Architecture Design &
Principles: Complete Study
Guide with Visuals & Exam
Solutions Latest update
2025/2026
Architectural Order - Answer✅An architectural order is a certain assemblage of parts subject to
uniform established proportions, regulated by the position each part has to form. Architectural orders
are the ancient styles of classical Greek and Roman architecture distinguished by their proportions,
characteristic styles and details, most easily recognized by the type of column used. The five orders in
classical Greek and Roman architecture are: Ionic, Doric, Corinthian, Composite and Tuscan
Ionic Order - Answer✅An architectural order from ancient Ionia, most popular during the Greek
Archaic Period, 750-480 BCE, they are characterized by the volutes on their capitals. Ionic columns are
smaller and more slender than Doric columns.
Capital - Answer✅A column's capital forms the topmost member of the column or pilaster. Capitals
mediate between the column and the load thrusting down upon the it, broadening the area of the
column's supporting surface
Entablature - Answer✅Refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally
above columns resting on their capitals. They are major elements of classical architecture, divided
into architrave (the supporting member immediately above; equivalent to the lintel in post and lintel
construction), the frieze (an unmolded strip that may or may not be ornamented), and the cornice
(the projecting member below the pediment).
, Cornice - Answer✅Generally any horizontal decorative molding which crowns a building or element
of furniture, he cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the top edge of a
pedestal or along the top of an interior wall. The function of the projecting cornice of a building is to
throw rainwater free of the building's walls.
Frieze - Answer✅The wide central section part of the entablature, they may be plain or decorated
with bas reliefs in Ionic and Doric columns.
Metopes - Answer✅In classical architecture, this is a rectangular architectural element that fills the
space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze, which is a decorative band of alternating triglyphs and
metopes above the architrave of a building of the Doric order. They often had painted or sculptural
decoration; the most famous example of this are the Parthenon marbles some of which depict the
battle between the Centaurs and the Lapiths.
Architrave - Answer✅An architectural element in Classical architecture. The supporting member
immediately above the entablature equivalent to the lintel in post and lintel construction. It is a lintel
or beam that rests on the capitals of columns
Lintel - Answer✅A load bearing building component, a decorative architectural element or a
combined ornamented structural item. They are often found over portals, doors, windows and
fireplaces. Tympana often are bounded by these and arches.
Relief - Answer✅A sculptural technique, creating relief sculptures gives the impression that the
sculptural material has been raised above the background plane. What is actually being performed
when a relief is cut in from a flat surface of stone (relief sculpture) or wood (relief carvings), the field
is lowered, leaving the unsculpted parts seemingly raised. Reliefs often require considerable chiseling
Triglyph - Answer✅The vertically channeled tablets of the Doric frieze, so called because of the
angular channels in them, two perfect and one divided, the two chamfered angles or hemiglyphs
being reckoned as one. The rectangular recessed spaces between the triglyphs on a Doric frieze are
called metopes.
Travertine - Answer✅A form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs
Pediment - Answer✅An element in classical, neoclassical and baroque architecture, consisting of a
gable, originally triangular shape, placed above the horizontal structure of the entablature, typically
supported by columns. The tympanum or triangular area with the pediment, was often decorated
with relief sculpture depicting scenes from Greek and Roman mythology or allegorical figures.
Arch - Answer✅Arches are curved structures which spans a space and may or may not support the
weight above it. Arches are often synonymous with vaults, but vaults may be distinguished as a
continuous arch forming a room. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BCE in
Mesopotamian brick architecture and the Romans started using them systemically, when they were
the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.
Vault - Answer✅An arched form used to provide space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault
exert lateral thrust which require counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground
provides all the resistance required, for the parts of the vault which exert lateral thrust. When vaults
are built above ground various replacements are used to supply the necessary resistance, an example
of this are the thicker walls used for barrel or continuous vaults
Buttress - Answer✅An architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall, which serves to
support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common with more ancient building, as a means to
provide support to act against the lateral (sideways) forces arising from roof structures which lack
sufficient bracing.
Principles: Complete Study
Guide with Visuals & Exam
Solutions Latest update
2025/2026
Architectural Order - Answer✅An architectural order is a certain assemblage of parts subject to
uniform established proportions, regulated by the position each part has to form. Architectural orders
are the ancient styles of classical Greek and Roman architecture distinguished by their proportions,
characteristic styles and details, most easily recognized by the type of column used. The five orders in
classical Greek and Roman architecture are: Ionic, Doric, Corinthian, Composite and Tuscan
Ionic Order - Answer✅An architectural order from ancient Ionia, most popular during the Greek
Archaic Period, 750-480 BCE, they are characterized by the volutes on their capitals. Ionic columns are
smaller and more slender than Doric columns.
Capital - Answer✅A column's capital forms the topmost member of the column or pilaster. Capitals
mediate between the column and the load thrusting down upon the it, broadening the area of the
column's supporting surface
Entablature - Answer✅Refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally
above columns resting on their capitals. They are major elements of classical architecture, divided
into architrave (the supporting member immediately above; equivalent to the lintel in post and lintel
construction), the frieze (an unmolded strip that may or may not be ornamented), and the cornice
(the projecting member below the pediment).
, Cornice - Answer✅Generally any horizontal decorative molding which crowns a building or element
of furniture, he cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the top edge of a
pedestal or along the top of an interior wall. The function of the projecting cornice of a building is to
throw rainwater free of the building's walls.
Frieze - Answer✅The wide central section part of the entablature, they may be plain or decorated
with bas reliefs in Ionic and Doric columns.
Metopes - Answer✅In classical architecture, this is a rectangular architectural element that fills the
space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze, which is a decorative band of alternating triglyphs and
metopes above the architrave of a building of the Doric order. They often had painted or sculptural
decoration; the most famous example of this are the Parthenon marbles some of which depict the
battle between the Centaurs and the Lapiths.
Architrave - Answer✅An architectural element in Classical architecture. The supporting member
immediately above the entablature equivalent to the lintel in post and lintel construction. It is a lintel
or beam that rests on the capitals of columns
Lintel - Answer✅A load bearing building component, a decorative architectural element or a
combined ornamented structural item. They are often found over portals, doors, windows and
fireplaces. Tympana often are bounded by these and arches.
Relief - Answer✅A sculptural technique, creating relief sculptures gives the impression that the
sculptural material has been raised above the background plane. What is actually being performed
when a relief is cut in from a flat surface of stone (relief sculpture) or wood (relief carvings), the field
is lowered, leaving the unsculpted parts seemingly raised. Reliefs often require considerable chiseling
Triglyph - Answer✅The vertically channeled tablets of the Doric frieze, so called because of the
angular channels in them, two perfect and one divided, the two chamfered angles or hemiglyphs
being reckoned as one. The rectangular recessed spaces between the triglyphs on a Doric frieze are
called metopes.
Travertine - Answer✅A form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs
Pediment - Answer✅An element in classical, neoclassical and baroque architecture, consisting of a
gable, originally triangular shape, placed above the horizontal structure of the entablature, typically
supported by columns. The tympanum or triangular area with the pediment, was often decorated
with relief sculpture depicting scenes from Greek and Roman mythology or allegorical figures.
Arch - Answer✅Arches are curved structures which spans a space and may or may not support the
weight above it. Arches are often synonymous with vaults, but vaults may be distinguished as a
continuous arch forming a room. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BCE in
Mesopotamian brick architecture and the Romans started using them systemically, when they were
the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.
Vault - Answer✅An arched form used to provide space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault
exert lateral thrust which require counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground
provides all the resistance required, for the parts of the vault which exert lateral thrust. When vaults
are built above ground various replacements are used to supply the necessary resistance, an example
of this are the thicker walls used for barrel or continuous vaults
Buttress - Answer✅An architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall, which serves to
support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common with more ancient building, as a means to
provide support to act against the lateral (sideways) forces arising from roof structures which lack
sufficient bracing.
