranged so that their wider edges alternate from side to side as the stair is ascended, used for steep stairs where space is limited. !45 alternation of support, alternating system of supports; a system of columnar supports for a Romanesque arcade or vaulting, in which alternating columns or piers have variations in column type, cross-section of shaft, embellishment etc. !25, !100 alternative another choice, possibility, offering or plan. alternative escape route in planning for fire safety, a secondary specified escape route which may be used in the event that a main route cannot be reached. alternative exit in planning for fire safety, a secondary specified exit from an escape route. alternative offer in project administration, the offer by a tendering contractor to carry out work, or particular parts of it, in a manner differing to that outlined in contract documents. altitude 1 the height of a specified point above sea level. 2 the perpendicular height of a triangle or a line defining it, measured from the apex to the base. 3 see solar altitude. alto rilievo, high relief; sculptured relief ornament in which figures or elements are carved to such a depth as to appear separate from their background. alum, potash alum; a sulphate salt of aluminium and potassium, white crystals used in the production of some glues and in the leather industry. alum gypsum, marble gypsum; a mixture of plaster of Paris soaked with alum solution, burnt and finely ground, used as a high strength, hard plaster for tiles, boards, render and in-situ work. alumina, aluminium oxide; a chemical compound, Al2O3, used in the manufacture of some types of brick, as an abrasive, and as a fireproof lining for ovens. see corundum. alumina hydrate an artificial form of aluminium hydroxide used as an inert base in oil paints. aluminium, 1 aluminum (Am.); a pale, lightweight, ductile, common metal, Al, an important building material used for lightweight constructions, cladding and extrusions. 2 a shade of light grey named after the above. aluminium alloy aluminium which contains other metals such as manganese, magnesium and silicon to improve strength. aluminium brass an alloy of brass with added aluminium to improve strength, hardness and corrosion resistance. aluminium bronze a bright golden-yellow alloy of copper and aluminium which is strong and corrosion resistant. aluminium door any door manufactured primarily from aluminium parts. aluminium-faced timber window see composite window. !53 aluminium fencing proprietary fencing whose structure and fabric are of aluminium. aluminium foil aluminium produced in the form of very thin sheets. aluminium-framed window see aluminium window. !53 aluminium hydroxide a non-toxic chemical alliance of aluminium with oxygen and hydrogen, AlOH, used as a white pigment. aluminium mesh any mesh product manufactured primarily from aluminium. see wire mesh illustrations. !34 aluminium oxide Al2O3, see alumina. see corundum. aluminium paint a metallic paint consisting of powdered aluminium and a vehicle such as oil. aluminium plate aluminium or aluminium alloy supplied in the form of metal plate. see metal plate illustration. !34 see chequerplate, checkerplate. !34 aluminium profile often synonymous with aluminium section, but usually more complex, thin-walled or hollow; used for patent glazing, door frames etc. see metal profiles illustration. !34 aluminium roofing see aluminium sheet roofing. aluminium section any thin length of aluminium steel which has been preformed by a process of welding, extrusion etc. into a uniform cross-section of certain shape and dimensions. see metal sections illustration. !34 aluminium sheet aluminium rolled into sheets not more than 3 mm thick; used for exterior cladding etc. see sheetmetal illustration. !34 aluminium sheet roofing profiled roofing of corrosion-free coated aluminium sheet used largely for industrial and low cost buildings. aluminium window 1 a window whose frame is made primarily from coated aluminium; an aluminium-framed window. !53 2 aluminium-faced timber window, see composite window. !53 aluminium-zinc coating a protective galvanized surface coating for steel sheeting of hot-dip zinc with 55% aluminium and a small amount of silicon. alumino-thermic welding see thermit welding. aluminum see aluminium. alur see alure. !103 alure a raised defensive walkway or gallery along the top of an external wall in a castle or fortification, often roofed and protected from enemy fire by battlements or a parapet; also called an alur, allure, rampart, parapet walk, bailey walk or wall-walk. !103 amalgam 1 a poisonous alloy of mercury and another metal. 2 any mixture of two or more substances. amaranth, amaranth purple, amaranth rose; a shade of dark purple named after the colour of the leaves of the amaranth plant (Amaranthus spp.). amaranth purple see amaranth. amaranth rose see amaranth. Amaranthus spp. see amaranth. Amarna art and culture from the time of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten (also known as Amenhotep IV, 1353–1336 BC), characterized by a new freedom in painting, natural realism and altar screen 13
- 30. reverence of the sun god; named after the Nile city established as the kingdom’s capital. amber, succinite; the fossilized resin from pine trees, a yellowish brown organic mineral; used as a gemstone, for decoration and as a raw material in some paints. amber yellow a shade of greyish yellow which takes its name from the fossilized resin, amber. ambient sound see background noise. ambitus Lat.; in classical architecture, a niche in a tomb for a body or urn, or the area round the tomb. ambo, 1 ambones (Lat.); a raised stone pulpit or dais in an Early Christian or Byzantine church, often surmounted by an altar at either side. !95 2 see epistle ambo. !95 3 see gospel ambo. !95 ambones Latin form of ambo. ambrosia beetle [Scotylidae, Platypodidae] a number of species of insect which cause damage to unseasoned hardwood and softwood by burrowing. ambrotype a pioneering photographic process patented in 1854, which utilized a bleached glass negative laid against a black background. ambry see aumbry. ambulatio Lat.; an open area or courtyard in a Roman bath house for taking exercise. !91 ambulatorium Latin form of ambulatory. ambulatory 1 a place for walking in a cathedral or abbey church, a cloister, apse aisle etc. 2 a semicircular extension of side aisles of a church to form a walk behind the high altar and round the apse; any similar processional way in a church. see Late Antique church illustration. !95 see Romanesque church illustration. !99 see Gothic cathedral illustration. !100 see altar illustration. !116 Amen see Amun. !74 amendment see revision. amendment arrow see arrowhead. !130 amendment block see revision panel. !130 amendment cloud see revision cloud. !130 amenity grassland in town planning, an extensive area of grass, parkland etc. with functional or aesthetic value, designated for recreational use. American ash [Fraxinus spp.] a common name for the green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and the white ash, Fraxinus americana, North American hardwoods with tough and flexible grey-brown timber used for furniture, interiors and tool handles. American axe see felling axe. American beech [Fagus grandifolia] a North American hardwood with whitish pink timber; used for interiors and furniture. American bond see English garden-wall bond. !19 American caisson see box caisson. American cherry, black cherry (Am.); [Prunus serotina] a North American hardwood with reddish brown timber; used for furniture. American elm [Ulmus americana] a North American hardwood with strong, tough and flexible pale reddish brown timber; used for interior joinery, furniture and coffins. American lime see basswood. American mahogany see mahogany. American plane, buttonwood, sycamore; [Platanus occidentalis] a North American hardwood with reddish brown timber, used for interiors and furniture. American Standard Code for Information Interchange see ASCII. American walnut, black walnut; [Juglans nigra] a North American hardwood with rich dark brown timber, valued for its decorative figure; used for furniture, panelling and veneers. American white oak [Quercus alba] one of a number of similar species of North American hardwood used for flooring and other hardwearing applications. American whitewood see tulipwood. American with Flemish bond see Flemish stretcher bond. !18 americium a radioactive chemical element, Am. amethyst 1 a form of purple or violet crystalline quartz, used mainly as gemstones and for decorative ornament. 2 amethyst violet; a shade of violet named after the above. amethyst violet see amethyst. aminobenzene see aniline. amino-plastic a group of thermosetting resins formed by copolymerizing urea or melamine with an aldehyde, used for pressings, adhesives, coat- ings and laminates. ammeter an electrical instrument for measuring the flow of current in an electrical circuit. ammonia a colourless, water-soluble, gaseous, chemical compound, NH3, which is strongly alkaline in solution and is corrosive to alloys of copper; used as a refrigerant and as a cleaning agent. ammonium chloride, sal ammoniac; a white, crystalline, water-soluble, chemical compound, NH4Cl, used in soldering flux, dry cells and in iron cement. ammonium nitrate a white, crystalline, water- soluble, chemical compound, NH4NO3, used in explosives, fertilizers and freezing mixtures. ammonium phosphate a chemical compound, N2H9PO4, used as a fire retardant and in fertilizers. Amon see Amun. !74 amoretto see cupid. !122 amorino see cupid. !122 amorphous referring to a material whose molecules and atoms do not form a crystalline structure, or one with no determinate shape or structure. amortization the repayment of a debt in regular instalments. amount a value defining how much or how many of a given substance or product there is. amp see ampere. ampere, amp; abb. A; SI unit of electrical current equal to a flow of one coulomb per second. amphibole a black, dark green or brown rock-forming mineral with a double chain silicate structure, which increases the strength and toughness of the rocks in which it is found. amphibolite a durable grey-green metamorphic rock formed from gabbro or basalt. amphiprostyle in classical architecture, referring to a temple with rows of columns and a portico at each end but not along the sides; amphiprostylos in Greek. !84 amphiprostyle temple see above. !84 amphitheater see amphitheatre. amphitheatre, 1 amphitheater (Am.); a classical arena for gladiatorial contests and spectacles consisting of an oval or round space surrounded by tiered seating for spectators; amphitheatron in Greek. !90 see Roman amphitheatre illustration. !90 2 any curved or tiered structure, such as a natural hollow in the landscape used as theatre seating, a large housing mass etc. amplifier see aerial amplifier. amplitude the depth of a wave, measured from its midpoint to its lowest point. ampulla pl. ampullae; a small clay storage vessel or vase for oils and perfumes; in the Catholic church, a vessel containing oil used for religious rituals; also a similar ornamented orb used in regal coronations or a vessel used by Christian pilgrims etc. to contain ceremonial lamp-oil. !95 Amsterdam, School of a movement in Dutch architecture from the 1920s and 1930s 14 amber
- 31. characterized by plastic forms in red brick, a contrast to the de Stijl movement. Amun chief deity of the Theban triad (along with Mut and Khonsu) in Egyptian mythology, focus of cult worship in the New Kingdom at Karnak, Thebes; the ‘unseen one’ or ‘lord of all gods’, depicted as a human wearing ram’s horns and the twin-feathered crown; also written as Amon, Amen. !74 amusement arcade a building or space for entertainment, often at an amusement park, housing various recreational facilities such as video games, slot machines etc. amusement park, fairground, pleasure-ground; a recreational area containing carousels, arcades and sideshows etc. amusement structure any of the recreational structures found at fairgrounds or amusement parks. Amygdalus communis the almond tree; see almond green. amyl acetate an organic chemical compound used as a solvent for nitrocellulose lacquers. anactoron in classical Greek architecture, the sacred hall, shrine or building dedicated to the Mysteries; also anaktoron. !92 anaerobic adhesive an adhesive which sets by polymerization in the absence of oxygen. anaerobic sealant a sealant which sets by polymerization in the absence of oxygen. anaglyph referring to an ornament which has been embossed or sculpted in low relief. anaglypta surface ornament sculpted or embossed in low relief. anaktoron Greek form of anactoron. !92 analemma, iskhegaon; Gk; a retaining wall in ancient Greece and Rome, especially one supporting the side of a classical theatre. !89 analogous model see synthetic model. analogue detector an electronic fire detector which sends warning signals to a central computer in the event of fire. analytical statics a science which deals with the mathematical state of equilibrium. anamorphosis a distorted projection or drawing of something which, through optical illusion, appears normal or recognizable when viewed from a particular point or with a particular mirror. anastasis in Byzantine art, a depiction of the resurrection of the Old Testament saints. anastylosis in building conservation, the process of reconstructing a historic building in such a way that new and added parts and materials are clearly differentiated from the original. anathyrosis Gk; the dressing of stone joints at the surface of stonework to provide a neat fit, leaving concealed areas unworked or slightly rebated. !12 anchor 1 a metal fixing for connecting a structural member or secondary component firmly to a main structure or to fix something firmly in place; often called an anchorage; types of anchor included as separate entries are listed below. anchor bolt. !36 concrete screw anchor. !36 door-frame anchor, jamb anchor. !50 ground anchor. !29 hollow-wall anchor. !37 rock anchor. !29 wedge anchor. !37 2 a barbed metal object on a length of rope or cable, designed for keeping ships and boats at mooring by affixing to the sea bed; symbolic representations of this in art and architectural ornament. !119 anchorage 1 a system of steel rods, guys, braces, bolts etc. for fixing a structure firmly to its base or to the ground; often synonymous with anchor, although anchorage is usually a construction, anchor a component. !54 see anchorage in suspension bridge illustration. !32 2 the process thus involved. 3 see anchor. 4 see end abutment. 5 see ground anchor. !29 6 see rock anchor. !29 anchor beam 1 in traditional timber frame construction, a beam whose end is anchored to a post by means of a tenon joint. 2 a timber tie beam fixed to the upper ends of parallel side walls of a building to prevent them from buckling outwards. anchor bolt, foundation bolt, ragbolt; a bolt cast into concrete, whose threads are left protruding from the surface so that subsequent components can be attached. !36 anchor bracket a fixing for attaching a pipe to a wall surface so that linear movement of the pipe is restricted. anchor cross a cross whose lower termination is shaped like a ship’s anchor; also known as a crux dissimulata (Lat.). !117 anchored retaining wall a retaining wall restrained on the ground side by a series of ground, pile or rock anchors or a deadman. !29 anchor pile 1 see piled anchorage. !29 2 see tension pile. anchor strap a perforated galvanized steel strip product used for tying adjacent components such as timber framing members, brick leafs etc. together. !22 ancient monument any ancient man-made structure such as a building or earthwork, which is of historical or cultural value and as such is protected by legislation. ancient relic an archaeological finding, site or object which is a surviving memory of a previous culture. ancient stronghold, prehistoric fortress; a castle, earthwork or fortification constructed in prehistoric times. ancillary building, 1 auxiliary building; one of the buildings in a group or complex having a lesser function than a main building, or whose purpose is to serve it. 2 see outbuilding. ancon see ancone. ancona an early Italian altarpiece composed of a number of illustrated panels. !116 ancone, ancon; in classical architecture, a curved ornamental bracket or cornice for supporting a ledge, shelf, balcony, pediment or sculpture. anda ‘egg’; the massive solid dome of an Indian stupa, surmounted by a chattra. !68 andalusite a hard, yellowish, greenish or brownish aluminium silicate mineral used as gemstones and for decoration. andesite a pale-coloured volcanic rock similar to basalt, used for road aggregates. andradite a brownish black variety of the mineral garnet. andron, 1 androne, andronitis; Gk; that part of an ancient Greek building used by men, especially a large formal dining or banqueting room with couches arranged on platforms around its periphery. see andron in Greek residential building illustra- tion. !87 2 a passage or corridor in a Roman dwelling. androne see andron. !87 andronitis see andron. !87 androsphinx in Egyptian architecture, a sphinx with a human head or upper body, usually that of a male. !75 anechoic a description of a highly absorbent acoustic space with no echo, sound reflection or reverberation. Amun 15
- 32. anechoic chamber an acoustic room with highly absorbing surfaces to reduce reverberation times to a minimum, used for testing and recording sound. angel in religious symbolic ornamentation, a winged figure representing a messenger of God; attribute of the apostle Matthew. !119 angel light in Gothic church architecture, especially of the Perpendicular period, a small triangular light between the tracery of a window, panel, or between adjacent lancets. !109 angel roof in church architecture, a pitched timber roof decorated internally with carved angels. Angevin Gothic a style of Gothic architecture characterized by drop arches and associated with the rule of the English Plantagenet kings in Aquitaine. angiosperm a class of plants, including all flowering plants and hardwood trees, having seeds contained in an ovary. angle 1 the spacing or rotational dimension between two lines that diverge. 2 see plane angle. 3 see angle profile. 4 an angle bead, see edge strip. 5 see steel angle. 6 a component of angled guttering used at the eaves of a hipped roof to convey water around a corner. angle bar see steel angle. see angle profile illustration. !34 angle bead, 1 corner bead; a strip of planed timber or other material used as trim to cover the corner joints between walls, floors, ceilings etc. !2 2 see edge strip. !2 3 see plasterwork angle bead. angle bevelled halved joint, lateral bevelled halved joint; a timber angled halved joint in which the laps are bevelled for increased strength. angle brace see angle tie. angle branch a pipe fitting to connect a subsidiary pipe to a main pipe at an acute angle to the direction of flow. angle brick any special brick whose end is formed at angles other than 90 to its stretcher face, used at a change of direction at corners and curves in brick walling. !16 1 see cant brick. !16 2 see squint brick. !16 angled cross see broken cross. !118 angle fillet, 1 arris fillet, cant strip; a horizontal timber strip, triangular in cross-section, laid at internal junctions in construction to round off sharp corners before the laying of membrane roofing, waterproofing etc. !49 2 a similar triangular strip of material included in formwork to provide a chamfer in cast concrete construction. angle grinder a hand-held power tool with a rapidly rotating thin abrasive mineral disc, used for cutting metal sections and grinding stone and metals. angle iron see steel angle. angle joint, corner joint; a joint formed by members which are connected but do not lie in the same line, forming an angle with one another. angle luminaire a luminaire which provides illumination whose light distribution is noticeably directional. angle of attack see cutting angle. angle of friction theanglebetweentheperpendicular to a sloping planar surface and the resultant force of a body placed upon it, measured as the body begins to slide downwards. angle of incidence the angle made by a ray of light meeting a surface and a line perpendicular to the surface. angle of inclination the angle that a line or plane subtends with the horizontal. angle of reflectance the angle made by a ray of light or other waveform with a reflecting surface. angle of refraction the angle through which a ray of light bends on passing through a different medium. angle of repose the angle which the side of a heap of loosely poured material naturally subtends with the horizontal. angle parking, echelon parking; the layout of individual parking spaces in a sawtooth formation diagonal to a carriageway or pavement. !62 angle plane see corner scraper. !41 anglepoise lamp a worktop lamp with a screwed clamp fixing, pivoted supporting arms and a conical shade which can be moved into any position. angle post in traditional timber construction, a corner post in the arcade of a timber-framed building. angle profile, angle; any metal section whose uniform cross-section resembles the letter L; in aluminium these are formed by extrusion and in steel by bending or by cold or hot rolling; also called an L-profile or L-section; see also steel angle. !34 see equal angle. !34 see unequal angle. !34 angle rafter in timber roof construction, a diagonal rafter at the join of two sloping roof planes which meet at an angle; a hip rafter or valley rafter. angle ridge see hip rafter. anglesite a white, grey or black mineral, naturally occurring lead sulphate, PbSO4, used as a local ore of lead. angle stair see quarter turn stair. !45 angle strut in traditional timber frame construction, a slanting compression member in the vertical plane used to brace and strengthen a corner joint. !4 angle tie, angle brace, diagonal brace, diagonal tie, dragon tie; in traditional timber frame construction, a diagonal member in the horizontal plane used to brace and tie together a corner joint; a similar brace in contemporary construction. angle tile 1 in floor and wall tiling, a special L-shaped ceramic tile for covering an internal or external corner. 2 a similarly shaped exterior clay or concrete tile for tile hanging, covering the ridges and hips of tiled roofs etc. angle trowel, corner trowel; 1 a plasterer’s L-shaped trowel for smoothing inside and outside corners. !43 2 internal angle trowel, see twitcher trowel. 3 see external angle trowel. Anglo-Norman architecture see Norman archi- tecture. !109 see medieval capitals illustration. !115 Anglo-Saxon architecture, Saxon architecture; the church architecture or vernacular building of the Anglo-Saxons in England from the fifth century up to the Norman Conquest in 1066, characterized by simple forms and rough ornament. angular relating to an object, form or building mass which is sharp-cornered. angular aggregate coarse aggregate whose particles have sharp edges. angular guilloche see meander. !124 angular hip tile a special L-shaped roof tile for covering the ridge formed by a hip. angular momentum in dynamics, the momentum of a body rotating about a point or axis. angular perspective see two-point perspective. !129 angular ridge tile an L-shaped ridge capping tile for covering a ridge. angular speed see angular velocity. angular unit any unit of measurement of an angle, a degree, radian, steradian. angular velocity, angular speed; the speed at which a body rotates, measured in degrees per second. 16 anechoic chamber
- 33. anhydrite, 1 anhydrous calcium sulphate; natural mineral calcium sulphate, CaSO4; used as a form of plaster and often produced by burning gypsum at high temperatures. 2 see synthetic anhydrite. anhydrous calcium sulphate see anhydrite. anhydrous lime see quicklime. aniline, aminobenzene; a colourless oily liquid, originally produced by the distillation of the indigo plant [Indigofera anil, Indigofera suffruticosa, Indigofera tinctoria], now manufactured from nitrobenzene and used as a base in the production of dyes, drugs, plastics and rubber products. aniline colour a group of synthetic organic pigments, distilled from coal tar and in use prior to the introduction of more permanent pigments. animal capital see protome capital. !115 see bull capital. !69 see eagle capital. see lion capital. !69 animal column, beast column; a decorative Romanesque stone column-type richly sculpted with intertwined animal figures. !114 animal fibre animal hair traditionally used as a building material by adding to a binder as reinforcement for plasters and mortars, or by pressing into slabs as insulation. animal-fibre reinforced referring to composites of animal hair in a binder, traditionally used for cast and in-situ plasterwork, insulation, building boards and panels. animal glue 1 glue made from collagen, a protein released by boiling the bones, hides and muscles of animals. 2 see bone glue. 3 see hide glue. animal interlace, lacertine; any ornament which consists of stylized animal motifs. see decorative motifs illustrations. !122 see Christian symbols illustrations. !119 animal ornamentation any ornamentation which features animals as decorative or symbolic motifs. see column styles in European architecture illustra- tion. !114 see Romanesque and Gothic capitals illustration. !115 see decorative motifs illustrations. !122 see Christian symbols illustrations. !119 animation 1 the running of a series of still images in quick succession to achieve the illusion of movement. 2 see computer animation. anion, negative ion; a negatively charged chemical ion, one attracted to an anode. anionic bitumen emulsion a dispersion of bitumen in water, with an emulsifying additive which coats the particles of bitumen with a negative ion, causing them to repel one another and to remain as separate droplets. anisotropic referring to a material, object or construction which does not display the same properties in all directions; see also isotropic. ankh, ansated cross, crux ansata (Lat.), Egyptian cross; a cross-like symbol whose upper limb is a loop, the symbol of life in ancient Egypt; also sometimes called the cross of Horus, handlebar cross, Coptic cross, key of life or key to the Nile. !74, !117 annealed glass ordinary untoughened glass that has been heated in an oven then cooled slowly to relieve internal stresses that would otherwise arise; cf. toughened glass. !53 annealed wire see binding wire. annealing a heat treatment to soften steel and relieve internal stresses caused by work hardening or welding; the temperature is raised by heating right through to a certain level and then lowered slowly and evenly. annex see annexe. annexe, annex; a supplementary or subsidiary building constructed as an addition to a main building, but not necessarily attached to it physically. annosus root rot, butt rot; [Fomes annosus, Heterobasidion annosum] a fungus which decays the roots of living trees of all ages, especially conifers, spreading into the lower part of the trunk and causing death of the tree. annotation 1 written text or references which provide supplementary clarification about drawn objects in design drawings and documentation. 2 see lettering. annual in landscaping, any non-woody, shallow-rooted plant grown from seed and which flowers, seeds and dies the same year. annual report a document required by law to be produced on a yearly basis by the directors of a company for its shareholders to show the financial state of the company. annual ring, growth ring; one of the ringed markings in the cross-section of a tree trunk, laid down annually as a new layer of timber is formed, appearing as a grain figure in converted timber. !1 annuity, instalment; a periodic payment made at regular intervals towards a loan, pension fund or other such financial agreement. annuity system a method of repayment of a loan in instalments such that the size of instalment remains the same regardless of the proportion of interest. annular in the shape of a ring or closed circle. annular bit see hole saw. !42 annular nail, 1 improved nail, jagged-shank nail, ring-shanked nail; a nail, usually 19 mm–75 mm in length, with a series of ringed protrusions around its shaft to increase its fixing strength when driven into timber. !35 2 see plasterboard nail. annular vault a barrel vault in the form of a ring or a hollow doughnut halved horizontally. annulated column a Romanesque column type with a number of rings or annulets carved at intervals around its shaft; also called a banded or ringed column. !114 annulet, annulus (Lat.), shaft ring; a small semicircular or angular moulding carved round the shaft of a Doric column beneath the capital. !81 annuletted cross see cross annuletty. !118 annulus Lat.; see annulet. !81 annunciator see indicator panel. Anobiidae see furniture beetle. Anobium punctatum see common furniture beetle. anode in electrochemical processes, a positive electrode or terminal to which anions or negatively charged ions are attracted. anodic dip painting see electro-dip painting. anodic oxide coating 1 a layer of aluminium oxide laid down as a protective coating during anodizing. 2 see anodizing. anodization see anodizing. anodized electrochemically coated with aluminium oxide. anodizing, anodic oxide coating, anodization; the electrochemical application of a layer of coloured aluminium oxide as a corrosion-resistant and hardwearing protective surface coating for aluminium products and components. anorthosite a variety of dark gabbro made up of spectral plagioclase or labradorite; see also Spectrolite. Anpu see Anubis. !74 ansated cross see ankh. !117 anse de panier see three-centred arch. !24 answering machine, answerphone; an electronic apparatus which receives and stores telephone messages. anhydrite 17
- 34. answerphone see answering machine. anta Lat.; in classical architecture, a corner pier or pilaster which is of a different classical order than those in the rest of the building, most often an extension of the side walls of the main body of a temple; see antis temple, in antis; plural, antae. !84 antae Lat.; plural form of anta. !84 antarala in Hindu temple architecture, a vestibule leading to a shrine or sanctum. !68 anta temple 1 see antis temple. !84 2 see double antis temple. !84 antecella Lat.; a room, open vestibule etc. preceding a cella, especially in Roman architecture; called pronaos in Greek architecture. see Mesopotamian temple illustration. !66 see apteral temple illustration. !84 see peristyle temple illustration. !85 antechamber see anteroom. see antechamber in rock-cut tomb illustration. !74 antechurch, forechurch; a deep extension to the west end or front of a church, often a number of bays long and with a nave and aisles. !99 antefix see antefixa. antefixa, plural antefixae; Lat.; in classical architecture, one of a number of decorative blocks placed at the eaves of a temple to cover the ends of roofing slabs or tiles. !47 antefixae plural form of antefixa. !47 antemensale ‘in front of the table’ (Lat.); a decora- tive panel or hanging for covering the front of a church altar; an altar frontal. !116 antenna 1 see aerial. 2 satellite antenna, see satellite link aerial. antennae plural form of antenna. antenna amplifier see aerial amplifier. antepagment, antepagmentum (Lat.); in classical architecture, ornamental mouldings around a door or window opening which, according to Vitruvius, derived from the terracotta protective elements in archaic timber architecture and reappeared in stone as enrichment. !84 antepagmenta plural of antepagmentum. !84 antepagmentum Lat.; see antepagment. !84 antependium, altar frontal; ‘suspended in front’ (Lat.); a richly decorated metal, wood or textile ornamental covering, hanging or fixed at the front of an altar. !116 anteroom 1 a vestibule or transition space leading to a main room or hall; often a lobby, porch etc. 2 see prostas. !87 see anteroom in rock-cut tomb illustration. !74 anthemion 1 an ornamental motif found in classical architecture consisting of stylized honeysuckle foliage; the word derives from the Greek for flower, anthos. !82 2 see lotus anthemion. !82 anthemion and palmette an ornamental band motif found in the architecture of antiquity consist- ing of stylized honeysuckle leaves alternating with a palmette design. Anthony’s cross see tau cross. !117 anthracene a blue fluorescent crystalline material obtained from coal tar; used as a raw material in the production of some dyes. anthracene oil an oil produced by the distillation of coal tar at above 270C, used to produce anthracene. anthracite, 1 anthracite coal, stone-coal; a hard, black, non-bituminous mineral consisting of over 94% carbon; used as high grade coal. 2 a shade of black named after the above. anthracite coal see anthracite. anthraquinoid red a transparent red organic pigment suitable for use in oil paints. anthraquinone an organic compound derived from anthracene, used in the manufacture of a small group of synthetic dyestuffs. anthropometric design the design of buildings, rooms etc. according to the relative proportions of measurements taken from the ideal human body, a practice originating during the Renaissance period. !106 anti-bandit laminated glass a class of security glass designed to resist breakage for a short length of time; 10 mm laminated glass is often used. !53 anti-capillary groove see capillary groove. anticipatory cross see tau cross. !117 anticline in geology, an arched rock formation within the bedrock. anti-dazzle screen, glare screen; in road design, a screen running between two carriageways conveying traffic moving in opposite directions, designed to reduce the glare from the headlights of oncoming cars. anti-fading glass laminated glass containing a special interlayer to absorb 99% of ultraviolet light, used in display cases, shop windows etc. to protect coloured objects from fading. anti-flooding gully a drainage gully containing a valve to prevent the backflow of water or other liquid. anti-flooding intercepting trap a drainage trap containing a check valve, which prevents the passage of foul air from a sewer to a drain. anti-flooding valve a valve which prevents a drain or sewer from flooding. anti-foaming admixture in concretework, an admixture included in a concrete mix to inhibit the formation of air bubbles. antifreeze see antifreezing admixture. antifreezing admixture, antifreeze; in con- cretework, an admixture included in the concrete mix to raise its temperature and prevent it from freezing. anti-intruder chain link fencing see woven wire fencing. antimonite see stibnite. antimony a brittle, metallic chemical element, Sb, used in a number of alloys; traditionally known as stibium. antimony fahlerz see tetrahedrite. antimony glance see stibnite. antimony orange see antimony vermilion. antimony trisulphide Sb2S3, see stibnite, antimo- nite, antimony glance. antimony vermilion, antimony orange; a range of bright poisonous red pigments based on antimony trisulphide; introduced in 1848, they have now largely been replaced by cadmium pigments. antimony white a white pigment consisting of antimony oxide mixed with blanc fixe; used as titanium white and usually marketed under the name ‘Timonox’. antimony yellow see Naples yellow. antiquarian a British standard paper size; 31 51, 787 mm 1346 mm. !Table 6 antique glass glass with an uneven surface, hand blown in the traditional way or manufactured to appear that way. Antique (the) see antiquity. antiquity, the Antique; an age in architecture and art prior to the Middle Ages; especially Greek, Hellenistic and Roman architecture, whose principles enjoyed a rebirth during the Renaissance. antiquum opus antiquum, see opus incertum. !83 antis see in antis. antistatic referring to any device, product or surface treatment which counteracts the effects of static electricity. antis temple, 1 anta temple, templum in antis; a classical temple type in which the frontal columns are in antis, bounded by extensions of the side walls. !84 2 see double antis temple. !84 anti-sun glass see solar control glass. 18 answerphone
- 35. anti-thrust action a latch mechanism in a mechanical lock whose latch bolt cannot be retracted manually. anti-vacuum valve, vacuum breaker; a valve in a system of pipework which can be opened to admit air as compensation for loss of pressure. anti-vandal glass a class of special laminated glasses which are relatively resistant to vandalism. !53 anti-vibration cork a resilient cork product used as a damper under heavy vibrating plant etc. Antrodia serialis see white spongy rot. Antwerp blue, Haarlem blue; a pale blue pigment, Prussian blue reduced with 75% inert pigment, usually alumina hydrate. Anubis in Egyptian mythology, the jackal-headed god of embalming, who guided the deceased through the court of Osiris to the Underworld; ‘Anpu’ in Egyptian, ‘Anubis’ in Greek. !74 anvil a heavy cast-iron bench on which a blacksmith or forge-worker hammers hot metals. apadana in ancient Persian architecture, a columned hall surrounded by colonnades, used as an administrational and congregational space. see apadana column illustration. !114 apartment see flat; types included as separate entries are listed below. !61 see types of residential building illustration. !61 bedsit, one-room flat. corner apartment. !61 council flat. maisonette, duplex apartment. open-ended unit, through apartment. !61 two-roomed flat. apartment block, block of flats, residential block; a multistorey building containing a number of separate apartments served by one or a number of stairs. !61 apartment building see apartment block. !61 apartment formwork, room formwork, tunnel formwork; proprietary formwork used for casting two concrete side walls and a horizontal slab spanning between them in one operation. apartment house, mansion block; a residential building in a well-to-do urban area, containing a number of apartments on different levels, all accessed by the same entry and stair. apatite a calcium phosphate mineral used as gemstones and as a raw material in the production of fertilizer. Apennine culture the bronze-age culture of the Italian peninsula from c.1500 BC. apex the highest point of a geometrical form such as a triangle or cone, or of a pitched or ridge roof. apex stone see saddle stone. apodyterion Gk; a dressing room in a classical Greek gymnasium or bath house. !91 apodyterium, pl. apodyteria; Lat.; a dressing room in a Roman bath house. !91 apophyge, apothesis; Gk; a slight curvature of the top of the shaft of a classical column where it meets the capital, and bottom where it meets the base. !80 apophysis see apophyge. !80 apostilb abb. asb; a unit of measurement of the luminance or brightness of a surface, equal to 1 lumen/m2 of uniform radiation; see also lux. apotheca Lat.; a store room on an upper floor of a Roman dwelling, usually for the keeping of wine. apothecary a pharmaceutical chemist. apothesis see apophyge. !80 apotropaic referring to an image, decoration, succession of spaces or sculptured ornament used in a building to prevent the influence of evil spirits; see next entry. apotrope a symbolic statue, image or construction intended to provide protection against evil spirits. !75 apparatus see equipment. appeal see planning appeal. appearance see external appearance. apple [Malus spp.] a genus of European hardwoods with fine-textured timber valued for its decorative grain; used for veneers and furniture. apple green a shade of green which takes its name from the colour of the unripe fruit of the apple tree (Malus spp.). appliance any mechanical device such as a shower, heater, fan etc. used for a specific task in a building or technical installation. appliance flexible connection, flexible rubber hose; in gas installations, a length of resilient rubber hose for connecting the outlet of a gas pipe or riser to an appliance. appliance governor in gas installations, a device which regulates the pressure and flow of gas to a particular appliance. application 1 in computing, a series of interrelated software routines designed to perform a specific function. 2 a formal written request for an action to be undertaken, to order official services or permits, or for employment; see below. planning application. interim application. application software in computing, software used for a specific useful function such as word processing or CAD. applied art any art which is both functional and satisfies an aesthetic need (industrial design, furniture, architecture, graphics etc.). applied column see engaged column. !13 applied sash glazing see secondary glazing. appliqué ornamentation for fabrics and leatherwork with surface-applied rather than embroidered or embossed motifs. apprentice a trainee who works under a tradesman or craftsman, filling out his training with courses at a technical college. appropriation, allocation; in economics, a sum of money set aside within a budget for a particular purpose. approval 1 the acceptance of a design or proposal by a client or local authority; generally an announcement to the effect that certain criteria have been satisfied. 2 see neighbours’ consent. Approved Document one of a number of documents approved by the Secretary of State in Britain, in which guidance and instructions for detailed design regarding structure, fire spread, site preparation, drainage, sound control, energy conservation etc., are given according to the Building Regulations; although they are not required to be followed by the letter, the relevant building regulation is deemed to be satisfied if they are. approved school see community home. approximation a quantity or estimate given as a close or rounded value, but not an exact one. apricot, apricot yellow; a shade of yellow which takes its name from the colour of the ripened fruit of the apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca). apricot yellow see apricot. apron 1 see window apron. 2 see drop apron. 3 that part of a theatre stage in front of the curtain. 4 ramp; a strip of hard ground at an airport where an aeroplane is parked, refuelled or loaded with passengers and baggage. 5 see hearth apron. !56 apron eaves piece in sheet roofing, a T-shaped member used to support an eaves and provide a drip. apron flashing a roofing flashing laid at the junction of the upper end of a pitched or flat roof and abutting wall or parapet; it is tucked anti-thrust action 19
- 36. into the wall with an upstand, and laid over the roofing. !56, !57 apsara a Buddhist or Hindu celestial winged female or animal figure. apse 1 a semicircular or polygonal terminating space at or behind the high altar of a church or basilica, often roofed with a half-dome. see Early Christian and Late Antique church illustration. !95 see Byzantine domical church illustration. !96 see Carolingian abbey church illustration. !98 see Romanesque church illustration. !99 see altar illustration. !116 2 see exedra. !93 apse aisle an aisle within the apse of a church; a deambulatory. !100 apsidal of a building form, relating to or in the form of an apse, semicircular or half-domed. apsidiole, absidiole; in religious architecture, a secondary apse, semicircular niche or chapel which terminates a side aisle or is arranged around an apse. !95, !98 apsis Latin form of apse. apteral temple see apteros. !84 apteros, apteral temple; ‘wingless’ (Gk); a classical temple with a colonnade at one or both ends only, not lining its sides. see apteral temple illustration. !84 aquamanile a traditional water vessel used for washing hands; frequently of bronze or pottery and in the shape of an animal or bird. aquamarine 1 a pale blue variety of beryl, a semi-precious beryllium aluminium silicate mineral, used as a gemstone. 2 a shade of light blue which takes its name from the colour of the above. aquarelle a general name for watercolour paints which are transparent as opposed to gouache and casein paints which are relatively opaque. aquarelle paper see watercolour paper. aquatic plant any species of landscaping plant which usually grows in or under water. aquatint 1 a method of making subtle and delicate graphic prints using a resin-coated plate partially etched away with acid in the desired pattern. 2 the print thus formed. aqueduct a bridge or other structure designed to convey fresh water, usually a canal or river supported by piers and arches, or a tunnel; from the Latin, aquae ductus, ‘conveyance of water’. see Roman structures illustration. !93 see Roman thermae illustration. !91 aqueous see water based. aqueous adhesive see water-borne adhesive. ara Lat.; a classical Roman altar for a deity. !116 arabesque intricate decoration based on Moorish and Arabic antecedents, combining a complexity of flowing lines with geometrical and symmetrical patterns. see arabesque in symbols and ornaments illustra- tion. !120 see arabesque capital in medieval capitals illustra- tion. !115 Arabic arch see horseshoe arch. !24 araeostyle ‘lightly columned’; in classical architecture, the spacing between adjacent rowed columns, known as intercolumniation, at a distance of over three column diameters, also written as areostyle. !77 Aralia papyrifera see rice paper. aramid fibre a group of very strong, tough and stiff synthetic fibres used in the manufacture of radial tyres, fibre-reinforced composites, heat-resistant fabrics and bulletproof vests; one of these is commercially marketed as Kevlar. Araucaria angustifolia see Parana pine. arbalestina see balistraria. !103 arbitration an accepted procedure for settling disputes, outside the courts but with legal force, using independent persons acceptable to both parties in dispute. arboriculture the planting and cultivation of trees individually or in woodland. arborvitae see thuja. arcade 1 a passage or open walk, often lined with columns carrying arches, and roofed with a vaulted ceiling. see Byzantine domical church illustration. !96 2 a row of columns surmounted by a series of arches. see Gothic cathedral illustration. !100 3 an intermediate row of posts in an aisled building. 4 see amusement arcade. 5 see shopping arcade. arcade plate in traditional timber frame construc- tion, a horizontal member joining the tops of aisle posts and supporting rafters. arcade post see aisle post. arcading a row or series of arches. arc doubleau see transverse rib. !101 arch 1 a two-dimensionally curved beam construction for supporting loads between two points of support over an opening; traditional masonry arches were constructed from wedge-shaped stones locked together by loading from above; types of arch included as separate entries are listed below. !24 2 a pattern or motif consisting of this. see true arches illustration. !24 see flat, false and decorative arches illustration. !23 see arched and vaulted construction illustration. !22 acute arch, see lancet arch. !24 Arabic arch, see horseshoe arch. !24 arcuated lintel, see Syrian arch. !24 basket arch, see three-centred arch. !24 bell arch. !23, !24 blind arch. brick arch. !23 cambered arch. chancel arch. !99 cinquefoil arch. !24 cinquefoliated arch. !23 circular arch. !24 corbelled arch, corbel arch. !23 corbelled lintel. !23 crossette, see joggled arch. !23 depressed arch, see drop arch. !24 depressed ogee arch, see two-centred ogee arch. !24 depressed three-centred arch. discharging arch, see relieving arch. !23 draped arch. !24 drop arch. !24 Dutch arch. !23 elliptical arch. !24 equilateral arch. !24 false arch. !23 fan arch. !123 five-centred arch. !24 flat arch. !23 Florentine arch. !23 foliated arch, see cinquefoliated, multifoliated, trifoliated arches. !23 four-centred arch, see Tudor arch. !24 four-centred pointed arch, see Tudor arch. !24 French arch, see Dutch arch. !23 gauged arch. !22, !23 Gothic arch, see pointed arch. !24 horseshoe arch. !24 inflected arch, see ogee arch. !24 inverted arch. !24 Italian arch. !23 Italian pointed arch. !23 Italian round arch, see Florentine arch. !23 jack arch, see flat arch. !23 joggled arch. !23 keel arch. !24 20 apsara
- 37. lancet arch. !24 masonry arch. !22, !23, !24 Moorish arch, see horseshoe arch. !24 multifoil arch. !24 multifoliated arch. !23 Norman arch. ogee arch. !24 parabolic arch. !24 pointed arch. !24 pointed cinquefoil arch. !24 pointed cinquefoliated arch. !23 pointed equilateral arch, see equilateral arch. !24 pointed horseshoe arch. !24 pointed multifoliated arch. !23 pointed Saracenic arch. pointed segmental arch. !24 pointed trefoil arch. !24 pointed trifoliated arch. !23 principal arch. !25 pseudo four-centred arch. pseudo three-centred arch. !23 quadrifrontal arch. !93 quatrefoil arch. Queen Anne arch. raking arch, see rampant arch. !24 rampant arch. !24 relieving arch. !23 reverse ogee arch. !24 Roman arch. !22, !24 Romanesque arch. rood arch. rough brick arch, rough arch. !22, !23 round arch, see circular arch. !24 round cinquefoliated arch. !23 round horseshoe arch, see horseshoe arch. !24 round multifoliated arch. !23 round trefoil arch. !24 round trifoliated arch. !23, !110 Saracenic pointed arch, see pointed Saracenic arch. segmental arch, segmented arch. !22, !24 semi-arch. semicircular arch. !22, !24 skew arch. squinch arch, see squinch. !26 stilted arch. stilted pointed arch, see pointed Saracenic arch. stilted semicircular arch. straight arch, see flat arch. !23 strainer arch. !23 straining arch. structural arch, see arched structure. Syrian arch. !24 tented arch, see draped arch. !24 three-centred arch. !24 three-pointed arch, see equilateral arch. !24 three-hinged arch, three-pinned arch. transverse arch. !25 trefoil arch. !24 triangular arch. !23 tribunal arch. !99 trifoliated arch. !23, !110 triumphal arch. !93 true arch. !24 Tudor arch. !24 two-centred ogee arch. !24 Venetian arch. !23 archaeology the study of human history and culture based on the findings from excavations and from ancient artifacts. archaic referring to art which is ancient, outdated, old fashioned or at a primitive stage of development. Archaic period the time of the first and third dynasties in Egyptian culture from 3200 to 2680 BC, and that in Greece between the bronze-age Helladic and Classic periods from 1150 to 480 BC. see Doric capital from the Archaic period illustra- tion. !81 archaic solution in classical architecture, the spacing of columns beneath an entablature evenly, so that, for each triglyph to be centrally above a column, the corner triglyphs are further apart than the others; see classical solution. !77 archaism the deliberate imitation of something ancient or prehistoric in art or architecture. archaistic that which imitates ancient art, especially the Archaic art of the classical Hellenists and Romans. arch beam see cambered beam. !30 arch brace, concave brace; in traditional timber frame construction, a naturally curved timber member for bracing the junction between a post and beam, trussed rafters etc. arch braced roof truss in traditional timber roof construction, a simple roof truss with sloping rafters braced at the eaves with arch braces. arch brick see radial brick. !16 arch bridge, arched bridge; a bridge whose main supporting construction is an arch. !32 see cambered bridge. !32 arched beam see cambered beam. !30 arched bridge see arch bridge. !32 arched construction see arch, arched structure. arched head, arcuated head; the curved uppermost member of an arched window. !111 arched structure, structural arch; a simple convex beam structure, used for vaulting large spaces, in which all points along the structure are in compression. arched truss see trussed arch. !33 arched window see arch window. !111 archetype a basic form, model, pattern or specimen from which variations are derived. Archimedean spiral, logarithmic spiral, equian- gular spiral; a geometrical spiral constructed mathematically such that the angle between the tangent and radius vector is the same for all points on the spiral. archipelago a distinct and extensive group of islands in a particular region of the sea. architect a qualified professional or organization who designs buildings and supervises their construction. architectonic having the spatial qualities, properties and language special to architecture. architect’s office, architectural practice; a private company, owned or run by one or a number of architects for the professional practising of architecture. architectural pertaining to architecture; relating to, involving, in the manner of architecture. architectural competition an ideas or design competition in which the purpose is to find outline or detailed solutions for the design of a building or buildings. architectural design that part of the design of a building produced by an architect, which encompasses technical, structural, aesthetic and financial aspects. architectural drawing a drawing produced by an architect as part of design documentation for a building project. architectural language, vocabulary; the architectural elements, form, detailing, technical and functional solutions of a building, the expression, symbolism and meaning contained therein. architectural practice see architect’s office. Architectural style, Second Pompeian style, Illusionistic style; a style of interior wall decoration popular from 80 BC to c.100 AD in Roman Pompeii, in which principal motifs are pilasters and entablatures with pastoral perspective scenes between. see Pompeian styles illustration. !126 archaeology 21
- 38. architecture 1 the art and science of producing built form, the product and study of this. 2 in computing, the specification of the contents and functioning of a particular computer system or network. architrave 1 a strip or moulding used around a door frame to cover the joint between the door and the surrounding construction. 2 epistyle; in classical architecture, the lower horizontal band of an entablature, supported by columns. see architrave in classical orders illustrations. !78, !79, !80 3 a beam dividing aisles in a basilica. archive see tablinum. !88 archivolt arcus volutus (Lat.); a decorated band above or on the soffit of the intrados in an arch. arch truss see trussed arch. !33 archway an arched construction, often an open door or gateway, with a path, corridor or throughfare passing through it. arch window a window whose upper edge is in the form of an arch. !111 arcology a term coined by the Italian architect Paolo Soleri to define an ecological architecture of future urban settlements involving minimal use of land and natural resources. arcosolium a niche, arched recess or sepulchral cell housing a tomb in an Early Christian church or late Roman catacomb. arc pattern a paving pattern of small stones or cobbles laid in a series of parallel rows. !15 arcuated of a construction or pattern which features arches as a main structural device or motif, or is bowed in shape. arcuated head see arched head. !111 arcuated lintel a beam over an opening, whose underside is concave to form an arch; often used as a decorative motif, see Syrian arch. !24 arcus Lat.; a classical Roman arch, especially a triumphal arch. arcus triumphalis see triumphal arch. !93 arcus volutus Lat.; see archivolt. arc welding a method of fusion welding in which the metals to be joined are melted together by an electric arc. ardhamandapa ‘half mandapa’; the portico or entrance porch of a Hindu temple. are abb. a; a unit of area equal to 10 m 10 m= 100 m2 . area 1 a contained or defined part of the earth’s or some other surface, often with a specific function, characteristic or ownership; a district, sector or zone. 2 see surface area. 3 see basement area. area lighting, floodlighting; the illumination of large external areas such as sports venues, industrial sites, airports, storage depots etc. area of archaeological interest see prehistoric site. area of historical interest see historic site. area of outstanding natural beauty an area of countryside with fine landscapes etc. protected by legislation to control development because of its national value. arena 1 the main central space of a Roman amphitheatre or circus, or of a bullring, often sanded. see arena in amphitheatre illustration. !90 2 a modern sports or entertainment venue, often along the lines of the above, a stadium. 3 see stadium. arenaceous, sandy; pertaining to types of soil, rock or landscape composed of or containing a large proportion of sand. arenaceous rock, arenite; referring to sandstone or other sedimentary rock composed from sandy grains. arenite see arenaceous rock. areostyle see araeostyle. !77 argentite, silver glance; a lead grey to black metallic mineral, naturally occurring silver sulphide, AgS, an important ore of silver. argillaceous rock, claystone; rock which contains an abundance of clay materials. argon a gaseous chemical element, Ar, used in fluorescent and incandescent lamps. arithmetic the science of numbers and calculation thereby. arithmetic mean in statistics and calculation, an average value given by the sum of a group of numbers divided by the amount in the group. arkose a form of reddish sandstone with a high content of feldspar. arma Lat.; the front portion of a Roman contubernium, a military tent or barrack, where personal equipment and arms were stored. armamentarium Lat.; a Roman weapons store, armoury or arsenal for hand weapons used by gladiators in an amphitheatre, or legionaries in a fortified encampment. armarium Lat.; a cupboard or niche recessed into a church wall beside an altar, containing vessels and utensils relating to the liturgy; an aumbry. armature in sculpting, a shaped framework used to support plaster, clay etc. in the building up of models. armorial porcelain a Chinese porcelain artifact decorated with a European heraldic emblem or coat of arms. armour see pitching. armouring metal covering for an electric cable to afford protection against external forces, abrasion etc. armour-plated glass see bullet-resistant laminated glass. !53 armoury a room or space for the storage of weaponry and armour in a castle or barracks. see armamentarium. Arnaudon’s green an obsolete variety of the pigment chromium oxide green. aromatic referring to a chemical compound whose molecule has a ringed structure, such as benzene. aromatic cedar [Juniperus virginiana], see eastern red cedar. arrangement drawing see general arrangement drawing. arras a rich patterned textile, often used as a tapestry, developed in the French town of Arras. arrester bed in traffic planning, a strip of soft material beside a carriageway, usually on a downhill slope, designed to slow down vehicles which have veered off the carriageway. arricciato see arriccio. arriccio, arricciato; in fresco painting, the coarse middle of three coats of plasterwork, between the trullisatio and intonaco, on which the design is sketched out. arris 1 a corner or meeting of two planar sides of an object such as a piece of timber, masonry unit etc. see arris in conversion of timber illustration. !2 see arris in brickwork illustration. !21 2 eased arris, see pencil round. !14 arris fillet see angle fillet. !49 arris gutter in roof construction, a V-shaped gutter, often constructed as a raised strip of roofing pro- truding directly from the roof plane. arris knot a knot in seasoned timber which appears on the longitudinal corner of a sawn plank. !1 arrissed edge see pencil round. !14 arrow 1 see arrow-headed bastion. !104 2 see arrowhead. 3 egg and arrow, see egg and dart. !82 4 arrow of Jupiter, arrow of Zeus, see thunderbolt. !120 arrow cross see cross barbée. !117 22 architecture
- 39. arrowhead 1 in the dimensioning and annotation of drawings etc., a notation for indicating where a dimension begins and terminates. 2 a similar triangular marking for drawing attention to recent revisions made to a drawing. !130 arrow-headed bastion a bastion shaped in plan like an arrow, with a narrow way or gorge leading to the main rampart; also called an arrow. !104 arrow loop 1 a narrow vertical opening in the exter- nal wall of a castle or fortification for archers to fire arrows at potential attackers; also known as an arrow slit, loophole, loop or loup, and sometimes as oeillet, oilet, oillet, eyelet or oylet, though these often refer to the round enlargements at either extremity. !103 2 see balistraria. !103 arrow of Jupiter see thunderbolt. !120 arrow of Zeus see thunderbolt. !120 arrow slit see arrow loop. !103 arsenal a building or factory for the manufacture and storage of weapons and ammunition. arsenic a grey, poisonous, chemical element, As, used in the preservation of wood and as an insecticide. arsenic sulphide silver arsenic sulphide, see proustite. arsenic trioxide a poisonous, white, chemical compound, As2O3, used in the manufacture of pigments, glass and insecticides. arsenic trisulphide a yellow or red chemical compound, As2S3, used as the pigment king’s yellow. see orpiment. arsenic yellow see king’s yellow. arsenopyrite a grey, metallic, crystalline mineral, FeAsS, from which arsenic is extracted. arshin a Russian and Turkish unit of length equivalent to 71.12 cm. art creative aesthetic action and its product. Art Deco, Style Moderne; a style in architecture and interiors (originating from the Exposition de Arts Décoratif in Paris in 1925) in Europe and America in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by Art Nouveau and Modernist influences, playful forms and abstract decoration. artefact, artifact; in general, a man-made object; also often used in a derogatory sense to refer to a shallow or characterless work of art. Artemisia absintium see absinthe green. Arte Povera a form of minimalist art, originating in the 1960s, which utilizes humble, cheap and waste products, materials and methods. artesando in Spanish architecture, an intricately carved wooden ceiling of Moorish influence. artesian groundwater groundwater contained in saturated rockbeds or aquifers which, when drilled, will rise to the surface under its own pressure. artesian well a well consisting of a bored hole in the ground through which water below the local water table will be conveyed to the surface by pressure. art for art’s sake, l’art pour l’art; a concept according to which the value of a work of art is based purely on its aesthetic rather than political or symbolic content. art gallery, art museum; a building, group of buildings or part of a building in which visual art and sculpture are on display. articles of agreement in project administration, the document in which parties to a contract undersign as confirmation of their agreement. artifact see artefact. artificial cementing, grouting, injection; a method of strengthening, stabilizing and waterproofing weak or porous soils or rock by injecting concrete into the voids therein. artificial fibre, synthetic fibre; any fibre of polymer, carbon, glass, ceramic or metal which is man-made; see also natural fibre. artificial intelligence computer hardware and software intended to imitate human decision-making processes or the intelligence of living creatures. artificial light light produced by means other than by the sun. artificial lighting, 1 illumination; lighting for a space provided by lamps, luminaires or means other than by daylighting. 2 see permanent artificial lighting. artificial stone see cast stone. artificial ultramarine, French blue, French ultramarine, Gmellin’s blue; an artificial blue pigment made by heating clay, soda, sulphur and coal, with the same colour and chemical properties as genuine ultramarine produced from lapis lazuli. artist one who practises art. artistic pertaining to the arts; having a particular persuasion or skill for artistic work. art mobilier any small movable objects, statuettes, vases etc., used as decorative ornament or interior decoration. art museum see art gallery. Art Nouveau a movement in art and architecture in Europe from 1890 to 1910 characterized by the use of flowing naturalistic ornament and informal compositions of plan and elevation; see also Jugendstil, Modern Style, Stile Liberty. see Art Nouveau portal illustration. !113 Arts and Crafts a movement in architecture and design from England, initiated by William Morris in 1867 to counteract industrialism; it is characterized by an interest in the handcrafted, and uses motifs from nature and the Gothic Revival. arts centre see cultural centre. artwork drawings, photographs and graphics in such a form as to be of use in printing and reproduction. Arundo phragmites common reed, see best reed, Norfolk reed. arx Lat.; a Roman name for an acropolis or citadel. arylide yellow, Hansa yellow; a range of slightly poisonous synthetic organic transparent yellow pigments which have good weatherability, light, acid and alkali resistance. Asar see Osiris. !74 asbestos a mineral, magnesium silicate, occurring naturally as a glassy rock which can be split into small fibres; formerly used as reinforcement and fireproofing, it is hazardous to health and rarely used nowadays in new construction. asbestos board any building or insulation board consisting of asbestos fibres in a binder; these products are no longer in general use due to their toxic nature. asbestos cement a material consisting of asbestos fibres bonded with Portland cement; formerly used for a range of durable and fireproof cast products. asbestos cement pipe asbestos cement pressed into tough, durable and waterproof drainage and sewer pipes; now withdrawn and widely regarded as a health hazard. asbestos cement sheet asbestos cement pressed into sheet form; formerly used as tough, durable, fireproof building board but has since been replaced with less hazardous fibre cement board. asbestos cement slate a tough, durable asbestos cement roofing tile resembling a roofing slate; now withdrawn due to health hazards. asbestos fibre fibres manufactured from asbestos, formerly used as reinforcement and fireproofing in many products but extremely hazardous to health if not part of a solid matrix. asbestos fibre reinforced composite any composite consisting of asbestos fibres in a binder (cement, lime, plastics, bitumen); formerly used as asbestos cement, vinyl floor tiles and bitumen felts. asbestos-free slate a roofing tile resembling a roofing slate, consisting of fibres of a material other than asbestos, and cement. arrowhead 23
- 40. asbestos removal, asbestos work; the specialist work involving the dismantling of hazardous asbestos construction and its transport, safely packed, to a place of disposal. asbestos work see asbestos removal. Ascension in religious art and ornamentation, a representation of the soul and body of Christ ascending to heaven forty days after the Resurrection. ASCII in computing, a standard representation of letters, numbers, symbols and punctuation in binary code; an acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Asclepian column see serpent column. !69 Asclepius see staff of Asclepius. !120 Asian architecture see Asian temples illustration. !68 see Asian and Mediterranean columns and capitals illustration. !69 Asiatic base, Ephesian base; a classical Ionic column base which evolved in Asia Minor, consisting of a drum with scotia mouldings surmounted by a reeded torus moulding. !69, !81 ash 1 [Fraxinus spp.] a pale hardwood valued for its toughness and flexibility; see European ash, American ash; see Fraxinus spp. for full list of species of ash included in this work. 2 a deposit or residue that remains after the combustion of organic material. 3 see ash grey. ash blonde a shade of grey used for hair colour: blonde with a hint of grey. ashcan see refuse bin. ash grey, ash, cendre; a shade of grey which takes its name from the colour of slightly yellow ashes. ashlar, 1 ashlar masonry; masonry blocks or facing stone which has been dimensioned, squarely dressed and laid in bonded courses with narrow joints. !12 2 a single block of squared and dressed stone used in masonry. !12 see coursed ashlar. !11 see dimension stone. !12 see dry ashlar walling. see natural stone block. !12 see range work. see rusticated ashlar, rustic ashlar. !12 see uncoursed ashlar, random ashlar. !11 ashlar facing stone facing for rough or rubble masonry or concrete which consists of thin dimensioned and dressed stones; used to provide a fine finish at a lower cost than ashlar masonry. ashlaring, ashlering; in traditional timber pitched roof construction, short vertical timber members for concealing the internal triangular gap between external joists, wall plate and rafters and to brace the eaves, often lined with board or infilled with blockwork. ashlar masonry see ashlar. !12 ashlar post in traditional timber roof construction, a short post running from a wall plate to a principal rafter as part of ashlaring. !33 ashlering see ashlaring. ash pan a vessel or pit inside a fireplace or solid-fuel appliance, located beneath the grate to collect ash and other debris from burnt material. !56 ash pan door a hatch in the front of a fireplace or solid-fuel appliance from which the ash can be removed. !56 aspen [Populus tremula, Populus tremuloides] hardwoods from Europe and North America respectively with soft, porous, straight-grained, pale-coloured timber; used as boards for cladding and for plywood and matches. asphalt a mixture of bitumen and an aggregate such as sand used as a hardwearing surface in road construction and external paved areas. asphaltic concrete a mixture of asphalt and concrete used in road production to provide a strong, stiff, structural surface. asphalt oil see road oil. asphalt roofing roofing of molten asphalt laid in successive layers. asphalt shingles see strip slates. !49 asphalt surfacing see asphalt topping. asphalt topping, asphalt surfacing; asphalt laid as a final durable and flexible surface for roads, pavements etc. asphaltum a mixture of asphalt and turpentine used as a blackish-brown colouring agent. assembly 1 the putting together of prefabricated parts of a component, construction or installation on site. 2 a range of components which functions together to form a whole, as in a doorset. see automatic-closing fire assembly. door assembly, see doorset. see fire assembly. see window assembly. assembly drawing a detailed drawing which shows how a component, joint or construction is assembled or put together on site; a construction drawing. assembly hall 1 a large main congregational hall in a building, especially an establishment such as a school. 2 see lesche. !92 assembly room, 1 meeting room, conference room, committee room; a large room with associated facilities used for official meetings. 2 a building for social or societal functions. asser Lat., pl. asseres; a common rafter in Roman timber roof construction. !47 asseres Lat.; plural form of asser. assessor, judge; a person who has been selected to judge an architectural or town planning competition and whose decision on the submitted designs is regarded as final. assets any property or items of value owned by a person or company. assignment model in traffic planning, a transportation model which determines the most likely route taken in travelling from a particular place to a chosen destination. assistant one who lends aid, gives advice and generally helps out in various tasks, especially in a design office. assisted area in town planning, a region, which may be deprived, suffering local recession or financial hardship, designated by an authority for receipt of aid to stimulate development and stabilization. association of architects, institute of architects; a professional body to further the interests and rights of its architect members; see also AIA, RIBA, UIA. as specified referring to stipulations in regulations, standards, designs, contract documents etc. Assumption in religious art and ornamentation, a representation of the Virgin’s soul and body being taken up to heaven three days after her death. Assyrian architecture the Middle Eastern architecture of the organized society in the area now known as Iraq, at its height around 800 BC, characterized by single-storey dwellings in mud brick and expansive palaces and temples. see Assyrian ziggurat illustration. !67 see Asian and Mediterranean columns and capitals illustration. !69 Assyrian period an era from c.1200 to 625 BC during the Babylonian period in Mesopotamian art. astatine a non-metallic, radioactive element, At, used as an additive in steel. astragal 1 ‘knuckle-bone’ (astragalos, Gk); in classical architecture, a small circular moulding between the shaft and capital of a column or pilaster, in the 24 asbestos removal
- 41. Doric order typically between the trachelion and hypotrachelion. !81 2 baguette moulding; an ornamental moulding consisting of a small semicircular projection in cross-section, often incorporating other motifs such as bead and reel. !14, !82 3 a small dividing glazing bar in a window. !111 4 a vertical strip attached to the edge of a door leaf or window frame to close the gap between it and the frame. astroturf see synthetic grass. astwerk see branch tracery. astylar referring to architecture, usually classical, which does not contain columns or pilasters. asymmetrical referring to a figure which has no symmetry; not symmetrical. asymmetrical glazing unit, asymmetrical hermetically sealed double glazing unit; a glazed unit with two panes of glass of unequal thickness or consistency sealed around an edging strip with a gap usually filled with an inert gas. asymmetrical hermetically sealed double glazing unit see asymmetrical glazing unit. asymmetry see asymmetrical. asymptote in mathematics, a straight line which is continually approached by a given curve but does not meet it within a finite distance. atelier see studio. Aten the ancient Egyptian solar disc, the chief deity during the reign of Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) in 1340 BC; one of the many forms of the sun god Ra (Re), depicted as the sun at midday at its hottest and brightest, with radiating beams terminating in life-giving hands; also written as Aton. !74 at grade double mini-roundabout see mini-roundabout. !62 at grade junction a road junction in which all roads involved meet at the same level. !62, !63 see at grade junctions illustration. !62 athenaeum, 1 the Athenaeum; originally the temple of Athena in classical Athens. 2 subsequently a place where professors, orators and poets gathered to teach and present their works. 3 athenaeum; a literary or scientific institution, reading room or library. atheneum see athenaeum. Athens Charter a manifesto published by CIAM in 1933 which proposed solutions to the problems of modern urban dwelling, recreation, work, transport and historic buildings. athletic field see playing field. atlantes the plural form of atlas. !76 Atlantis cross a cross-like design of concentric circles, according to Plato symbolizing the town plan of the mythical city of Basilaea, in the lost land of Atlantis. !123 atlas, telamon (Gk); pl. atlantes; in classical architecture, a massive carved statuesque stooping male figure, often serving as a columnar support for a pediment. !76 Atlas cedar [Cedrus atlantica] a species of cedar tree from North Africa. atmospheric burner see natural draught burner. atmospheric projection see aerial perspective. atmospheric pressure see barometric pressure. atom the basic unit of chemistry; each element has its own atom consisting of a positively charged nucleus orbited by negatively charged electrons. atomic power station see nuclear power station. atomic weight see relative atomic mass. atomizing oil burner a burner in an oil heating system in which oil is dispersed into small droplets and mixed with air prior to combustion. Aton see Aten. !74 atramentum Lat.; a Roman name for pigments and inks made from carbon. atrium 1 Lat.; an open central courtyard in a Roman dwelling, surrounded by the habitable spaces of the building; an aula in Greek architecture. !88 see atrium in Roman residential buildings illustra- tion. !88 2 atrium paradisus; a forecourt, often colon- naded, in front of the vestibule of an Early Christian or Romanesque church. see Early Christian church illustration. !95 see Byzantine domical church illustration. !96 see Carolingian church illustration. !98 3 a large space which functions as a transition space into more important rooms. 4 a large central space or court with a glazed roof. 5 the glazed roof for such a space. atrium corinthium, Corinthian hall; Lat.; a Roman atrium dwelling type with a large central opening whose edges are supported by rows of columns on all sides. atrium displuviatum Lat.; see displuviatum. atrium house 1 a Roman dwelling type in which the building mass surrounds a main central space, the atrium, open to the sky. !88 2 patio house; a modern dwelling type planned with rooms arranged around facing an open central space; sometimes constructed with similar buildings in an adjoined row. !61 atrium paradisus Lat.; see atrium. !95, !96, !98 atrium testudinatum Lat.; see testudinate. atrium tetrastylum Lat.; see tetrastyle. atrium tuscanicum Lat.; see tuscanicum. attached column see engaged column. !13 attached pier a pier structurally connected to or built into a wall to provide lateral stability. attack 1 see corrosion. 2 see fungal attack. attenuation, 1 absorption, loss; the reduction in strength of a signal in a telecommunications or sound system with distance from its source. 2 see sound attenuation. attenuator see muffler. attic 1 an upper room or space contained within the pitched roofspace of a residential building; see also garret. 2 a blindstory raised above the eaves or entablature line of a classical building to conceal the roof. Attic base the most common classical column base consisting of an upper and lower torus and scotia separated by a fillet, primarily found with the Ionic order. !81 attic storey 1 the uppermost storey beneath the pitched roof of a residential building, containing storage or habitable space. 2 a storey above the entablature or cornice of a classical building, in strict proportion with lower elements. attic truss a roof truss designed so as to allow for the construction of habitable roof space between its structural members. !33 atto- abb. a; a prefix for units of measurement or quantity to denote a factor of 1018 (a million million millionth). !Table 1 attorney see letter of attorney. attribute 1 an object or element used by convention in a work of art, especially painting, to symbolize a deity, saint or mythological figure. 2 in computer-aided design, a characteristic which defines the significance of a graphic object or group. Atum one of the many forms of the ancient Egyptian sun god Re (Ra), depicted as the setting sun; according to Egyptian mythology he was the first god on earth, born of the primeval watery chaos, who created all things by spitting or by masturbation; also written as Tum; see also Aten, Khepri. !74 aubergine, eggplant; a shade of purple brown which takes its name from the colour of the edible fruit of the eggplant [Solanum melongena]. astroturf 25
- 42. Aubusson a tapestry or carpet originating in the French town of the same name in the 1600s. Aucoumea klaineana see gaboon. audience hall see apadana. audio spectrum, acoustic spectrum, sound spectrum; in acoustics, the range of frequencies and intensities of sound emitted from a source or sources at any given time; the measurable make-up of a sound source. audio-frequency a frequency of sound within the audible range; frequencies of any oscillations within this range. audit the legally required annual inspection of the accounts of a company. auditor a professional accountant whose task is to examine the accounts of a company. auditorium 1 that part of a theatre, concert hall etc. in which the audience is seated. 2 loosely, any building containing the above. Auditor’s report a document containing the written details of an official inspection of the final accounts of a company. auditory church a spartan church type appearing in England in the 1600s after the Reformation, based rather on preaching from a pulpit or lectern than worship at an altar; a religious auditorium. auger a corkscrew-like tool or drill bit used for boring round holes in solid material such as wood or stone. auger bit a spiral drill bit in the shape of an auger, used for drilling long large-bore holes, circular housings etc. !42 augered pile in foundation technology, a form of bored pile in which the hole is cut with an auger. !29 augite a dark, crystalline form of the mineral pyroxene, occurring in volcanic and metamorphic rocks. aula 1 the surrounded courtyard of an ancient Greek dwelling, an atrium in Roman architecture. 2 an assembly room in a German school or university. aulaeum Lat.; the curtain of a classical theatre, raised through a slot at the front of the stage. !89 aumbry, ambry, almary, almery; a small lockable cupboard or niche in a church where the communion chalice and other sacred utensils were stored; an armarium. aume a traditional English unit of measurement for liquid capacity, especially wine, equal to 40 gallons (approximately 150 l). au premier coup see alla prima. aureole, glory, halo, nimbus; in painting and religious symbolism, light or radiance which surrounds a saint or sacred person; when limited to the head, it is called a nimbus, when surrounding the whole body, an aureole. !119 aureolin see cobalt yellow. auricular ornament, lobate ornament; decora- tive ornament, foliage and volutes, resembling parts of the human ear, found in early Baroque architecture in northern Europe in the late 1500s and early 1600s. !122 auripigmentum see king’s yellow. aurora, aurora red, aurora orange, dawn, rose dawn; a shade of pink which takes its name from the colour of the sky at sunrise. aurora orange see aurora. aurora red see aurora. aurora yellow see cadmium yellow. aurum mussivum see mosaic gold. austenite a solution of carbon and other materials appearing in gamma iron, formed when iron is heated over 910C; found in some stainless steels used for cutlery. austenitic stainless steel stainless steel which contains 16–19% chromium and 4–6% nickel. Australian blackwood, black wattle (Aust.); [Acacia melanoxylon] an eastern Australian hardwood with strong, flexible, golden brown timber; used for furniture, interior joinery and woodwind instruments. authoritarian planning town planning which emphasizes the power of the state over its inhabitants, characterized by the use of a grand scale for governmental buildings, axial streets terminated with patriotic monuments, and spartan uniformity of layout and form for residential buildings. autoclave a sealed pressure vessel which contains steam at high temperatures, used for curing concrete and calcium silicate bricks. autoclave curing see autoclaving. autoclaved aerated concrete a form of aerated concrete often containing aluminium or zinc powder as a foaming agent, which has been steam cured in an autoclave to control the aerating process. autoclaving, high pressure steam curing, autoclave curing; a method of curing concrete, usually lightweight concrete, by exposing it to high pressure superheated steam in a sealed vessel for a given time in order to increase dry shrinkage and speed up hardening. autodestructivism a term coined for certain types of artworks of the 1960s and 1970s which are designed ultimately to destroy themselves. autodidact one who is self-taught. autogenous shrinkage, hardening shrinkage; in concretework, a reduction in size caused by further hydration of cement during final hardening, much less than during initial drying. autograph 1 in the arts, a term sometimes used for an unsigned work of art of a known artist, to which the author can be attributed. 2 see signature. automat an automatic machine from which a service such as parking tickets, telephone calls and goods can be bought by pushing money or a credit card into a slot. automated data processing, ADP; see computing. automatic-closing fire assembly a motorized fire door, shutter etc., normally kept in an open position, which closes automatically in the event of fire; an automatic fire door. automatic door a motorized door controlled by an optical or motion sensor, which operates door gear and opens and closes it automatically. automatic door gear the range of mechanisms and equipment for controlling the opening and closing of an automatic sliding or swinging door, operated by signals from detector devices, remote controls etc. automatic door operator a motorized device which controls the opening and closing of a door leaf. automatic fire door see automatic-closing fire assembly. automatic fire extinguisher a fire extinguisher operated automatically by detectors in the event of outbreak of fire. automatic fire-extinguishing system, auto- suppression system; any system for detecting a building fire by means of light, heat or smoke sensors and for extinguishing it using an auto- mated system such as a sprinkler system. automatic fire valve see fire valve. automatic lighting controller see photoelectric lighting controller. automatic lock see coin operated lock. automatic writing see Automatism. automation 1 the functioning of a process, installation or system without the use of continuous human input. 2 door automation, see automatic door gear. Automatism, automatic writing; spontaneous activity or art related to surrealism in which conscious will and thought are eliminated. automobile, passenger car, motor car, car; a four-wheeled motor vehicle, often privately owned, for carrying a small number of passengers. 26 Aubusson
- 43. auto-suppression system see automatic fire- extinguishing system. autoxidation the spontaneous oxidation of a material caused by the presence of oxygen; weathering and deterioration of materials due to this. auxiliary building see ancillary building. auxiliary circuit an electric circuit used as part of an installation for powering auxiliary devices such as compressors, fans, transformers etc. auxiliary pigment a substance used in paints as a filler, to improve opacity and to strengthen the paint film. availability the ability of a product or service to be easily obtained. avant-garde 1 innovative and groundbreaking work in the arts. 2 the practitioners of the above. avant-gardism the practice and principles of the avant-garde. avatar in Hindu religious culture and ornament, the manifestation of a god in human form, a statue representational of this. avelane see cross avellane. !118 Avellane cross see cross avellane. !118 avenue 1 a wide, straight street in an urban context lined with broad-leaved trees. 2 a prehistoric double row of standing stones believed to form a ceremonial way to a major monument or cult centre. average see mean. aviary, bird house; a building or structure, often of mesh or netting for the keeping of birds. Avillan cross see cross avellane. !118 award, prize; a merit, medal, sum of money etc. awarded to successful entrants of architectural and design competitions, outstanding buildings etc. awl see bradawl. !42 awning, shade; a framed textile external shading apparatus which can be extended over and in front of windows to exclude direct sunlight from interiors. awning window see top-hung casement window. !52 axe a hand tool with a handle and sharpened steel head for felling trees, shaping and chopping wood and stone etc.; types of axe included as separate entries are listed below. American axe, see felling axe. brick axe, see bricklayer’s hammer. !40 chop axe. !40 double axe, double headed axe, see labrys. !122 felling axe. hand axe. hatchet. hewing axe. !6 mason’s axe, see masonry axe. !40 masonry axe. !40 patent axe. !40 pickaxe, see pick. !40 rock axe, see masonry axe. !40 stone axe, see masonry axe. !40 stonemason’s axe, see masonry axe. !40 trimming axe, see masonry axe. !40 wood axe, see felling axe. axed finish a rough stonework finish produced by dressing with an axe, pick or bush hammer. axes plural of axis, see coordinate axes. axial church see longitudinal church. !102 axial composition, symmetrical composition; artistic composition balanced around a main axis. axial-flow fan in mechanical ventilation systems, a high efficiency fan which pumps air through the main axis of its rotors, installed along a line of ducting. axiom, postulate; in mathematics and logic, an accepted and generally accepted principle. axis an imaginary line denoting symmetry of an object, direction, point of rotation etc.; see also coordinate axes. axis of sight see central axis of vision. !128 axis of vision see central axis of vision. !128 Axminster carpet a form of carpet with a soft tufted cut pile woven into a base layer; originating in the English village of Axminster, Devon. axonometric pertaining to axonometry; usually the drawing resulting from an axonometric projection. axonometric cube see coordinate cube. !127 axonometric perspective an outdated name for axonometric projection. !127 axonometric projection 1 a form of projection drawing depicting three dimensions with coordinate planes inclined, using parallel projectors perpendicular to the plane of projection. !127 2 a generic name for true isometric, dimetric and trimetric projections, in full orthographic axonometric projection. 3 an oblique projection based on a true plan of a subject laid obliquely to the horizontal, usually 45 and 45 or 30 and 60; verticals are drawn to the same scale as the plan and the lines in each dimension are drawn parallel; more accurately called a military or planometric projection. axonometry, parallel projection; a method of drawing in which the object is pictured in three dimensions such that all lines in each of the three major axes are parallel; especially pertaining to isometric, dimetric and trimetric projections, though usually used for all parallel projections depicting three dimensions on a flat plane. !127 see axonometry illustration. !127 ayaka a circumferential columned platform near the base of the dome of a Buddhist stupa. !68 ayous see obeche. azelejo in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American architecture and ornament, a glazed pottery floor or external wall tile with floral designs. azimuth see solar azimuth. azimuthal projection, zenithal projection; in geometry, especially cartography, a projection of part of the surface of a sphere, usually the earth, as a flattened disc. azo dye one of the largest classes of synthetic dyes comprising over half the commercial dyes, manufactured from various coloured organic compounds containing nitrogen and used for colouring fabrics. Aztec architecture the architecture of the Aztec Indians in Mexico from c.1350 to 1500, characterized by monumental cities on a gridiron plan, teocallis and zoomorphic ornament. see Aztec pyramid temple illustration. !67 azure blue 1 an early name for smalt. 2 a general name given to shades of sky blue, regardless of the composition of the base pigment. azure cobalt see cobalt blue. azurite, azzura della magna, blue malachite, mineral blue, mountain blue; a mineral form of basic copper carbonate Cu3(OH)2(CO3)2, used as a clear deep permanent water-based blue pigment since Roman times, and occasionally as a gemstone. azzura della magna see azurite. azzuro oltremarino see lapis lazuli. auto-suppression system 27
- 44. B B0 a standard international paper size of 1000 mm 1414 mm (39 55), used for posters and card; successive smaller sizes B1–B10 are derived by halv- ing the area of the next size up; see A0, C0. Table 6 baby blue a shade of pale greyish blue which takes its name from the colour of the clothes of infant boys. Babylonian period a period in Mesopotamian art from the time of the Kassite invasion in c.1800 BC culminating with the onset of Persian rule in 539 BC. Bacchus, staff of see thursus. !120 back 1 the reverse, inferior or secondary face of a piece, component, building etc. 2 worse face; the surface of a timber board to the reverse side of the outer, usually finished surface. 3 the edge of a sawtooth adjacent to its cutting edge. 4 see window back. back bed in glazing, bedding compound or a proprietary product applied to a rebate in a window frame, against which a pane is fixed. back boiler 1 in a heating system, a boiler fitted to the rear of a solid fuel heater, which provides the thermal energy for water heating. 2 see high output back boiler. back clearance in glazing, the horizontal distance between the inner face of the pane or glazing unit and its supporting frame. back cut veneer decorative veneer formed by peeling the inner side of a half log or flitch off-centre on a lathe. !10 backdraught, smoke explosion; a rush of air into a room containing smouldering contents due to the opening of a door during a hazardous building fire, causing spontaneous ignition. backer see back-up material. backfill, fill; in sitework, earth replaced and compacted into an excavation to cover subsoil foundations and services once they have been laid. backflap hinge a hinge whose leaves are long rather than tall, used for applications such as furnishings and table flaps where a butt hinge is insufficient. !38 backflow a phenomenon in which liquid flows along a pipe or channel in the reverse direction to that intended, caused by pressure or a partial vacuum; see also backsiphonage. backflow prevention device a device for inhibiting the backflow of water in a drainage or sanitary installation. backflow valve, 1 back-siphonage preventer, backwater valve, back-pressure valve; a check valve in a water system which allows water in a pipeline to flow in one direction only. 2 see pipe interrupter. back form in concreting, formwork or formwork surfaces used in locations which remain hidden in the final structure; back formwork, in full. back gutter in roof construction, a channel or gutter formed at the junction of a pitched roof and abutment wall, or behind a parapet or chimney to convey water away. !56 background see plastering background. background noise, ambient sound; in acoustics, general noise present in an environment. background noise level in acoustics, the level of background noise in a space. back hearth the lowest masonry construction on which combustion takes place beneath a flue in a fireplace or fireplace recess; the floor of an open fireplace. !55 backing 1 a structural base such as concrete, masonry or a framework onto which cladding is fixed. 2 see back-up material. backing coat see plaster undercoat. backing strip see back-up material. backings see plastering background. backland open or bounded land to the rear of existing buildings as viewed from a road or street. backnut 1 a nut at a threaded pipework joint which is tightened to secure the joint between two fittings. 2 see stop nut. backplane see motherboard. back-pressure valve see backflow valve. back putty, bed putty; in glazing, a fillet of putty applied to a rebate in a window frame, against which a pane is bedded. backsaw a handsaw with a rectangular blade whose back is reinforced with a metal strip to inhibit bending; used for carpenter’s benchwork. backset the horizontal distance from the face of the forend of a lock to the centre of the keyhole. backsiphonage backflow of a liquid in pipework caused by siphonage; see also backflow. back-siphonage preventer see backflow valve. back sliced veneer decorative veneer sliced from the heart side of a half log or flitch. !10 Backsteingotik see brick Gothic. back-to-back housing a form of basic urban housing in Britain from the late 1800s and early 1900s consisting of rows of terraced or attached houses constructed with frontages to streets in opposite directions and sharing common party walls on either side and to the rear. !61 back to wall pertaining to a soil appliance such as a bidet or WC which is connected to a wall or vertical surface, through which all pipes, drains and outlets etc. are connected. backup a failsafe copy of a file or program. back-up material, backer, backing; material such as foam rubber strip placed into a construction joint to limit the depth of overlaid sealant. !53 backwater valve see backflow valve. back yard an enclosed yard or garden to the rear of a building as viewed from the street. badia an Italian abbey, a monastery or monastic church headed by an abbot. baffle a strip of material applied into construction joints between components or materials as weather or soundproofing. bagasse board a building board manufactured from the waste fibres from sugar cane processing. baguette moulding see astragal. !14 Bahia rosewood [Dalbergia nigra] a Brazilian tropical hardwood with yellowish brown streaked timber; used in veneers and for interiors. bail 1 see shackle. !39 2 see bailey. !103 bailey, 1 bailey wall; the fortified outer wall of a castle, its first line of defence; often known as a curtain wall. !103 2 ward; the open area of land, yard or court enclosed by a castle fortification wall, between the keep and curtain wall. !103 bail and bayle (trad.) are synonymous with both meanings of bailey. 3 see enceinte. !103 4 see curtain wall. !103 Bailey bridge a prefabricated trussed steel bridge used by the military and constructed in small sections to allow for speedy assembly and dismantling.
- 45. bailey castle 1 see keep and bailey castle. !103 2 see motte and bailey. bailey walk see alure. !103 bailey wall see bailey. !103 baked see stove enamelled. baked enamel, stoving enamel; any hardwearing protective polymeric coating for metal components, building boards etc. which requires elevated temperatures to activate a curing process; also known as baking enamel, baking finish, stoved enamel, stoved finish; see also powder coating. baked finish see baked enamel. bakelite see phenol formaldehyde. baking see stove enamelling. baking enamel 1 see baked enamel. 2 see acrylic stoving enamel. 3 see alkyd stoving enamel. baking finish see baked enamel. balance bridge see bascule bridge. !64 balanced construction the pairing of matched layers in plywood or composite boards around either side of the central layer to form a symmetrical construction and prevent warping. !9 balanced door an automatic door assembly in which the counterbalanced leaf swings open around an eccentrically placed pivot. !50 balanced pressure tap a mixer tap, usually of stainless steel, fitted with a regulating device which produces equal pressures of hot and cold water drawn from it. balanced seat see self-raising seat. balanced step see dancing step. !45 balance sheet in business management, a document which shows all the credits and debits, and their difference, of a company or organization and thus its financial situation. balaneion Gk; see balneum. balbides Gk; the starting line or place for contests in an ancient Greek stadium. !89 balcony an accessible outdoor or glazed and balustraded platform projecting from the external face of a building, often for recreational use. !54 see balcony illustration. !54 see balcony in residential building illustration. !61 see internal balcony in office building illustration. !60 balcony-access flats see gallery-access block. !61 balcony deck the structural floor of a balcony; see also balcony slab. !54 balcony drain see balcony outlet. !54 balcony glazing a proprietary or specially designed openable glazing assembly which provides shelter from the elements by closing off the front and sides of a balcony above its balustrade. !54 balcony outlet, balcony drain; a fitting in an exposed balcony through which rainwater and melted snow from a balcony floor or deck is conveyed to a downpipe or other drainage system. !54 balcony slab the structural concrete or stone floor of a balcony. !54 baldacchino see baldachin. !112 baldachin, baldacchino, baldaquin; an ornamental canopy of or representing fabric over an altar, throne, bed or doorway; see ciborium. !112 baldachin altar a church altar situated beneath a highly ornate canopy supported by columns, an altar type typical in Baroque church architecture, see also ciborium altar. baldaquin see baldachin. !112 balection moulding see bolection moulding. balineum Lat.; see balneum. !88 balistraria a narrow cross-shaped opening in the external wall of a castle or fortification for crossbow archers (balisters) to fire arrows at potential attackers; also known as an arbalestina; see also arrow loop. !103 balk see baulk. !2 Balkanization in town planning, the natural fragmentation of groups according to social, religious or ethnic background, forming areas of distinctive quality and often interrelated conflicts. ball and flower, ballflower; an ovular decorative motif found in the church architecture of the early 1300s, a stylized three-petalled flower enclosing a small globule. !123 ballast 1 material such as gravel, concrete slabs or cast concrete laid above an insulating layer on roofs and walkways to provide weight and prevent its removal and deterioration by the forces of weather and wind. 2 an electronic component for maintaining a constant current applied to a discharge or fluorescent lamp. ball-bearing a construction or component consisting of a number of steel spheres arranged in a ring and cased, providing a frictionless support for a rotating attachment. !38 ball-bearing butt hinge see ball-bearing hinge. !38 ball-bearing hinge, ball-bearing butt hinge; a hinge with a ball-bearing incorporated between adjacent knuckles to reduce friction between them. !38 ball catch, bullet catch; a catch which holds a door closed by means of a sprung ball in a casing, fixed into the edge of the door leaf; see also roller catch. !39 ball clay a fine textured, plastic, adhesive natural clay used in the manufacture of earthenware and firebricks. ballcock see ballvalve. ballflower see ball and flower. !123 ball hinge a hinge whose pins rotate upon a ball-bearing to reduce friction in turning. !38 ballium 1 Lat.; the enclosed courtyard of a medieval castle; a bailey. 2 see bailey. !103 balloon see wire balloon. balloon frame a form of timber frame construction in which vertical studs rise from sole plate to header plate through two or more stories; intermediate floors are carried on wall plates nailed to the inside face of the studs. !57 ball peen hammer a hammer whose peen is hemi- spherical. !40 ball pen, ball point pen; an ink pen having a small metal ball at its point, which regulates the flow of ink through rolled contact with the paper or base. ball point pen see ball pen. ballroom a large main hall in a mansion, institute or public building, often used for celebratory functions, especially dances. ballvalve, 1 ballcock, floatvalve, float operated valve; a valve in the flushing cistern of a soil appliance which controls the level of water therein with the aid of a float; a flushing valve. 2 in plumbing pipework, a valve containing a per- forated ball, which can be turned to align with ports in the casing and allow liquid to pass through. balm see balsam. balneolum Lat.; see balneum. balneum, 1 balineum (Lat.), balneolum, balaneion (Gk); Lat., plural balneae; in Roman architecture, a small public or private bath house, suite of rooms etc.; see also thermae. !88 2 a bathing pool in a Roman bath house or dwell- ing. !91 balsam a fragrant and medicinal resinous exudation from certain conifers; see oleoresin. balsam fir [Abies balsamea] a Canadian softwood whose cream-coloured timber is used for construction work and packaging. balsam poplar [Populus balsamifera, Populus tacamahaca] a North American hardwood with pale brown timber; used in plywood, as sawn boards and for furniture. bailey castle 29
- 46. Exploring the Variety of Random Documents with Different Content
- 47. – Mosolyogsz a ruhámon, itt a magányban? – kérdezte. – Ha a belsőm szomorú és kuszált, a pompás ruha gyakran segít rajtam. Rajtad ma még a rongy segít, de te is kész vagy áldozatra. Jer, ne mondj ellent, ma csak megsérthetnél vele. Valamikor én is kész voltam áldozatra. Míg lenyugszik a nap, üljünk le itt és te mesélj nekem. Beszélj arról, mit kellett szenvedned és bocsásd meg, ha megvigasztal engem. – Ezt nem tehetem. – Tudom. Néha amikor beszélni hall téged az ember, azt hihetné, hogy életed szép és derűlt élmények egyetlen paradicsomán vitt át, mindig csak különleges emberek közé és mindig olyan tapasztalatokkal, amelyek bátorságot és erőt adtak neked vagy fölemeltek. De tudom, hogy ez nem lehet igaz. Voltak olyan élvezeteid is, amelyek más természetűek, mint amelyekről olykor beszélsz és nem egy megszégyenítést, nélkülözést és keserves megalázást szenvedtél el. Nem kell ugyanolyan életnek lennie… – Senkinek sem tanácsolnám, hogy az én utaimat járja, Teja, a legfontosabb hiányoznék neki, de sem élvezeteimről, sem szenvedéseimről nem beszélhetek és legkevésbbé azon a módon, ahogyan te titokban kivánod. Ezt hiszem, hogy élményeim tényei az irigységet vagy a szánalmat keltenék föl, de nem azt a részvétet, amely a szereplőt a háttérbe állítja úgy, hogy másoknak lehetővé válik a részvétel az eseményekben. – Mit törődsz vele? Miért? Világos szeme tele kereső bámulattal és csaknem ellenségesen nézett az enyémbe. – Tudod-e, hogy előttem így is a háttérbe lépsz és hogy, amikor minden amit mondasz a lelkemet talán foglalkoztatja, de mégis ugyanakkor magamra hagy? Szörnyen megijedtem, talán az igazság miatt, amely e vádban rejlett, talán azért is, mert sejtettem, hogy Teja azt vetette a szememre, ami az ő hibájából nem lehettem neki és amim nem is lehetett.
- 48. – Sokszor oly szeretet nélkül és idegenül hatsz reám, – folytatta Teja, – mindenben, amiben egész lelkemmel követni szeretnélek, érzem, hogy idegen akarsz maradni. Visszahúzod a kezedet, még mielőtt igazán megfoghattam volna. Ma gyakran jobban megértem, mint azelőtt, hogy igazán csavargó vagy. Én egész életemet elbeszéltem neked olyan őszintén, amilyen, azt hittem, sohasem lehetek emberrel szemben, de ha mindenre visszagondolok, amit te mondtál nekem, akkor mindig csak másokat látok, téged pedig csak annak látlak, aminek föltűnni akarsz, de nem annak, ami vagy. Hogyan higyjek a szerelmedben e nyiltság nélkül? Valami idegent szeretsz, jobban mint magadat és engem, de mi ez az ismeretlen és tulajdonképpen mit akarsz? Bizonytalanul mosolygott, mintha alaptalan gondolatok közé tévedett volna, de én szerelmem tiszta hallásával megértettem szavainak értelmét. Kétségeim fölébredtek és ezt susogták: nem hallod, amit elhallgatott? Hiszed-e, hogy valaha a világon asszony mondta ki először érthetően és egyszerűen ezeket a szavakat: nem szeretlek többé? – Miért mondod Teja ezt mekem, miért te teszed ezt? Hallgatott. Megéreztem szavának távoli igazságát, anélkül, hogy összefüggését a sorsommal fölismertem volna, egyszersmind azonban azt is, hogy Teja nem ennek az igazságnak a kedvéért beszélt, hanem valami más igazságért, amely mögötte rejtőzködött. Némán ültünk az erdőben az esti szélben, míg besötétedett, szomorúan hallgattunk a bennünket kínzó kimondhatatlannak nyomása alatt, amely alól úgy látszott csak fájdalmas megtérés adhat szabadulást. Amikor kibujt a hold és a világra lassan új és más fény áradt, Teja fölkelt és szólt: – Holnap megjön. Most mindent megértettem és mintha függönyök ereszkednének le előttem, láttam sötét erdőket, végtelen utakat, pusztaságot és halotti csöndes éjjeleket tele csillagokkal és messzi távolsággal. Még messzebb a vidék fölött fanyar örömmel, keserű erővel és szerelemmel fény csillámlott. A keblem tele volt könnyel, de éreztem,
- 49. hogy nem fog utat találni és visszafojtottsága fölött hűvös gyönyörűség sugárzott. Belsőm gondolatainak és mozgalmának hatalmában egy szót sem tudtam szólni. Gondoltam: légy bűnös magaddal és velem szemben, én majd csak megleszek, valamit találok és akkor… Ekkor Teja mellettem a sötétségben halkan megszólalt: – Akkor öreg vagyok. Gondolatai, amelyek az én gondolataimhoz hasonlóan bizonyára a jövőbe tévedtek, más után juthattak el ehhez a kijelentéshez, amelyet feleletül kellett elfogadnom titkos szavaimra, de kibékített és nyugodt elhatározásokkal teli éjjelt adott nekem, gazdagot alaktalan gondolatokban, amelyeket végig kellett gondolnom, anélkül, hogy megértettem volna őket. Ilyen pillanatokban nem mi gondolkodunk, hanem valami régi, soha föl nem ismert tapasztalat gondolkodik bennünk. Lényünk sohasem különösebb, mint amikor valami nagy fájdalom fészkeli meg benne magát, amelyet eleinte csak mint a vihart megelőző csöndet érezünk és amelynek hatalmát csak ezután fogjuk megismerni. Tanyát üt a lelkünkben, mélyen beássa magát és kiterjeszkedik az arany és az omladék alatt, amelyet aknáikból tudatosságunk tervtelenül mozgalmas fölszinére dob. De Tejának rólam mondott utolsó szavai fájdalmas hevességgel órákon át foglalkoztattak. Majd vádnak, majd panasznak gondoltam és csak sokkal később értettem meg, hogy el kellett mondania azokat, hogy magát előttem és maga előtt igazolja. Azzal, hogy eszköznek használta őket, nem vesztettek igazságukból, abból az igazságból, amely bennem lassan fájó és büszke bizonyossággá nőtt meg. Csak a magunk szemébe vetett első tekintettel kezdődik a belső szabadság utunkra, ezen pedig jó, ha az ember őszinte magával szemben. Az új nap úgy köszöntött be, mint minden más nap, de föltörekvő világosságával kijózanodtam abból az elhatározásomból, hogy útra kelek és a szomorúságból bosszúság és dac lett, amely elkeserített. Másfajta egészen új erő kelt bennem életre, elégedetlen voltam magammal és tele gúnnyal és lenézéssel magam iránt. Érzelmeim
- 50. meghasonlásában a kastélyban maradtam ahelyett, hogy elmentem volna. Forró önvádtól egészen a Teját illető legkeményebb szemrehányásig azzal a kérdéssel kínoztam magamat, mi az oka ennek az elválasztó lemondásnak, amely ki nem mondott valóság lett köztünk. Teja ellen irányuló haragos fölháborodásom pillanatokra ki tudott szakítani bizonytalanságomból: Megvetlek lelkiismeret hiján való élvezetetekkel, megalázkodástokkal, amely föllángolásokat ismer, amelyek minden nemes odaadástól távol és magatokon kivül az élet asztali örömévé tette a test és a vér ételét. Mit törődtök ti a lelkek közösségével, ha lelketlen megkivánástok fogságába esett a testetek, a visszaélés nálatok megszokássá változott, mert legfőbb jogotok megtagadtatott. Keserű világossággal emlékeztem vissza a szavakra, amelyeket Teja első találkozásunk napján mondott nekem: «A vérem hangját figyelni tudom, mint a vándorló az erdőben a forrásét, de nem mint a fa a maga zúgását.» Teja sohasem szeretett engem, hanem föllángolása abból a tűzből származott, amelyet az igazán szeretők szenvedéséről mondott szavaim gyujtottak az ő szerelemre éhes vágyódásában. Vágyódva, irigyen és dideregve biztos világában, amelyet nem tudott otthagyni, azt szerette bennem, ami tőle megtagadtatott. De bánatomat semmiféle vád és a magam hibájának semmiféle bevallása sem tudta elkergetni, mert a szerelem nem tárgyának értékéből él, hanem sokkal hamarább nyomának fönséges fénypályájába vonja értéktelenségét is. Aki pedig szerelme világából még a magabíráskodó erény árnyékvilágába is tud menekülni és ott vigaszt talál, sokkal nyomorultabb, mint akit sohasem érintett a szerelem. Így tehát semmi sem enyhítette az élet szívtelen képét, amely szigorú hatalmával mutatkozott. Mint valami megsértett néző úgy láttam a nap eseményeit, nemsokára pedig mintha álomban is átéltem volna őket, a lázas ünnepi örömet, a kocsik útnakindulását, a gazda megérkezését, a kastély világos ablakait és csillogásukat éjfél után. Ahogyan elmult ez a nap, úgy multak el a következők és én már nem ismertem magamra. Mindent lehetségesnek tartottam, csak azt nem, hogy ime ily szótlanul és félrehuzódva elkotródom, búcsú nélkül és anélkül, hogy a kegynek vagy kegyvesztettségnek csak még egy jelét is
- 51. kaptam volna. Nem tudtam, mit vártam és türelmes fölismeréssel teli nem egy tiszta belátás váltakozott a test és a lélek tehetetlenségének ájult dühével úgy, hogy mintha a legfeneketlenebb sötétségben jártam volna, engedelmesen és bolondul is. Emellett gépiesen végeztem a munkát, amely nekem kinálkozott és a kertésszel vagy a gondnokkal néhány elfogulatlan szó miatt gyakran úgy harcoltam, mintha lelkem üdvösségéről lett volna szó. Nem látták-e valamennyien gyalázatunkat? Emellett szűntelenül valami döntést vártam, bár tudtem, hogy már megtörtént. Megkínzott létem bizonyos régiójában egész a lealacsonyitásig megvetettem magamat, a másikban pedig a várakozás derült nyugalma, mély hit fogott el. De minél tovább időztem itt, szívem annál erősebben kötött hozzá a kínszenvedés és a boldogság e helyéhez, amelyeken át változatlanul azt a Teját láttam a messzi távolban lépkedni, aki a karjaimban feküdt. Egy reggeli órában, amikor a fölkelő nap a köddel viaskodott és a fákról csöppek hullottak a lombokra és a hervadt virágágyakra, azzal voltam elfoglalva, hogy a kertben téli ágyat csináljak magastörzsű rózsáknak. A vad csemetéket, mielőtt megnyestem, kényelmes munkával megszabadítottam vörös gyümölcsüktől, a nemes törzsek koronáit pedig szalmába burkoltam és pipám füstje összekeveredett a reggeli köddel. Ekkor a kastély urát láttam közeledni, éppen nekem tartott és azt hittem, hogy megdermed a szívem. Kényelmesen jött, mintha gondolataival lett volna elfoglalva és úgy tetszett, hogy csak véletlenül állott meg nálam, örülve útja kis megszakításának. Abbahagytam a munkát és ránéztem. – Még nincs régen a szolgálatomban? – Nem gróf úr, hat hét óta. Barátságosan, csaknem szomorúan nézett reám. Érdeklődése leereszkedőnek látszott, de fönhéjázás nélkül. Finom, sovány arcába tekintettem, amely szakálltalanságában és mozdulatlanságában olyan volt, mint valami előkelő álarc. Kék szeme tiszta volt és bizalmat keltően határozott és hűvösen biztos a tekintete. Láttam, hogy a halántékán már megőszült a haja, kezét rövid
- 52. vadászkabátjának meglehetősen magasan fölvarrott zsebébe dugta. A kabát, amely keskeny, szürke prémmel volt beszegve, könnyünek és mégis melegnek látszott. – A gyümölcstermés mint hallottam, gazdag volt és szerencsésen betakarították. Maga is segített? – Igenis, gróf úr. Úgy éreztem magamat, mintha el kellene fordulnom és el kellene sietnem. A szívem égett és remegett a szégyentől, a sértett büszkeségtől és attól a kivánságtól, hogy hangosan és vadul fölkiáltsak. De e férfi tekintetének vizsgálgató szomorúsága a helyemhez szögezett és erre a tétlen kivárásra kényszerített. Folytathattam volna a munkámat, de világosan éreztem, hogy mindez nem volt véletlen, hanem történni fog valami. – A tél közeledtével nektek kertészeknek kevesebb a dolgotok. Maga is eléggé átláthatta a helyzetet és megértheti, hogy a melegházakat, amelyeknek a jövőben csekély gondozásra van szükségük, Gebhart is elláthatja. Helyénvaló lenne tehát, ha a segédek számát a munka mennyiségéhez szabnák. Szava meggondoltan és barátságosan hangzott minden határozott élesség nélkül, mintha inkább megfontolgatná szavait, de nem intézkednék. – Ha éppen ebben az időben nem érinti a dolog súlyosan, – folytatta, – okosan tenné, ha télre valami jövedelmezőbb foglalkozást keresne. Segítségemet nem ajánlom föl, mert tudom, hogy nincs rá szüksége. Nem volna szíves felelni? Megértettem e kérdés hanghordozását és kisérő tekintetét és úgy éreztem, mintha izzó szélben állanék. De megerősített egy harmadik akarat sejtése, amelynek erejét éreztem és amely mindkettőnkkel rendelkezett. Ezt feleltem: – Utamra fogok indulni.
- 53. Hűvös szeme harag és szeretet nélkül vizsgálta arcvonásaimat. Rövid habozás, félig sajnálkozás, félig lemondás volt az egyetlen engedmény, melyet szavaimnak tett, szinte bevallotta, hogy Teja szavai révén ismert és hogy kegyes szánalom fátylába burkolva akarja tudni, amit a fátyol neki, az öregedőnek, rólam és Tejáról eltakart. Azután ferdén lefelé tekintve bólintott és így szólt: – Jó szerencsét kivánok magának és mindnyájunknak. E szavakkal kezét nyujtotta, de én nem tudtam megfogni és lenéztem a földre azt a látszatot keltve, mintha nem vettem volna észre felém nyujtott kezét. A várakozó tehát kissé megemelte a kalapját és lassan elfordulva folytatta az útját, mintha erre a rövid időre csak a munkám iránt való futólagos érdeklődés alkalmi szava állította volna meg. Kerti bokrok csoportja tolódott közénk és alakja eltűnt szemem elől. Leültem a szalmára és hallgattam a ködcsöppeket, amelyek a kert csöndjében a lombokra hullottak. Ő beszélt vele és most általa hozzám szól. Nem éreztem ki semmi kérést és semmi parancsot, semmi vádat és semmi reménykedést, hanem csak ezt: «Jobb így.» Ez a hangtalan hang összevegyült a természet zajával és lélekzetvételével, kiillatozott a földi lombozatból és mint szürke ragyogás ott feküdt az úton. Sorsom lenyügöző hatalmában borzongató sietéssel a szobámba mentem és batyuba kötöttem amim volt. Régi ruhámat már nem találtam, csak nagy kalapomat láttam a szekrény egyik szögletében és amikor fölemeltem, egy egér ugrott ki alóla. Hüvös áramlat hatolt be hozzám a nyitott, el nem függönyözött ablakon át és egy pillanatig abbahagyva a csomagolást kinéztem a reggeli levegőbe, a tarka lombokra és a barnás mezőre. Azután rendbe szedtem az asztalomon fekvő könyveket és elbúcsúztam tőlük. Úgy éreztem, mintha ezek, át nem kutatottak, kérdezősködtek volna utánam, mintha ártatlanul adósai maradtunk volna egymásnak és mosolyognom kellett, amikor a szenvedés, szerelem és szenvedély tágas világára gondoltam, amely ebben az igénytelen burokban rejtőzködött. Ez vidámmá tett, mint valami csoda fénye és boldog
- 54. megkönnyebbülés érzése emelt föl úgy, hogy emberi szegénységem mint valami nagy, világos vitorla állott előttem a világ szelében. Semmim sincs már és még mindenem megvan, gondoltam, értse meg, aki tudja, ti is biztosságtokkal és gondjaitokkal. Előttem a láthatatlan idő tengere terült el és keblemben az erő. Mindent elvesztettem és egyenesen állok és néhány év mulva, ti és én, mindnyájan a föld alatt fekszünk. Fogtam a botomat és elmentem. Az udvar árnyékából a napos országútra léptem, amely tele volt szomorúsággal, de arany fényben csillogott. Nem kerestem az utat, mentem, amerre vitt és ameddig ismerős úton haladtam, nyomott volt a lelkem. De amikor jobbról és balról elmaradt mögöttem az erdő és szemem előtt kitárult a vidék, ismét körülölelt életem sorsa, az idegennek fanyar bizalmassága és könnyebben lélekzettem, mint aki szülőföldjéhez közeledik. Kis idő mulva mögöttem kocsi zörgését, gyorsan ügető kettősfogat izgatott vidámságát hallottam. A kastély urának vadászkocsija volt, amely az országút világos szalagján fénylőn, sötéten, büszkén rohanva közeledett a tájék csöndes tarkaságán át és én oldalt állottam, hogy elengedjem magam mellett. Teja hajtotta a lovakat, a kantárt jól megfogta világos keztyűbe bújtatott, kissé méltóságteljesen fölemelt kezével, hűvös, okos homloka fölött kicsiny férfikalap és vállának különösen határozott, világos életet adott a halványszínű fátyol, amely élénken és szinte csintalanul vidáman hátrafelé röpködött a karjáról. Balfelől ült a kastély ura, amennyire a magas kocsi keskeny támlája engedte, hátradölve úgy, hogy Tejánál kisebbnek látszott. Nyugodtan előre a messzeségbe irányzott tekintete, mintha gyönge fáradtságában jóakaratúlag az őszies vidék szemlélésébe merűlt volna el, buzgalom nélkül érdeklődve és gondolkodva tépelődés nélkül. Amikor Teja elhajtott mellettem, mereven előre nézett, arcának egyetlen vonása sem mozdult, de halványságával búcsút mondott nekem, valamint nyarunk napjainak, ifjúsága forrásainak a zöld életvölgyben és a szerelem ama birodalmának, amely nem ad sem érvényesülést, sem támasztékot vagy tekintélyt a földön.
- 55. A porfelhő mint valami finom fátyol régen szétterjedt és leszállott a mezőn és elhangzott a kocsirobogás, amikor mély lélekzettel fölébredtem ebből a búcsúzásból. Tovább mentem és ezt mondtam magamnak: Tovább szívem, tovább kell mennünk. Ha utam hozzád egykor nem volt az út sokakhoz, a legjobbak útja mégis mindig az út hozzád.
- 56. HETEDIK FEJEZET. Solander. Gyakran gondoltam: ma ez vagyok és holnap az, sohasem hasonló magamhoz és mégis mindig ugyanaz. Azt hiszem, hogy olyan ember vagyok, akinek egyáltalán nincs úgynevezett karaktere, akinek semmi határt nem szab, akit semmi sem gátol, aki erős és gyönge, szegény és gazdag. A keblemben hősök és gonosztevők, szentek és gyermekek, istenek és állatok laknak és akit szeretek, az én vagyok. Elmerülök minden tűzben, elmenekülök minden égbe és hány mélységbe zuhantam már le, hogy mindenhonnan mégis abba az álomszerű bizonyosságba térjek vissza, amely énemet jelenti. Szomorúbb vagyok és boldogabb, mint valamennyi ember, akit ismerek és mégis irigylem őket ama képességükért, hogy elfogadni és visszautasítani tudják, amiről azt hiszik, hogy kis világuk fölépítésére fölhasználhatják vagy el kell vetniök. Ők vagy ez vagy az, én azonban minden vagyok és semmi. Bár úgy magyaráztam a dolgot, hogy a magamegfigyelésnek ez az állapota bizonyára szüntelen vándorlásom és állandó egyedüllétem következménye, mégis gyakran okozott gondot, mert nem tudtam megérteni, miféle hasznára lehet ez magamnak vagy másoknak. Ha könyvben, festményen vagy tapasztalatom mindennapi életében olyan alakokkal találkoztam, akiknek lénye tisztelettel töltött el, arra törekedtem, hogy tulajdonságaikat helyesen értékeljem és buzgón utánoztam viselkedésüket remélve, hogy akkor kiküzdöm magamnak az ő alakjukat, az ő biztosságukat és az ő értéküket, de képüket elbátortalanodva csakhamar kilöktem a lelkemből és támaszték nélkül tovább hányódtam, nyiltan és amint
- 57. láttam, szegényen és üresen. Később gyakran úgy éreztem, mintha lelkem háztartása tele volna zavarral, különféle egyszerű embereket kerestem föl, beszéltem velük és gyanakvással és lesből figyeltem a hatást, amelyet rájuk tettem és minél inkább éreztem, hogy más voltam mint ők, annál több aggodalommal kodródtam vissza elhagyatottságom szakadékai és magaslatai közé. Akkor még nem értettem, hogy az ember lelki formájának fölépítése és növekedése titokban és észrevétlenül történik és hogy mindazok, akiknek tisztelettel és szeretettel szállást adtunk a lelkünkben, ha ismét eltávoznak onnan, egyéniségükből a nyereség egy-egy építőkövét hagyják hátra bennünk. Ifjúkorában sok ember nyitott ajtó, a magasba meredező állvány vagy át nem tekinthető alaprajz, sokkal több történik bennük, mint amennyit maguk és rendesen mások megláthatnának és a kín, amelyet bizonytalanságuk okoz, alapjában csak nagyságuknak és annak a biztosítéka, hogy a széles, sokoldalú alapon majd jó épület fog épülni. De ők nem tudják és senki sem veheti le róluk a szenvedést. Ezek másoknál, akik korán belenyugosznak a dolgok folyásába, sokkal több veszedelemmel környékezve, gyakran a pusztulásba mennek, abban a törekvésükben, hogy környezetük kedvéért erőszakot kövessenek el magukon vagy mert szeretetük forrása elapad az embergyűlölet pusztaságában. Mert érzékenyebbek mint mások, hamarább összeroskadnak; mert figyelmesebbek, készségesebben engedelmeskednek és az a törekvésük, hogy valamit jelentsenek az embereknek, elhamarkodva szánalmas szolgálatkészségre csábítja őket, még mielőtt az emberiség hasznára váló erejüket megszerezték volna. Mert az érzékenység és a fogékonyság, ha nincs meg ellensúlyul az erő, amelynek biztos érzéke van az erős jogai iránt, csak védtelen adománya jószívű angyaloknak, akik Isten nélkül állottak a bölcsőnknél. Életemnek ily gondolatokkal és csupa ellenmondás érzelmekkel gazdag napjaiban toppant elém Solander, csodálatosképpen abban az időben, amelyben mint valami feleletre, figyelmeztetésre és támasztékra szükségem volt reá. Mert megszerettem, jelentékeny befolyással volt reám, lényét előitélet nélkül iparkodtam megismerni és megérteni úgy, hogy lelkemben annak láttam őt, ami lehetett
- 58. volna és megmenekültem attól, hogy túlbecsüljem megalázkodásának visszataszító megnyilvánulásait. Láttam az élet napját, amely benne lenyugodott, de nem tüzének salakját, amelyet pusztuló testében hátrahagyott. Másoknak ifjúságukban válogatottabb nevelőik lehettek, akiket egészen más megbecsülés fényében követtek és akiknek befolyását a tisztelettudás más hangján dícsérik, mint ahogyan az az áldás hangzik, amelyet én mondok Solanderre. Az élet önálló tanulói saját lényük titkos útmutatása szerint maguk választják nevelőiket és hány önállótlan tanító tördelte ezért a kezét növendékeinek elvetemültsége miatt. De az én ifjúságom sorsa az élet szívére és nem a ruhájára irányította a szememet, senkisem figyelmeztetett bajaira vagy óvott meg azoktól, de nem is tudta senkisem szememet lezárni a rejtett hatalom és bőség elől, amely csak a bátornak nyilvánul meg, aki semmi veszedelemmel nem törődve száll síkra és megveti azt a tant, amely megvédi ugyan nem egy dologgal szemben, de csak kevésre oktatja ki. Akkor, bár nyár volt, valami okból a városban időztem. Vándorlásomban a régi utcákba kerültem és megragadtam bennük, mert szükségét éreztem a lármának, nyugtalanságnak és feledésnek. Hogy megélhessek képes levelezőlapot és újságot, könyvet és folyóiratot árultam az utcán és a vendéglőkben és a város kellő közepén sötét, szögletes téren épült ősrégi ház padlásszobájában laktam. Ha az ablakomon kissé kihajoltam, az ereszen túl egy bronzszobor fejének a tetejét láttam. A szobor egy a legjobb korban levő szalonkabátos urat ábrázolt, aki valamikor nagy érdemet szerzett a város fejlődése körül. Annyira-amennyire beárnyékolta két félig elvirágzott hársfa; ágaik közt reggel, amikor a korai nap végigsimogatta őket, verebek csiripeltek és csúcsaikat olykor bágyadt szélfuvalom mozgatta, amely a zöld messzeségből, kedves világomból tévedt a tér falai közé. Sorsomat rokonnak éreztem az övével és késő éjjel, mikor titokzatos suttogása közben elaludtam, gyakran gondoltam rá. Az az üzlet, ahol levelezőlapjaimat és újságjaimat vásároltam, egy nagyon mozgékony, már ősz zsidóé volt, akinek ezen a bolton kivül, amelyből a város utcai árusainak többsége táplálkozott,
- 59. nyomdája is volt, amely egy szociáldemokrata ujságot és olcsó könyveket adott ki. Ezeknek a könyveknek a napilapokban közölt és bámulatos sikerrel járó hirdetésekkel szerzett kelendőséget, amelyek rendszerint ilyenféleképpen kezdődtek: «Bájos férfi dolgok!» vagy pedig: «Az új kor erkölcsrajzai!» A rendőrség beavatkozása néha- néha gyors végét szakította egyik-másik mű sötét útjának, de rendesen már csak akkor, amikor a kiadó bezsebelte a hasznot. Elkan Benjámin volt a neve. A kis kövér ember piszkos, fekete kabátjában mogorván, szótlanul és mindig sürögve-forogva haladt hatáskörének szűk útján; makacsul ragaszkodott mindenhez, aminek egyszer már hasznát látta és bizalmatlan és vak volt minden olyan lehetőséggel szemben, amellyel üzletét fejleszthette vagy szabadabb útra terelhette volna. Amikor legelőször jártam nála, bevezető szavaim után, amelyekkel tudtára adtam kivánságomat, fejének lassu ferde meghajtásával helyes arányba hozta a tekintetét a szemüvegével és ellenséges figyelemmel vizsgálgatott anélkül, hogy szavamba vágott volna. Amikor elhallgattam, megkérdezett, nem dolgoznám-e inkább nála a házban, a szerkesztőségben, az irodában, a kis utcai árusok kiszolgálásában. Ajánlatát visszautasítottam. – Biztos födele lesz, asztala, kényelmes széke és tiszta munkája, lárma és lótás-futás nélkül. A kezével magyarázgatta a szék formáját. Eszerint párnás szék volt. De nem mondhattam le a szabadságomról és tudtam, hogy egy óra hosszáig sem birom ki a zárt üzleti irodában. – Csak magától függ, – mondta Elkan Benjámin olyan hangon, mintha elveszett embernek tartana. Azután egy középút jutott az eszébe: – Korrekturát olvashat, művelt dolgokat… Nézze meg a nyomdát, a munkaszobákat. Büszkén és ügyetlenül futott előttem, mintha menekülő úton lenne.
- 60. Magas, melegházszerű rekeszben hosszú asztal volt, amely mellett mint az iskolapadban férfiak és nők, fiúk és leányok ültek hosszú sorban. Ez a terem volt a szerkesztőség, a könyvvezetőség és egyszersmind a csomagoló helyiség. Tejüvegből készült ablakok megakadályozták a kilátást az utcára, egyetlen napsugár sem juthatott be a világos, kietlen fogságba. A gyorssajtó dübörgése mindent megremegtetett és ablakajtócskákkal ellátott homályos üvegfalon át be lehetett látni a szedőhelyiségbe úgy, hogy az itt és az ott foglalatoskodók egymást ellenőrizhették. Ez ügyes és csunya spekulálás volt a rosszul fizetett emberek haragos kedvére, akik megirigyelték egymástól szegény kenyerüket. A raktárban a menyezetig tele voltak a falak újságokkal, könyvekkel és brosurákkal, enyvnek és kéregpapirosnak a szaga terjengett, mint valami könyvkötőműhelyben. Elkan Benjáminnak a viszonya alkalmazottaihoz durván kollegiális szinezetű volt: mogorva volt és egyszersmind bizalmaskodó, izgatott és alázatos. Ahol kérnie kellett volna, ott parancsolt és ahol rendelkezhetett volna, ott követelése óvatos fölkéréssé vált. – Jól van, – mondá, – hát nem akar. Majd eljön talán akkor, ha rosszabra fordul az időjárás. Fölcsúszott székére és egyik alkalmazottjára bízott, akitől megkaptam mindent, amire szükségem volt. Elkan úr csodálatosképpen nem kivánta, hogy előre fizessek valamit, amint ilyen esetben szokásos és szükséges, hanem csak ezt mondta: – Majd eljön, hogy fizessen. Amikor egyszer beállítottam hozzá, hogy újra ellássam magamat városi képes levelezőlapokkal és a városról és környékéról készült néhány tucat kis kalauzkönyvvel, üresen találtam Elkan úr irodáját, ahová mint valami boltba közvetetlenül az utcáról lehetett bejutni és a szerkesztőségbe szolgáló ajtó tárva-nyitva volt. A zsidónak nagyon izgatott hangos szavát lehetett hallani, más hangok gyorsan és szemtelenül keveredtek vele: nyilvánvaló, hogy civakodtak. A szedők és foltos kék köpenyében a gépmester ott állottak a nyomda kijáratánál és érdeklődéssel hallgatták a vitát, amelyben buzgón
- 61. résztvettek és látszott rajtuk felelősségük tudata. Elkan egész lénye nagyon érthetővé tette, hogy az egész üzletvitelt úgy kezelték és úgy beszéltek róla, mint valami közös családi ügyről. Elkan védekezett ez ellen, de a főnöki tekintélyt mindig eljátszotta azzal, hogy nagyon is bizalmaskodó volt alkalmazottaival. Ez érthetővé tette, hogy fontos nézeteltérések kitörése mindig erőszakos úton történt. Én már néhányszor megfigyeltem, hogy a tulajdonos mily nehezen tudott e minőségében érvényesülni és hogy ennek az elvadulásnak mégis csak maga volt az oka. Meglehetősen kora reggel volt még, a gyorssajtó pihent, az újság, amely hetenként háromszor jelent meg, csak délfelé készült el. Eltávoztam volna, hogy kedvezőbb időben térjek vissza, ha érdeklődésemet le nem kötötte volna egy férfi, aki Elkannal beszélt, mint valami iskolásgyerekkel. Különösen szomorú szem alatt, amely csaknem érdektelennek tűnt föl, nagy szakállas száj ordított a zsidóra, szürke hajsörény, amely kopasz homlokról hullott hátra a tarkóra, hihetetlenül kopott kabát barnavörös posztóból és kockás fehér nadrág, amely csaknem térdig föl volt tűrve, a hang vadságával együtt olyan furcsa emberi képet adtak, hogy lenyügözve megállottam az ajtóban várva a dolgok lefolyását. Nyilván valami politikai munkáról volt szó, amelyet a szerkesztőségnek ez a fura szentje szolgáltatott be és valaki olyan változtatásokat tett rajta, amelyekbe a szerző nem akart belemenni. Nem értettem, hogyan türhette el Elkan ennek az embernek határozottan brutálisan goromba szidalmait és nem dobatta őt ki, de azután mint meleg légáramlat elfogott az a még bizonytalan, de hatásában legyőző vélemény, hogy ezzel a hangos, csunya és tarka lénnyel nem lehet úgy bánni, mint más emberrel, hogy a szavakban titokzatos érdeklődést keltett maga iránt, amelynek eredetét nehezen lehetett fölismerni, de mégis meggyőzőbben hatott, mint magatartásának goromba esztelensége. Különös, hogy az ember minden tulajdonsága közül a legkevésbbé lelki erejét tudja elrejteni. Semmiféle más, bármily rossz tulajdonság sem tudja teljesen elnyomni, sem önzés, sem gonoszság, sőt a piszkosság és alávalóság sem. Csak ez magyarázza meg, hogy némely embernek
- 62. megbocsátjuk a legnagyobb hibákat is, a másiknak pedig még a legkissebbeket sem. Solanderrel ez volt az első találkozásom. Figyelőhelyemen ifjúságom buzgalmával az ő pártját fogtam, anélkül, hogy tisztában lettem volna azzal, miről volt szó, de minél tovább tartott a dolog, annál jobban meg voltam győződve haragjának jogosságáról. Elkan Benjámin úrnak sikerült a fölháborodott embert magánirodájába szorítania és betette az ajtót. Engemet is magukkal toltak, anélkül, hogy a civakodók bármelyike is törődött volna velem. Solander két teljesen összegyűrt kefelevonatot tartott a kezében és öklével együtt odacsapta a polcra, mint valami ládát. – Ha ezt úgy nyomatja ki, – kiáltotta, – ahogyan itt összenyesték, akkor ez az utolsó szó, amelyet a maga nyomorult férclapjának, ennek a hirdetésszennyel és nyárspolgári piszokkal teli hetifüzetnek írtam. Elkan kissé nyugodtabb lett. Homlokáról letörölte az izzadság csöppeket és bőrtrónusán himbálódzott, mintha megszokott ülőhelyén biztosabnak érezné magát mint a lábán. – Ha úgy közöljük, ahogyan maga írta, akkor igazán az utolsó szó, amelyet nekem írt, mert betiltják az ujságot. A legutolsó itéletben benne volt, hogy betiltják a lapomat, akkor aztán befellegzett nekem is, magának is, mindkettőnknek. Hát bolond vagyok? – Persze, hogy az, – mondta Solander. – Mi más is lehetne? Ha megfélemlíteni engedjük magunkat, a hatóság olyan könnyen elbánik velünk, ahogyan maga remélte a legkevésbbé. Minél többet engedünk, annál jobban nyomnak bennünket. Valami új dolog ez? Ha a felét akarjuk elérni, a dupláját kell mernünk. Mi tartja életben a maga sajttakaróját, ha nem ellenzékisége? Egyetlen tisztességes ember sem veszi többé a kezébe, ha megszűnünk tisztességtelennek lenni. Ezt a nehézkes polgári bandát semmi sem untatja annyira, mint saját erénye. A korrektura fölé hajolt és olvasni kezdte.
- 63. – De mit tegyünk, ha… – Hallgasson! – ordította Solander és Elkan, aki ismerte őt, tudta, hogy engedni fog és szót fogadott. Solander a polcról, amely mellett állott, levett egy skatulya gyujtót és rágyujtott egy szivarvégre, amelyet azonban csak akkor vettem észre a bajusza alatt, amikor előretolta az ajkát úgy, hogy a dohánymaradékocska úgy kuporgott vörös ajkai közt, mint a dugó egy üveg vörös nyakán. Tovább olvasva nadrágja zsebébe csusztatta a skatulyát, amely azonban lenn azonnal ismét napvilágra került és leesett rongyos cipője mellé. Solander gyors pillantást vetett rám, fölemelte a skatulyát és így szólt: Pardon. A zavarnak, a visszautasításnak és a maga kigúnyolásának alig észrevehető mosolya röpült felém, ami örökre biztosította vonzódásomat e férfihoz. Szánalom nélkül mély meghatottság fogott el, az a félig megszégyenítésből és félig szenvedésből alakuló meghatottság, amely oly sokszor lehet a vonzódás alapja. Valamely embertársunkat olyan szegénységben pillantjuk meg, amelyet a magunk érdekében nem akarunk eltűrni és amikor felelősségérzetünk fölébred, segítségünkre jön a szeretet, mint az egyedüli kivezető út a világ szegénységéből és nyomorából. Solander állta a tekintetemet és anélkül hogy szemét elkapta volna, fesztelenül megkérdezte Elkan úrtól: – Hát ez mit akar? – Kicsoda? – kérdezte a zsidó. Körülnézett és tekintetével szemüvege alatt áthatolni iparkodott. – Hja úgy, jól van, mondja meg, mit akar tőlem. Solander végighallgatta beszélgetésünket. Amikor távozni készültem, a levonatokat Elkan iróasztalára dobta, valami haragos engedményt mormogott és velem együtt távozott az irodából. Odakünn sütött a nap, körülbelül délelőtt tíz óra lehetett és pompás idő volt. A ház mellett, az ablak alacsony kőpadján és az egyik
- 64. pincebejárat vasrácsánál néhány öreg asszony kuporgott és állott, aki az újságra várt, hogy széthordja. – Alapjában véve mindez közönbös nekem, – mondta Solander nyugodtan, mintha valami régi ismerősével beszélne, – de a végzet kívánja, hogy mindent amit az ember tesz, pillanatnyilag egész egyéniségével kell megtennie olyan nevetséges odaadással, amely a magunkfajta emberben amúgy is megvan és nem csak a különleges tárgy kelti föl. Irigylem azokat az embereket, akik az alkalomhoz simulva, mindig szükség és belátás szerint tudnak cselekedni. És mégis sokkal nagyobb okosság kerget bele minket ostobaságainkba, mint ahogyan ez a banda minden praktikus ügyessége mellett valaha is sejtette. – Minél többet kivánunk magunktól, a viszonyok annál inkább el fognak tolódni a mi hasznunkra, – mondám. Solander megállott és hangosan és nyomatékkal mondta: – Ez így van. Csodálkozott, de nyilván anélkül, hogy tudta volna, hirtelenül magától értetődőnek fogadott el valamit, amiről lemondani szomorú szokásává vált. Megszaporázva lépteit, kárörömmel nevetett, mintha az én feleletem hirtelen igazat adna neki mindazokkal szemben, akik visszaéltek vele. Egy pillanatig sem kételkedett abban, hogy követem őt. – Hová megy? – kérdezte, mintha a terhére lennék. – Magával megyek, – feleltem. – Ahá, szabad madár, semmi dolga, semmi veszteni valója, belekapaszkodik az emberbe. Nos, ezt megszoktam. – Éhes vagyok, – mondtam, – mert azt óhajtottam, hogy valahol nyugodtan elbeszélgethessünk egymással. – Hja úgy, – mondta barátságosan. – Jól van. Még van néhány márkám a zsebemben. Ezért tehát…
- 65. – Remélhetőleg nem a nadrágzsebben. Solander hangosan nevetett és ismét megállott. – Nézze meg az ember, micsoda viccet csinál. Mindjárt gondoltam, hogy az imént észrevette, ami a gyujtósskatulyával történt. De nálam egészen mindegy, hová dugom a pénzt, nem marad meg egyetlen zsebemben sem. – Magamnak is van pénzem, – mondtam, – hogy megszabadítsam csalódásától. – Akkor minek jön velem? – kérdezte komoran. – Hát… csak azért. – Elmegyünk az én törzsvendéglőmbe, – szólt hirtelen fölvídulva. – Ilyen szép napon a legsötétebb zúgban kell a napfényt ünnepelni, csak akkor méltányolja az ember igazán. Hozzája egy kortyocska bor, benne hegyi napfénnyel a fiatalság éveiből, ez szürke szíveknek való keverék. Rajta hát! Előre ment, mintha háborúba vonulna. Kabátja hátrafelé röpült és vállán a fény tükröződött. Bő kopott nadrágja úgy odasimult a lábaszárához, mint a zászló a rúdjához és rongyos cipője cserben akarta hagyni. Egyik harisnyája barna volt, a másik szürke, de ez nem tűnt föl, mert mindkettő lecsúszott egészen a cúgos cipő szárára. Nemes formájú elhanyagolt keze, mint az inga, messzire előre-hátra lóbálódzott a csipője mellett, az emberek kitértek nagyra tervezett hódító útjából és utánunk néztek. Talán negyven éves, gondoltam, talán ötven. Az élet mely útjait taposhatták ezek a lábak. Ő is egyike azoknak a csavargóknak, akik nem az utcáról származnak, két idő változásában nőtt föl, mint mindkettőnek gyermeke és tévelyeg köztük, mint ahogyan a madár küzd két felhő pályájának légforgatagában. A régi megköti, az új megérinti, egyikkel sem tud megbirkózni, áhitatból bizonytalan és csak a hasztalan áldozatban erős. Úgy éreztem magam mellett ezt a hallgató embert és lényét, mintha beszélne magáról. Titkos borzongással rokonnak éreztem magamat vele és mégis a legjobb
- 66. reménységgel voltam iránta. Bármi legyen is, gondoltam, ember. Már régóta tudtam, milyen nehéz embernek lenni. Ó, mennyivel jobban szerettem a tökéletlen embereket, akiknek szíve melegített, mint azokat a többieket, akiknek sokféle tökéletes formájában a föld oly gazdag és akiket száműztem életemből, mert szívtelenek voltak. Tejára gondoltam és a gyászban, amely beborított, Solandert szépnek láttam. – Szeretnék kijutni a városból, – szóltam hozzá, – nyári mezőkön, hegyen-völgyön vagy messzi szemhatárok közt az ég alatt szeretnék haladni, nem házak közt. – Igen, igen, – mondta és jólelkű kárörömmel hunyorgatott felém, – ha az ember magához hasonlót fogságban talál, akkor gondol a legnagyobb fájdalommal a maga szabadságára. Úgy-e valami ilyesfélét akart mondani? De bennünket mai embereket fogva tart a város és aki benne a természet ellentétét látja, az szemlélődésében szánalmasan megrekedt és a természet lényegét sohasem tudta másban meglátni, csak a mezőben, az erdőben, a rétben. Éppen azok, akik azt hiszik, hogy egy köteg szénával betömhetik lelkük repedéseit, bírják el legkevésbbé a természetet, mintha éppen nekünk, e század városi embereinek nem kellene sokkal, sokkal több erő a zabolátlan természet értéketlenségében való éléshez, mint a léthez az emberi tömegek, a kitaposott utak, a langyos, hangos levegő, a biztosított vélemények áramlatában. A korcsma, ahová Solander elvitt, a Mária-templom árnyékában szűk keresztutcában volt. Kivülről nehezen lehetett nyilvános korcsmának fölismerni. Az ablakokat rikítóan tarka képekkel fölcifrázott, régi divatú karikán járó függöny félig eltakarta és az üvegajtón nem volt semmiféle hivogató fölirás, sem más jel, amiből korcsmára lehetett volna következtetni. A szélfogóban kis fekete kutya feküdt és a vendégszobába nyíló ajtó kilincsét bámulta. Solander beszélgetni kezdett vele, de az állat csak egyetlenegyszer pillantott rá futólagosan, mintha meglepte volna, hogy valaki szükség nélkül ebben a rekeszben tölti az időt, azután ismét a kilincset nézte.
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