Architecture of North America
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outline Outline or outlining may refer to: * Outline (list), a document summary, in hierarchical list format * Code folding, a method of hiding or collapsing code or text to see content in outline form * Outline drawing, a sketch depicting the outer edge ...
is an overview and topical guide to architecture:'' Architecture – the process and the product of designing and constructing buildings. Architectural works with a certain indefinable combination of design quality and external circumstances may become cultural symbols and / or be considered works of art.


What ''type'' of thing is architecture?

Architecture can be described as all of the following: * Academic discipline – focused study in one academic field or profession. A discipline incorporates expertise, people, projects, communities, challenges, studies, inquiry, and research areas that are strongly associated with the given discipline. * Buildings – buildings and similar structures, the product of architecture, are referred to as architecture. * One of the arts – as an art form, architecture is an outlet of human expression, that is usually influenced by culture and which in turn helps to change culture. Architecture is a physical manifestation of the internal human creative impulse. ** Fine art – in Western European academic traditions, fine art is art developed primarily for aesthetics, distinguishing it from applied art that also has to serve some practical function. The word "fine" here does not so much denote the quality of the artwork in question, but the purity of the discipline according to traditional Western European canons. * Science – systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. A science is a branch of science, or a discipline of science. It's a way of pursuing knowledge, not only the knowledge itself. **
Applied science Applied science is the use of the scientific method and knowledge obtained via conclusions from the method to attain practical goals. It includes a broad range of disciplines such as engineering and medicine. Applied science is often contrasted ...
– branch of science that applies existing scientific knowledge to develop more practical applications, such as technology or inventions.


Definitions of architecture

Architecture is variously defined in conflicting ways, highlighting the difficulty of describing the scope of the subject precisely: * A general term to describe buildings and other physical structures – although not all buildings are generally considered to be architecture, and infrastructure (bridges, roads etc.) is civil engineering, not architecture. * The art and science, or the action and process, of designing and constructing buildings. * The design activity of the architect, the profession of designing buildings. * A building designed by an architect, the end product of architectural design. * A building whose design transcends mere function, a unifying or coherent form or structure. * The expression of thought in building. * A group or body of buildings in a particular style. * A particular style or way of designing buildings. Some key quotations on the subject of architecture: * Vitruvius: defined the essential qualities of architecture as "firmness, commodity and delight". * Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "I call architecture frozen music". * Walter Gropius: "Architecture begins where engineering ends". *
Le Corbusier Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (6 October 188727 August 1965), known as Le Corbusier ( , , ), was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture. He was ...
: "A house is a machine for living in". * Louis Sullivan: "... form ever follows function. This is the law", usually quoted as the architectural mantra " form follows function". *
Mies van der Rohe Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ( ; ; born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies; March 27, 1886August 17, 1969) was a German-American architect. He was commonly referred to as Mies, his surname. Along with Alvar Aalto, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius and Frank Lloyd ...
: "Less is more". * Robert Venturi: "Less is a bore".


Roles in architecture

Professionals involved in planning, designing, and constructing buildings include: * Architect – a person trained in the planning, design and supervision of building construction. ** Architectural intern – a person gaining practical experience while studying to qualify as an architect. ** Council architect – an architect employed by a local authority. **
Landscape architect A landscape architect is a person who is educated in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water manageme ...
– a person who develops land for human use and enjoyment through effective placement of structures, vehicular and pedestrian ways, and plantings. ** Project architect – a person who is responsible for overseeing the architectural aspects of the development of the design, production of the construction documents and specifications. ** State architect – a person who is generally responsible for the design and/or construction of public buildings in the state. * Architectural designer – generally, a designer involved in architecture but not qualified as an architect. * Architectural engineer * Architectural technologist or building technologist – a professional trained in architectural technology, building design and construction, and who provides building design services. * Building control officer or Approved Inspector * Building inspector *
Clerk of works A clerk of works or clerk of the works (CoW) is employed by an architect or a client on a construction site. The role is primarily to represent the interests of the client in regard to ensuring that the quality of both materials and workmanship are ...
* Drafter or draughtsman – a person trained in drawing up architectural drawings. *
Site manager In the construction industry, site managers, often referred to as construction managers, site agents or building managers, are responsible for the day-to-day on site running of a construction project. Site managers are required to keep within the ...
*
Building surveyor Construction surveying or building surveying (otherwise known as "staking", "stake-out", "lay-out", "setting-out" or "BS") is to stake out reference points and markers that will guide the construction of new structures such as roads or buildings. T ...


People engaged in architecture

* Architects *
Architecture firms Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings o ...
* Architectural historians * Architecture critics


Architectural styles

Architectural style – a specific way of building, characterized by the features that make it notable. A style may include such elements as form, method of construction, materials, and regional character. Influential contemporary and relatively recent styles include : * Modern architecture – generally characterized by simplification of form and the absence of applied
ornament An ornament is something used for decoration. Ornament may also refer to: Decoration * Ornament (art), any purely decorative element in architecture and the decorative arts * Biological ornament, a characteristic of animals that appear to serve ...
. *
Postmodern architecture Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the 1960s as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the international style advocated by Philip Johnson and Henry- ...
– has been described as the return of "wit, ornament and reference" to architecture in response to the formalism of the
International Style International style may refer to: * International Style (architecture), the early 20th century modern movement in architecture *International style (art), the International Gothic style in medieval art *International Style (dancing), a term used in ...
of modernism. * Deconstructivism – based on the more general theory of
deconstruction The term deconstruction refers to approaches to understanding the relationship between text and meaning. It was introduced by the philosopher Jacques Derrida, who defined it as a turn away from Platonism's ideas of "true" forms and essences w ...
, a design style characterized by fragmentation, distortion and dislocation of structure and envelope. *
International style International style may refer to: * International Style (architecture), the early 20th century modern movement in architecture *International style (art), the International Gothic style in medieval art *International Style (dancing), a term used in ...
or international modern– the pervasive and often anonymous style of city developments worldwide. *
Brutalism Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by Minimalism (art), minimalist constructions th ...
– the notorious use of raw concrete and massive uncompromising forms.


Specialist subclassifications of architecture

Terms used to describe different architectural concerns, origins and objectives. *
Architecture parlante ''Architecture parlante'' ( French: ) is architecture that explains its own function or identity. The phrase was originally associated with Claude Nicolas Ledoux, and was extended to other Paris-trained architects of the Revolutionary period, ...
("speaking architecture") – buildings or architectural elements that explain their own function or identity by means of an inscription or literal representation. * Religious architecture – the design and construction of places of worship. *
Responsive architecture Responsive architecture is an evolving field of architectural practice and research. Responsive architectures are those that measure actual environmental conditions (via sensors) to enable buildings to adapt their form, shape, color or character re ...
– designing buildings that measure their environmental conditions (via
sensor A sensor is a device that produces an output signal for the purpose of sensing a physical phenomenon. In the broadest definition, a sensor is a device, module, machine, or subsystem that detects events or changes in its environment and sends ...
s) to adapt their form, shape, color or character responsively (via
actuator An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve. In simple terms, it is a "mover". An actuator requires a control device (controlled by control signal) a ...
s). *
Sustainable architecture Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings through improved efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, development space and the ecosystem at large. Sustainable ...
– environmentally conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. * Vernacular architecture – traditional local building styles, typically not designed by professional architects although vernacular elements are adopted by many architects.


Architectural theory

*
Architectural design values Architectural design values make up an important part of what influences architects and designers when they make their design decisions. However, architects and designers are not always influenced by the same values and intentions. Value and intent ...
– the various values that influence architects and designers in making design decisions. *
Mathematics and architecture Mathematics and architecture are related, since, as with other arts, architects use mathematics for several reasons. Apart from the mathematics needed when engineering buildings, architects use geometry: to define the spatial form of a build ...
– have always been close, because architecture relies upon mathematical precision, and because both fields share a search for order and beauty. * Pattern language – a term coined by architect
Christopher Alexander Christopher Wolfgang John Alexander (4 October 1936 – 17 March 2022) was an Austrian-born British-American architect and design theorist. He was an emeritus professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His theories about the nature o ...
, a structured method of describing good design practices within a field of expertise. *
Proportion Proportionality, proportion or proportional may refer to: Mathematics * Proportionality (mathematics), the property of two variables being in a multiplicative relation to a constant * Ratio, of one quantity to another, especially of a part compare ...
– the relationship between elements and the whole. *
Space syntax The term space syntax encompasses a set of theories and techniques for the analysis of spatial configurations. It was conceived by Bill Hillier, Julienne Hanson, and colleagues at The Bartlett, University College London in the late 1970s to ea ...
– a set of theories and techniques for the analysis of spatial configurations. * Architecture criticism – published or broadcast critique, assessing the architect's success in meeting his own aims and objectives and those of others.


Architectural terms

* Glossary of architecture


Regional architecture


Architecture of Africa

Architecture of Africa Like other aspects of the culture of Africa, the architecture of Africa is exceptionally diverse. Throughout the history of Africa, Africans have developed their own local architectural traditions. In some cases, broader regional styles can be id ...
*
Architecture of Algeria The architecture of Algeria encompasses a diverse history influenced by a number of internal and external forces, including the Roman Empire, Muslim conquest of the Maghreb, French colonization, and movements for Algerian independence. Early histo ...
* Architecture of Angola *
Ancient Egyptian architecture Spanning over three thousand years, ancient Egypt was not one stable civilization but in constant change and upheaval, commonly split into periods by historians. Likewise, ancient Egyptian architecture is not one style, but a set of styles diff ...
* Architecture of Cape Verde * Architecture of Ethiopia * Architecture of Madagascar *
Architecture of Mali The architecture of Mali is a distinct subset of Sudano-Sahelian architecture indigenous to West Africa. It comprises adobe buildings such as the Great Mosque of Djenné or the University of Timbuktu. It can be found all over the Sahel region of Af ...
*
Architecture of Morocco Moroccan architecture refers to the architecture characteristic of Morocco throughout its history and up to modern times. The country's diverse geography and long history, marked by successive waves of settlers through both migration and military ...
** Architecture of Casablanca **
Architecture of Fez The architecture of Fez, Morocco, reflects the wider trends of Moroccan architecture dating from the city's foundation in the late 8th century and up to modern times. The old city (medina) of Fes, consisting of Fes el-Bali and Fes el-Jdid, is no ...
** Architecture of Marrakesh * Architecture of Nigeria ** Architecture of Lagos * Architecture of Somalia *
Architecture of South Africa South Africa is known for its ethnic and cultural diversity. Amongst black South Africans, a substantial number of rural inhabitants lead largely impoverished lives. Almost all South Africans speak English to some degree of proficiency, in add ...
**
Architecture of Johannesburg Johannesburg is the capital of the Gauteng province and the financial hub of South Africa. Founded in 1886, the city is located in the Witwatersrand region, which has vast gold deposits. The town experienced rapid growth as the gold deposits were ...
** Cape Dutch architecture * Architecture of Zimbabwe


Architecture of Asia

Architecture of Asia *
Architecture of Afghanistan The architecture of Afghanistan refers to architecture within the borders defining the modern country, with these remaining relatively unchanged since 1834. As the connection between the three major cultural and geographic centres of Central Asia, ...
* Armenian architecture *
Architecture of Azerbaijan Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
** Architecture of Baku * Architecture of Bahrain * Architecture of Bangladesh *
Architecture of Bhutan Bhutanese architecture consists of Dzong and everyday varieties. Dzongs in Bhutan were built as fortresses and have served as religious and administrative centers since the 17th century. Secular lordly houses emerged as a distinct style in the la ...
** Dzong architecture * Architecture of Cambodia *
Architecture of China Chinese architecture (Chinese:中國建築) is the embodiment of an architectural style that has developed over millennia in China and it has influenced architecture throughout Eastern Asia. Since its emergence during the early ancient era, the ...
**
Architecture of Hong Kong The architecture of Hong Kong features great emphasis on contemporary architecture, especially Modernism, Postmodernism, Functionalism, etc. Due to the lack of available land, few historical buildings remain in the urban areas of Hong Kong. Th ...
* Architecture of Cyprus * Architecture of Georgia (country) * Architecture of India **
Architecture of Bengal The architecture of Bengal, which comprises the modern country of Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam's Barak Valley, has a long and rich history, blending indigenous elements from the Indian subcontinent, with influ ...
** Architecture of Gujarat **
Architecture of Karnataka The antiquity of architecture of Karnataka () can be traced to its southern Neolithic and early Iron Age, Having witnessed the architectural ideological and utilitarian transformation from shelter- ritual- religion. Here the nomenclature 'Archite ...
**
Architecture of Kerala Kerala architecture is a style of architecture found mostly in the Indian state of Kerala and in parts of Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka. Kerala's style of architecture is a unique Hindu temple architecture that emerged in the southwest part of ...
**
Architecture of Maharashtra Maharashtra state in India is known for its Famous caves and cliffs. It is said that the varieties found in Maharashtra are wider than the caves and rock-cut architecture found in the rock cut areas of Egypt, Assyria, Persia and Greece. The Budd ...
**
Architecture of Rajasthan The architecture of the Indian state of Rajasthan has usually been a regional variant of the style of Indian architecture prevailing in north India at the time. Rajasthan is especially notable for the forts and palaces of the many Rajput ruler ...
**
Architecture of Tamil Nadu Nearly 33,000 ancient temples, many at least 800 to 2000 years old, are found scattered all over Tamil Nadu. As per Tamil Nadu Hindu Endowments Board, there are 38,615 temples. Most of the largest Hindu Temples reside here. Studded with comple ...
**
Architecture of Uttar Pradesh The architecture of Uttar Pradesh demonstrates a diverse and eclectic combination of Buddhist, Hindu, Indo-Islamic, and Indo-European architectural styles. Three of its architectural monuments—the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, as well as the tow ...
**
Architecture of Telangana The architecture of Telangana dates back over two thousand years. The Indian state of Telangana is in the Deccan plateau, bordering the coastal plain of Andhra Pradesh. It has produced regional variants of wider styles of Indian architectur ...
*
Architecture of Indonesia The architecture of Indonesia reflects the diversity of cultural, historical and geographic influences that have shaped Indonesia as a whole. Invaders, colonizers, missionaries, merchants and traders brought cultural changes that had a profo ...
**
Architecture of Sumatra The Indonesian island of Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. The rich ethnic diversity and historical heritage in Sumatra is reflected in the range of architectural styles in the island. The vernacular style is the native Sumatran e ...
** Balinese architecture *
Architecture of Iran Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (Persian: معمارى ایرانی, ''Memāri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC w ...
** Architecture of Tehran * Architecture of Israel *
Architecture of Japan has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors ('' fusuma'') and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space t ...
**
Architecture of Tokyo The architecture of Tokyo has largely been shaped by the city's history. Twice in recent history has the metropolis been left in ruins: first in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and later after Bombing of Tokyo in World War II, extensive firebombing ...
** Okinawan architecture * Architecture of Jordan * Architecture of Korea ** Architecture of North Korea **
Architecture of South Korea South Korean architecture refers to any architecture in South Korea, which includes architecture from Neolithic–7th century (B.C.E.), three-kingdoms of Korea, Goryeo, Joseon, Japanese occupation, Korean War, and modern architecture. Histo ...
* Architecture of Kuwait * Architecture of Lebanon *
Architecture of Macau The architecture of Macau is the architecture that is found in Macau. Macau has diverse architecture from the casinos in its casino region to its tallest building, Grand Lisboa (which stands at 258 metres). Macau is influenced by both Cantonese and ...
* Architecture of Malaysia **
Architecture of Kuala Lumpur The architecture of Kuala Lumpur is a blend of old colonial influences, Asian traditions, Malay Islamic inspirations, modern and post modern mix. Being a relatively young city, most of Kuala Lumpur's colonial buildings were built toward the end of 1 ...
** Architecture of Penang * Architecture of Mongolia * Architecture of Myanmar *
Architecture of Nepal Nepali architecture or Nepalese architecture is a unique blend of artistic and practical considerations. Situated between the trade routes of India, Tibet and China, Nepali architecture reflects influences from these cultural strongholds. The pa ...
** Architecture of Kathmandu *
Architecture of Pakistan Pakistani architecture is intertwined with the architecture of the broader Indian subcontinent. With the beginning of the Indus civilization around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC,Guisepi, R.A. . Retrieved on February 6, 2008 for the first ti ...
*
Architecture of the Philippines The architecture of the Philippines (Filipino: ''Arkitekturang Pilipino'') reflects the historical and cultural traditions in the country. Most prominent historic structures in the archipelago are influenced by Austronesian, Chinese, Spanish, ...
*
Architecture of Russia The architecture of Russia refers to the architecture of modern Russia as well as the architecture of both the original Kievan Rus’ state, the Russian principalities, and Imperial Russia. Due to the geographical size of modern and imperia ...
*
Architecture of Saudi Arabia The Architecture of Saudi Arabia is adapted to its geography and climate, and reflects the uniqueness of Arabian culture. It is located on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a Mediterranean and subtropical desert climate. The climate of ...
*
Architecture of Singapore The architecture of Singapore displays a range of influences and styles from different places and periods. These range from the eclectic styles and hybrid forms of the colonial period to the tendency of more contemporary architecture to incorpo ...
* Architecture of Sri Lanka *
Architecture of Taiwan The architecture of Taiwan can be traced back to stilt housing of the aborigines in prehistoric times; to the building of fortresses and churches in the north and south used to colonize and convert the inhabitants during the Dutch and Spanish perio ...
* Architecture of Thailand *
Architecture of Tibet Architecture of Tibet contains Chinese and Indian influences but has many unique features brought about by its adaptation to the cold, generally arid, high-altitude climate of the Tibetan plateau. Buildings are generally made from locally availabl ...
* Architecture of Turkey *
Architecture of the United Arab Emirates The architecture of the United Arab Emirates has undergone dramatic transformation in recent decades, from operating as a collection of fishing villages to a global business hub known for its innovation and dynamism. Between the 1960s and 1970s, a ...
* Architecture of Uzbekistan *
Architecture of Vietnam Vietnamese art is visual art that, whether ancient or modern, originated in or is practiced in Vietnam or by Vietnamese artists. Vietnamese art has a long and rich history, the earliest examples of which date back as far as the Stone Age around 8 ...
* Architecture of Yemen


Architecture of Europe

Architecture of Europe The history of architecture traces the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, overarching stylistic trends, and dates. The beginnings of all these traditions is thought to be humans satisfying the very basic need of shelt ...
*
Architecture of Albania The architecture of Albania ( sq, arkitektura e Shqipërisë ) is a reflection of Albania's historical and cultural heritage. The country's architecture was influenced by its location within the Mediterranean Basin and progressed over the course ...
*
Architecture of Austria Austrian culture has been influenced by its past and present neighbours: Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, and Bohemia. Music Vienna, the capital city of the 2nd Republic of Austria had long been an important centre of musical innovati ...
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Architecture of Azerbaijan Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
*
Architecture of Belgium Belgian culture involves both the aspects shared by all Belgians regardless of the language they speak and the differences between the main cultural communities: the Dutch-speaking Belgians (Flemish) and the French-speaking Belgians (mostly ...
* Architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina ** Architecture of Mostar *
Architecture of Bulgaria A number of ancient civilizations, including the Thracians, ancient Greeks, Scythians, Celts, ancient Romans, Goths (Ostrogoths and Visigoths), Slavs (East and West Slavs), Varangians and the Bulgars have left their mark on the culture, histo ...
*
Architecture of Croatia The architecture of Croatia has roots in History of Croatia, a long history: the Croats have inhabited the area for fourteen centuries, but there are important remnants of earlier periods still preserved in the country. Ancient heritage Copper A ...
* Architecture of the Czech Republic * Architecture of Denmark **
Architecture of Aarhus The architecture of Aarhus comprises numerous architectural styles and works from the Middle Ages to present-day. Aarhus has a well-preserved medieval city center with the oldest dwellings dating back to the mid-1500s and some ecclesiastical str ...
** Architecture in Copenhagen * Architecture of Estonia *
Architecture of Finland The architecture of Finland has a history spanning over 800 years, and while up until the modern era the architecture was strongly influenced by currents from Finland's two respective neighbouring ruling nations Sweden and Russia, from the early ...
*
Architecture of France French architecture consists of numerous architectural styles that either originated in France or elsewhere and were developed within the territories of France. History Gallo-Roman The architecture of Ancient Rome at first adopted the exter ...
**
Architecture of Normandy :''See also the Romanesque architecture erected by the Normans at Norman architecture.'' The architecture of Normandy spans a thousand years. Vernacular domestic styles In Upper Normandy and in the pays d'Auge, Mortainais, Passais and Avranch ...
** Architecture of Paris ***
Architecture of the Paris Métro From the original plain white tilework and Art Nouveau entrances, the architecture of Paris Métro stations has evolved with successive waves of building and renovation. After experiments with diverse colour schemes, furniture and lighting, sinc ...
***
Paris architecture of the Belle Époque The architecture of Paris created during the '' Belle Époque'', between 1871 and the beginning of the First World War in 1914, was notable for its variety of different styles, from neo-Byzantine and neo-Gothic to classicism, Art Nouveau and Ar ...
**
Architecture of Provence The architecture of Provence includes a rich collection of monuments from the Roman era, Cistercian monasteries from the Romanesque period, medieval castles and fortifications, as well as numerous hilltop villages and fine churches. Provence was a ...
* Architecture of Georgia (country) *
Architecture of Germany The architecture of Germany has a long, rich and diverse history. Every major European style from Roman to Postmodern is represented, including renowned examples of Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Modern ...
** Architecture of Berlin **
Architecture of Munich This article gives an overview about the architecture of Munich, Germany. Main architectural examples Marienplatz and Stachus At the center of the city is the Marienplatz – a large open square named after the Mariensäule, a Marian c ...
* Architecture of Greece **
Modern architecture in Athens Modern architecture in Athens flourished during two periods, between 1930 and 1940, and between 1950 and 1975. Influenced by the European Modern architecture, modern movement led by Le Corbusier and other architects, Greek architects tried to adapt ...
*
Architecture of Hungary The architecture of Hungary is understood as the architecture of the territory of the country of Hungary, and in a wider, of the Kingdom of Hungary, from the conquest to the present day. In the time of the foundation of the country The Hunga ...
* Architecture of Iceland *
Architecture of Ireland The architecture of Ireland is one of the most visible features in the Irish countryside – with remains from all eras since the Stone Age abounding. Ireland is famous for its ruined and intact Norman and Anglo-Irish castles, small whitewas ...
** Architecture of Letterkenny ** Architecture of Limerick *
Architecture of Italy Italy has a very broad and diverse architectural style, which cannot be simply classified by period or region, due to Italy's division into various small states until 1861. This has created a highly diverse and eclectic range in architectural des ...
** Architecture of Rome ** Italian modern and contemporary architecture * Architecture of Lithuania * Architecture of Luxembourg *
Architecture of Malta Maltese architecture has its origins in prehistory, and some of the oldest free-standing structures on Earth – a series of megalithic temples – can be found on Malta. The islands were colonized by the Phoenicians and later the Romans, who est ...
*
Architecture of Moldova Moldova ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Republica Moldova), is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The unrecognised state of Transnist ...
* Architecture of Monaco *
Architecture of Montenegro The architecture of Montenegro is a mixture of many influences, from Roman and Venetian to Ottoman and modern times. Characteristics Montenegro has a number of significant cultural and historical sites, including heritage sites from the pre- Ro ...
* Architecture of the Netherlands *
Architecture of North Macedonia The groups of people who have settled or controlled the territory of modern-day North Macedonia have influenced the country in many ways, one of the most visible being architecture. These groups of people include the Paionians, Illyrians, Anc ...
* Architecture of Norway *
Architecture of Poland The architecture of Poland includes modern and historical monuments of architectural and historical importance. Several important works of Western architecture, such as the Wawel Hill, the Książ and Malbork castles, cityscapes of Toruń, Zamo ...
** Architecture of Warsaw *
Architecture of Portugal Portuguese architecture refers to both the architecture of Portugal's modern-day territory in Continental Portugal, the Azores and Madeira, as well as the architectural heritage/patrimony of Portuguese architects and styles throughout the world, ...
*
Architecture of Romania Romanian architecture is very diverse, including medieval, pre-World War I, interwar, postwar, and contemporary 21st century architecture. In Romania, there are also regional differences with regard to architectural styles. Architecture, as the r ...
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Architecture of Russia The architecture of Russia refers to the architecture of modern Russia as well as the architecture of both the original Kievan Rus’ state, the Russian principalities, and Imperial Russia. Due to the geographical size of modern and imperia ...
*
Architecture of Serbia The architecture of Serbia has a long, rich and diverse history. Some of the major European style from Roman to Postmodern are demonstrated, including renowned examples of Raška, Serbo-Byzantine with its revival, Morava, Baroque, Classical ...
** Architecture of Belgrade * Architecture of Slovenia *
Architecture of Spain Spanish architecture refers to architecture in any area of what is now Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings which were constructed within the current borders of Spain prior to its existence as a nation, when t ...
**
Architecture of Barcelona The architecture of Barcelona has had a parallel evolution to that of the rest of the Catalan and Spanish architecture, and has followed in diverse ways the multiple trends that have been produced in the context of the history of Western architect ...
** Architecture of Madrid * Architecture of Sweden ** Architecture of Stockholm *
Architecture of Switzerland The architecture of Switzerland was influenced by its location astride major trade routes, along with diverse architectural traditions of the four national languages. Romans and later Italians brought their monumental and vernacular architecture n ...
* Architecture of Turkey **
Architecture of Istanbul The architecture of Istanbul describes a large mixture of structures which reflect the many influences that have made an indelible mark in all districts of the city. The ancient part of the city (the historic peninsula) is still partially surro ...
* Architecture of Ukraine *
Architecture of the United Kingdom The architecture of the United Kingdom, or British architecture, consists of a combination of architectural styles, dating as far back to Roman architecture, to the present day 21st century contemporary. England has seen the most influential de ...
** Architecture of England ***
Architecture of Aylesbury The architecture of Aylesbury, the county town of Buckinghamshire, reflects that which can be found in many small towns the length and breadth of England. The architecture contained in many of the country's great cities is well recorded and d ...
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Architecture of Birmingham Although Birmingham in England has existed as a settlement for over a thousand years, today's city is overwhelmingly a product of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, with little surviving from its early history. As it has expanded, it has acqui ...
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Architecture of Leeds The architecture of Leeds, a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, encompasses a wide range of architectural styles and notable buildings. As with most northern industrial centres, much of Leeds' prominent architecture is o ...
*** Architecture of Liverpool ***
Architecture of London London's architectural heritage involves many architectural styles from different historical periods. London's architectural eclecticism stems from its long history, continual redevelopment, destruction by the Great Fire of London and The Blitz, ...
**** Architecture of the London Borough of Croydon ***
Architecture of Manchester The architecture of Manchester demonstrates a rich variety of architectural styles. The city is a product of the Industrial Revolution and is known as the first modern, industrial city. Manchester is noted for its warehouses, railway viaducts, ...
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Buildings and architecture of Bath The buildings and architecture of Bath, a city in Somerset in the south west of England, reveal significant examples of the architecture of England, from the Roman Baths (including their significant Celtic presence), to the present day. The city ...
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Architecture of Scotland The architecture of Scotland includes all human building within the modern borders of Scotland, from the Neolithic era to the present day. The earliest surviving houses go back around 9500 years, and the first villages 6000 years: Skara Brae on ...
*** Architecture of Aberdeen ***
Architecture of Glasgow The city of Glasgow, Scotland is particularly noted for its 19th-century Victorian architecture, and the early-20th-century "Glasgow Style", as developed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Very little of medieval Glasgow remains, the two main landmar ...
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Architecture of Ireland The architecture of Ireland is one of the most visible features in the Irish countryside – with remains from all eras since the Stone Age abounding. Ireland is famous for its ruined and intact Norman and Anglo-Irish castles, small whitewas ...
**
Architecture of Wales Architecture of Wales is an overview of architecture in Wales from the medieval period to the present day, excluding castles and fortifications, ecclesiastical architecture and industrial architecture. It covers the history of domestic, commercial ...
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Architecture of Cardiff Architecture in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, dates from Norman times to the present day. Its urban fabric is largely Victorian and later, reflecting Cardiff's rise to prosperity as a major coal port in the 19th century. No single building ...
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Architecture of Vatican City Vatican City has become one of the world's most striking architecture through several centuries and a world cultural heritage. The area of the Vatican is small, which is made up of several famous landmarks. The architecture of Vatican City, dominat ...


Dependencies, autonomies, and other territories

* Architecture of Gibraltar *
Architecture of Kosovo The architecture of Kosovo dates back to the Neolithic period and includes the Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages, Antiquity and the Medieval period. It has been influenced by the presence of different civilizations and religions as evidenced by the st ...
** Architecture of Peć


Architecture of North America

* Architecture of Antigua and Barbuda *
Architecture of the Bahamas Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
*
Architecture of Barbados The architecture of Barbados is a reflection of the country's cultural and political history. Originating from the seventeenth-century, the buildings located in Barbados can be seen as being heavily influenced by British colonial and West African ar ...
* Architecture of Belize * Architecture of Canada ** Architecture of Montreal **
Architecture of Ottawa The architecture of Ottawa is most marked by the city's role as the national capital of Canada. This gives the city a number of monumental structures designed to represent the federal government and the nation. It also means that as a city dominate ...
**
Architecture of Quebec City The architecture of Quebec City is characterized by its being one of North America (north of Mexico)'s oldest cities, founded in 1608. The original French settlers in the area built in an architectural style similar to the French style. Quebec Ci ...
**
Architecture of St. John's The architecture of St. John's, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has a style distinct from that of the rest of Canada, and its major buildings are remnants of its history and prestige as the first British colonial capital. The city of St. J ...
**
Architecture of Toronto The architecture of Toronto is an eclectic combination of architectural styles, ranging from 19th century Georgian architecture to 21st century postmodern architecture and beyond. Initially, the city was on the periphery of the architectural w ...
**
Architecture of Vancouver The architecture of Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver area holds a combination of modern architectural styles, ranging from the 20th century Edwardian style to the 21st century modernist style and beyond. Initially, the city's architects embrac ...
* Architecture of Costa Rica *
Architecture of Cuba Architecture of Cuba refers to the buildings, structures and architectural history throughout the Caribbean island nation of Cuba. The unique mix of cultural and artistic influences throughout history have led to Cuba being renowned for its ecl ...
** Architecture of Havana *
Architecture of Dominica Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
* Architecture of the Dominican Republic * Architecture of El Salvador * Architecture of Grenada * Architecture of Guatemala * Architecture of Haiti *
Architecture of Honduras Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructin ...
* Architecture of Jamaica *
Architecture of Mexico Many of Mexico's older architectural structures, including entire sections of Pre-Hispanic and colonial cities, have been designated World Heritage sites for their historical and artistic significance. The country has the largest number of sites ...
** Architecture of Guadalajara ** Architecture of Mexico City * Architecture of Nicaragua * Architecture of Panama ** Architecture of Panama City * Architecture of Puerto Rico * Architecture of Saint Kitts and Nevis *
Architecture of Saint Lucia Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
*
Architecture of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
* Architecture of Trinidad and Tobago *
Architecture of the United States The architecture of the United States demonstrates a broad variety of architectural styles and built forms over the country's history of over two centuries of independence and former Spanish and British rule. Architecture in the United States h ...
** Architecture of Albany, New York ** Buildings and architecture of Allentown, Pennsylvania **
Architecture of Atlanta The architecture of Atlanta is marked by a confluence of classical, modernist, post-modernist, and contemporary architectural styles. Due to the complete destruction of Atlanta by fire in 1864, the city's architecture retains no traces of its Ant ...
**
Architecture of Buffalo, New York The Architecture of Buffalo, New York, particularly the buildings constructed between the American Civil War and the Great Depression, is said to have created a new, distinctly American form of architecture and to have influenced design throughou ...
** Architecture of Chicago **
Architecture of metropolitan Detroit The architecture of metropolitan Detroit continues to attract the attention of architects and preservationists alike. With one of the world's recognizable skylines, Detroit's waterfront panorama shows a variety of architectural styles. The post-m ...
** Architecture of Fredericksburg, Texas **
Architecture of Houston The architecture of Houston includes a wide variety of award-winning and historic examples located in various areas of the city of Houston, Texas. From early in its history to current times, the city inspired innovative and challenging building des ...
** Architecture of Jacksonville ** Architecture of Kansas City **
Architecture of Las Vegas Interest in the Architecture of Las Vegas began in the late 1960s, when in 1967 architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown traveled to the city accompanied by students in order to study its architecture. They wrote, with Steven Izenour, a re ...
** Architecture of Los Angeles ** Architecture of Miami ** Buildings and architecture of New Orleans ** Architecture of New York City ** Architecture in Omaha, Nebraska ** Architecture of Philadelphia ** Architecture of Plymouth, Pennsylvania ** Architecture of Portland, Oregon ** Architecture of San Antonio **
Architecture of San Francisco The architecture of San Francisco is not so much known for defining a particular architectural style; rather, with its interesting and challenging variations in geography and topology and tumultuous history, San Francisco is known worldwide for i ...
**
Architecture of Seattle The architecture of Seattle, Washington, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S., features elements that predate the arrival of the area's first settlers of European ancestry in the mid-19th century, and has reflected and ...
** Architecture of St. Louis


Dependencies and other territories

*
Architecture of Anguilla Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
* Architecture of Aruba *
Architecture of Bermuda The architecture of Bermuda has developed over the past four centuries. The archipelago's isolation, environment, climate, and scarce resources have been key driving points, though inspiration from Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas is evide ...
* Architecture of the British Virgin Islands * Architecture of the Cayman Islands * Architecture of Greenland * Architecture of Guadeloupe * Architecture of Martinique *
Architecture of Montserrat Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings o ...
*
Architecture of Navassa Island Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
* Architecture of the Netherlands Antilles * Architecture of Saint Barthélemy * Architecture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon * Architecture of the Turks and Caicos Islands * Architecture of the United States Virgin Islands


Architecture of Oceania

Architecture of Oceania *
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
** Architecture of Australia *** Architecture of Bathurst, New South Wales ***
Architecture of Melbourne The architecture of Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria and second most populous city in Australia, is characterised by a wide variety of styles dating from the early years of European settlement to the present day. The city is part ...
*** Architecture of Sydney * Melanesia ** Architecture of Fiji * Micronesia * Polynesia ** Architecture of New Zealand ** Architecture of Samoa


Architecture of South America

Architecture of South America *
Architecture of Argentina The architecture of Argentina can be said to start at the beginning of the Spanish colonisation, though it was in the 18th century that the cities of the country reached their splendour. Cities like Córdoba, Salta, Mendoza, and also Buenos A ...
*
Architecture of Bolivia The architecture of Bolivia is closely related to its history, culture and religion. Bolivian architecture has been constantly changing and progressing over time. Subject to terrain and high altitudes, most of Bolivia's Pre-Columbian buildings we ...
* Architecture of Brazil *
Architecture of Chile Chilean architecture is influenced by the country's history, religious culture and unique climate. Chile was a former Spanish colony and its architectural style was therefore strongly influenced by Spanish design. Due to the unique geographica ...
* Architecture of Colombia * Architecture of Panama * Architecture of Paraguay *
Architecture of Peru Peruvian architecture is the architecture carried out during any time in what is now Peru, and by Peruvian architects worldwide. Its diversity and long history spans from ancient Peru, the Inca Empire, Colonial Peru to the present day. Peruvian ...
* Architecture of Trinidad and Tobago


Territories

* Architecture of Aruba * Architecture of the Falkland Islands


History of architecture

* Neolithic architecture – architecture of the last part of the Stone Age, and of the people of the Americas and the Pacific up until the time of European contact. *
Ancient Egyptian architecture Spanning over three thousand years, ancient Egypt was not one stable civilization but in constant change and upheaval, commonly split into periods by historians. Likewise, ancient Egyptian architecture is not one style, but a set of styles diff ...
– architecture of ancient Egypt, which developed a vast array of diverse structures and great architectural monuments along the Nile, among the largest and most famous of which are the Great Pyramid of Giza and the
Great Sphinx of Giza The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human, and the body of a lion. Facing directly from west to east, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, E ...
. *
Achaemenid architecture Achaemenid architecture includes all architectural achievements of the Achaemenid Persians manifesting in construction of spectacular cities used for governance and inhabitation (Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana), temples made for worship and social ...
– the architectural achievements of the Achaemenid Persians manifesting in construction of complex cities (Perspepolis, Susa, Ecbatana), temples made for worship and social gatherings (such as Zoroastrian temples), and mausoleums erected in honor of fallen kings (such as the burial tomb of Cyrus the Great). * Armenian architecture – an architectural style developed over the last 4,500 years of human habitation in the Armenian Highland (the eastern part of Asia Minor) and used principally by the Armenian people. * Coptic architecture – the architecture of the Copts, who form the majority of Christians in Egypt. * Dravidian architecture – a style of architecture thousands of years ago in the Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India, built by the Dravidian peoples. * Maya architecture – the structures of the Maya civilization, which was established circa 2000 BC and continued until its conquest by the Spanish (in the 16th and 17th centuries). Some of its notable constructions include ceremonial platforms, palaces, E-Groups, pyramids, temples, observatories, and ballcourts. *
Sumerian architecture The architecture of Mesopotamia is ancient architecture of the region of the Tigris–Euphrates river system (also known as Mesopotamia), encompassing several distinct cultures and spanning a period from the 10th millennium BC (when the first perm ...
– the ancient architecture of the region of the Tigris–Euphrates river system (also known as Mesopotamia). * Ancient Greek architecture – the architecture of ancient Greece, where the classical orders were developed, establishing a precedent for the subsequent development of classical architecture. * Ancient Roman architecture – adopted the principles of ancient Greek architecture and developed both new decorative forms, and much more complex building forms, notably adopting the use of arches and vaults. * Buddhist architecture – developed by the worshipers of Buddha in South Asia in the 3rd century BCE, and associated with three types of structures: monasteries (viharas), stupas, and temples (Chaitya ). *
Inca architecture Inca architecture is the most significant pre-Columbian architecture in South America. The Incas inherited an architectural legacy from Tiwanaku, founded in the 2nd century B.C.E. in present-day Bolivia. A core characteristic of the architectur ...
– the pre-Columbian architecture of the Incas in South America, known particularly for its exceptionally precise masonry. * Sassanid architecture – the Persian architectural style that reached a peak in its development during the Sassanid era. * Mesoamerican architecture – the set of architectural traditions produced by pre-Columbian cultures and civilizations of Mesoamerica, best known in the form of public, ceremonial and urban monumental buildings and structures. *
Byzantine architecture Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire. The Byzantine era is usually dated from 330 AD, when Constantine the Great moved the Roman capital to Byzantium, which became Constantinople, until th ...
– the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. * Islamic architecture – encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture. *
Newa architecture Newa architecture is an indigenous style of architecture used by the Newari people in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal. It is a style used in buildings ranging from stupas and chaitya monastery buildings to courtyard structures and distinctive houses ...
– style of architecture used by the Newari people in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal, ranging from stupas and chaitya monastery buildings to courtyard structures and distinctive houses. * Medieval architecture – a term used to represent various forms of architecture common in Medieval Europe. ** Romanesque architecture – an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. ** Gothic architecture – a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. * Iranian architecture – or Persian architecture is the historic architecture of Iran (Persia). * Hoysala architecture – building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a state of India. * Vijayanagara Architecture – primarily a temple style found in Vijayanagara principality in India. * Ottoman architecture – or Turkish architecture is the architecture of the Ottoman Empire which emerged in Bursa and Edirne in 14th and 15th centuries. * Renaissance architecture – the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. ** Classical architecture – architecture derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance. **
Palladian architecture Palladian architecture is a European architectural style derived from the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). What is today recognised as Palladian architecture evolved from his concepts of symmetry, perspective and ...
– a European architectural style derived from and inspired by the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). * Baroque architecture – the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and the absolutist state. * Neoclassical architecture – an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement which began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing features of Late Baroque. * Victorian architecture – includes several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. * Renaissance Revival architecture – nineteenth century revival style inspired by buildings of the Renaissance. * Gothic Revival architecture – also called "Victorian Gothic" and "Neo-Gothic", an architectural movement that began in the late 1840s in England. Its popularity grew rapidly in the early 19th century, when increasingly serious and learned admirers of neo-Gothic styles sought to revive medieval forms, in contrast to the neoclassical styles prevalent at the time. * Modern architecture – generally characterized by simplification of form and absence of ornament. Although now historical, the ubiquitous
international style International style may refer to: * International Style (architecture), the early 20th century modern movement in architecture *International style (art), the International Gothic style in medieval art *International Style (dancing), a term used in ...
which predominates in cities worldwide remains a strong influence in contemporary architecture. *
Postmodern architecture Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the 1960s as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the international style advocated by Philip Johnson and Henry- ...
– began as an international style the first examples of which are generally cited as being from the 1950s, but did not become a movement until the late 1970s and continues to influence present-day architecture. *
New Classical architecture New Classical architecture, New Classicism or the New Classical movement is a contemporary movement in architecture that continues the practice of Classical architecture. It is sometimes considered the modern continuation of Neoclassical architec ...
– a movement for reapproaching traditional architecture language, that established since the 1980s. * Contemporary architecture – the architecture of the 21st century.


Buildings

Although not all buildings are architecture, the term encompasses a huge range of building types, as summarised in the following list pages: *
List of building types Residential Single-family detached Examples of single-family detached house types include: * Bungalow * Central-passage house (North America) * Chattel house (Caribbean) * Cottage (various) * Courtyard house (various) * Konak (Asi ...
* List of buildings and structures * List of human habitation forms


Building construction

* Building design


Materials

* Materiality (architecture) * Building material *
List of building materials This is a list of building materials. Many types of building materials are used in the construction industry to create buildings and structures. These categories of materials and products are used by architects and construction project managers ...


Structural elements

*
Arch An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans an elevated space and may or may not support the weight above it, or in case of a horizontal arch like an arch dam, the hydrostatic pressure against it. Arches may be synonymous with vaul ...
– a curved structure, often made up blocks or bricks, spanning across an opening and supporting the weight of structure above. Works by transferring vertical loads into compression forces. There are many arch shapes including semicircular, segmental, parabolic, pointed (gothic), three-point and flat arches. * Beam (structure) – a straight structural member, typically wood or steel, capable of spanning from one support to another and supporting the weight of structure above. Works by resisting bending forces. * Buttress – a short section of masonry built at right angles to a wall, to resist lateral forces. * Cantilever – a projecting structure without visible means of support at the projecting end. *
Column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
or pillar – a relatively slender structural element, typically circular, square or polygonal in plan, that bears the weight of the structure above. *
Dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
– a roof structure, typically
hemispherical A sphere () is a Geometry, geometrical object that is a solid geometry, three-dimensional analogue to a two-dimensional circle. A sphere is the Locus (mathematics), set of points that are all at the same distance from a given point in three ...
, constructed in a similar way to an arch. The plan shape may be circular, elliptical or polygonal, and the cross section shape can vary in the same ways as an arch. *
Door A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide security b ...
way – opening in a wall, typically rectangular, providing means of access, usually with a gate or door to provide security and weather protection. * Facade – an exterior face of a building, especially the front. *
Floor A floor is the bottom surface of a room or vehicle. Floors vary from simple dirt in a cave to many layered surfaces made with modern technology. Floors may be stone, wood, bamboo, metal or any other material that can support the expected load ...
– typically a horizontal surface that is walked upon, to support the expected loads of the building. * Foundation or footing – solid base usually below ground, upon which buildings and other structures are built. Works by spreading vertical loads over a sufficient area to ensure the structure will not subside. *
Lintel A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of w ...
– a structural member spanning across the top of an opening. Unlike a beam, a lintel spans a relatively short distance which can be spanned by single block of stone of sufficient depth. Concrete, timber and steel lintels are also used in different types of construction. * Pier (architecture) – loadbearing structure similar to a column, but more massive. * Truss – a structure spanning in the same way as a beam, but using materials more efficiently by using
triangulation In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by forming triangles to the point from known points. Applications In surveying Specifically in surveying, triangulation involves only angle me ...
to create a rigid structure. Typically timber or steel, used to support a pitched roof. * Vault (architecture) – a curved masonry structure spanning in the same way as an arch, forming either a roof or support for a floor above. * Wall – a linear structure enclosing the exterior of an area or building, or subdividing an internal space. A wall may be loadbearing or non-loadbearing. * Window – an opening in a wall, typically rectangular, providing light and ventilation. Usually but not always glazed.


Architectural education

Professional requirements for architects – Students undertake specific vocational training in order to qualify as a professional architects. Training typically consists of one or more university degrees and a period of practical experience. In some countries, it is illegal to use the title ''architect'' without accredited qualifications. In the United Kingdom the
Architects Registration Board The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the statutory body for the registration of architects in the United Kingdom. It operates under the Architects Act 1997 as amended, a consolidating Act. It began under the Architects (Registration) Act, ...
exists solely to regulate membership of the profession. In the United States the National Architectural Accrediting Board regulates professional educational programs and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards is an umbrella organization to recommend model laws, regulations, exams, and to facilitate reciprocity in licensure between different jurisdictions. Architectural education can involve degree types that do not directly result in licensing, such as Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, or a research PhD in Architecture. Some of the qualifications specific to architectural licensing include: * Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) – undergraduate academic degree designed to satisfy the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to professional examination and registration. * Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) – professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation (internship, exams) that result in receiving a license. *
Doctor of Architecture Doctor of Architecture (D Arch) is a title accorded to students who have completed a degree program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The only university currently offering a Doctor of Architecture degree is the Universit ...
(D.Arch) – doctoral degree in the field of architecture, that can be completed after either a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree or, in some cases, another degree.


Architectural practice

* Architectural drawing or architect's drawing - a technical drawing of a building or building project. * Architectural design competition - a specialist competition inviting architects to submit design proposals for a project. *
Architectural technology Architectural technology, or building technology, is the application of technology to the design of buildings. It is a component of architecture and building engineering and is sometimes viewed as a distinct discipline or sub-category. New m ...
or building technology - is the application of technology to the design of buildings. It is a component of architecture and building engineering and is sometimes viewed as a distinct discipline or sub-category. * Blueprint - an obsolete paper-based method of reproducing technical drawings producing a distinctive appearance, white lines on a blue background. The word is still in use as a by-word for a design solution ("a blueprint for future developments"). *
Brief (architecture) In architecture, a brief is a statement of a client's requirements, which form the basis for appointing an architect. The brief describes the requirements that need to be reconciled and accommodated, and is developed first as a design which is subm ...
- a written statement of a client's requirements for a building project. * Building code or building control - a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety and environmental performance in building construction. * Computer-aided architectural design (CAAD) - software based production of technical drawings and 3-d models *
Construction law Construction law is a branch of law that deals with matters relating to building construction, engineering, and related fields. It is in essence an amalgam of contract law, commercial law, planning law, employment law and tort. Construction law cov ...
- a branch of law that deals with matters relating to building construction. * Cost accounting or cost management - a vital activity in connection with building, generally performed by a specialist quantity surveyor. Construction projects are notoriously subject to cost overruns, caused by changing circumstances or by failure to fully allow for foreseeable costs during budgeting. * Project management - the process of managing all the activities involved in a construction project, including adherence to the design and local legislation, costs and payment, and verification of project completion.


Architecture prizes

Architecture prize – Architecture prizes are generally awarded for completed projects and are chosen from publicised or nominated works, not from submissions by the originating architect. The RIBA Royal Gold Medal has in fact been refused on a number of occasions. * Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) – an architectural prize established by Aga Khan IV in 1977, awarded for achievements in design and planning in Islamic societies. * AIA Gold Medal – awarded by the American Institute of Architects for a significant body of work 'of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture', first awarded 1907. *
European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award is a prize given biennially by the European Union and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, 'to acknowledge and reward quality architectural production in Eu ...
, also known as the Mies van der Rohe Award – awarded jointly by the European Union and the Fundacia Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, 'to acknowledge and reward quality architectural production in Europe'. *
Pritzker Architecture Prize The Pritzker Architecture Prize is an international architecture award presented annually "to honor a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produ ...
– awarded annually to "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture". Founded in 1979 by
Jay A. Pritzker Jay Arthur Pritzker (August 26, 1922 – January 23, 1999) was an American entrepreneur, conglomerate organizer, and member of the Pritzker family. Early life and education Pritzker was born in Chicago, Illinois to Jewish parents who emi ...
and his wife Cindy, the award is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture. * RIBA Royal Gold Medal – awarded annually since 1848 by the Royal Institute of British Architects for an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture. It is given for a distinguished body of work rather than for one building. * Carbuncle Cup – unlike the mainstream awards which reward perceived merit, this is awarded annually by the UK magazine Building Design to 'the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months'. more...


Related fields

* Architectural conservation – repair and restoration of buildings, especially historic structures. *
Architectural technology Architectural technology, or building technology, is the application of technology to the design of buildings. It is a component of architecture and building engineering and is sometimes viewed as a distinct discipline or sub-category. New m ...
– the application of technology to the design of buildings. * Construction – the process of creating physical structures. * Building construction – construction specific to buildings. * Civil engineering – the design, construction and maintenance of the physical environment e.g. bridges, canals, dams, drainage systems and roads etc. * Building services engineering – the design of heating, ventilation and cooling and other mechanical systems, electrical power and lighting. * Structural engineering – the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. *
Sustainable design Environmentally sustainable design (also called environmentally conscious design, eco-design, etc.) is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of ecological sustainability ...
– provides expertise in improving the environmental performance of buildings. * Interior design – the design of interior finishes and fittings. * Urban design and urban planning (urban, city, and town planning) – a technical and legal process concerned with controlling the design of structures and the use of land. * Virtual reality – technology used to simulate a virtual world


See also

* Architectural glossary * Index of architecture articles * Table of years in architecture *
Timeline of architecture This is a timeline of architecture, indexing the individual year in architecture pages. Notable events in architecture and related disciplines including structural engineering, landscape architecture, and city planning. One significant architect ...


References


External links


Architecture.com
published by Royal Institute of British Architects
Worldarchitecture.org
World Architecture Database
Archdaily.com
Recompilation of thousands of recent projects

list of links from the
UIA Uia is a locality in the Marquesas Islands. UIA can refer to: * Argentine Industrial Union (''Unión Industrial Argentina'') * International Islamic University Malaysia (''Universiti Islam Antarabangsa'') * International Union of Architects (''U ...

arch-library
{{DEFAULTSORT:Architecture Building materials Architecture Architecture Architecture Architecture