Sun dried (i.e. baked) clay in block form. Typically about 4 x 18 x 20 inches, adobe blocks are made from clayey soil, water and sometimes straw is added as a binder.

To articulate is 'to divide into meaningful parts'. In architecture, this is a way of expressing the small parts that make up a large building so that it may be understood, in particular, in its relationship to the human body.

'Bas', pronounced 'BA' means low, therefore a sculpture that is shallow in dimension compared with one that is fully three dimensional.

In architecture, 'type' can describe function or form. For the purposes of this course, we will use type to describe function. For example, an ancient Greek temple is a structure built to protect the god statue and serve as a focus of religous practice. 'Temple' is the building type, whereas the name of the large temple in the sacred precinct at Athens is the 'Parthenon' [Temple dedicated to Athena Parthenos].

The advantage to this method, or classification system, is that functional types are indicative of societal values. For example, if a society has numerous and varied examples of structures for religious purposes [monastery, church, cathedral, chapel] , one could understand the importance of religion to that society.

Also see Greek and Roman glossaries for examples of building types.

Campanile is the Italian word for bell tower.

The preferred term when indicating the vertical member in a trabeated (post and lintel) system whose section is round. 'Pillar' is rarely used as it connotes monumental scale, as in 'the Pillars of Hercules'.

A monument or building which is an empty tomb, i.e, the person commemorated is buried elsewhere.

An outdoor room created by at least three sides of a building or several buildings, generally at the building scale.

Characterized by curving lines, as opposed to rectilinear which has straight lines.

A drawing of the walls of one side of a building, either interior or exterior, with all lines drawn to a scale to show true vertical and horizontal dimension; also used in reference to the vertical plane of a building, as in the 'west elevation'.

The face of a building, especially the principal face or front.

The general term used to denote the pattern or arrangement of openings, i.e, windows and doors, etc, in a facade.

The shape or structure of a city, a building, or a part of a building. Two examples of easily recognizable building forms are the courtyard or skyscraper.

The qualities in architecture related to form and usually following convention or rules.

The particular use or purpose for which the structure was built, and can be either pragmatic, symbolic, or both.

The supporting pieces in a glazed window, typically made of wood, steel or aluminum.

Characterized by straight lines in parallel and perpendicular arrangements. 'Lines' may be walls, rows of columns, or axis lines.

'Piazza' is the Italian word for a large open space in a city created or defined by several buildings forming a perimeter enclosure. In English speaking countries this space is called a 'plaza' or an 'urban space.'

'Pillar' means 'a strong vertical support' and is therefore vague. Unless one means 'a monumental column or shaft standing alone' as in 'The Pillars of Hercules', it is best to use the alternative: column, post, pier or pilaster.

A solid vertical supporting member, usually stone, brick, or concrete, square or polygonal in section, and broad in relation to its height.

The drawing of the horizontal plane of a building, cut through the walls at about three feet above a floor and looking down. Also called a floor plan.

A freestanding vertical supporting member which is square in section and slender in relationship to its height.

Characterized by straight lines as opposed to curvilinear which is characterized by curved lines.

An exact drawn representation of a building is possible through the use of a scale (mathematical or graphic) showing the relationship of the smaller measure-
ment to the larger. For example a plan drawing may be drawn to a scale of 1" (inch) on the drawing, equals 8' (feet) in the actual building.

In architecture, a drawing showing a vertical slice through a building. A longitudinal section is a cut down the length of the building, a cross section cuts across the shorter dimension of the building . All horizontal and vertical lines are drawn to a scale. In detailed section drawings the interior is shown in elevation.

The meaning of 'sub' is, falling nearly in the category of, that is, not quite urban; missing some of the important components to be defined as urban. See urban.

Molded, fired and glazed clay units used as an exterior finish material

The thin stone supporting pieces in a gothic window, characterized by interlacing or branching forms.

The crossing arms in a church with a Latin cross plan.

In architecture, the functions and forms of the city; anything related to, or characteristic of, the city.