Architecture
From Fenestration to Folly: Architectural Jargon Explained
Sharpen your understanding of architectural language to enable you to converse clearly at your next design meeting
For many of us, the thought of sharing a brief with our designer or architect and then communicating with them through the course of a project can be daunting. Who uses the words juxtaposition and dichotomy in the real world anyway? But there’s no need to feel intimidated by the language; it is actually very rewarding to engage a designer or architect and be able to contribute meaningfully to the design of your home. Here is a collection of some common (and sometimes overused) architectural terms, along with some simple interpretations to help ease you through most conversations – as well as prepare you for the latest weighty architectural magazine.
Building envelope
In design terms, this refers to the exterior skin of the building and includes the walls, floor and roof of a building. This term is also used in many council guidelines where homes are required to be built within a ‘building envelope’, in which case the imaginary envelope is created by a vertical line (generally located on a site boundary) of prescribed length and then projecting over the subject block at a prescribed angle.
In design terms, this refers to the exterior skin of the building and includes the walls, floor and roof of a building. This term is also used in many council guidelines where homes are required to be built within a ‘building envelope’, in which case the imaginary envelope is created by a vertical line (generally located on a site boundary) of prescribed length and then projecting over the subject block at a prescribed angle.
These envelopes are put in place to control issues such as the overshadowing of neighbouring properties as well as to regulate the mass and scale of buildings.
Cantilever
A cantilever is another term for a gravity-defying overhang of a particular part of a building. Cantilevers can create striking effects; however, they also require varying levels of engineering gymnastics that can add considerable cost when used boldly.
A cantilever is another term for a gravity-defying overhang of a particular part of a building. Cantilevers can create striking effects; however, they also require varying levels of engineering gymnastics that can add considerable cost when used boldly.
Cantilevers are often employed on steeply sloping sites where traditional methods of anchoring the building to the ground around its full perimeter are difficult. At other times they are simply used for dramatic effect.
Contemporary
The word contemporary simply means ‘belonging to or occurring in the present’, therefore, it’s not linked to a singular style.
The word contemporary simply means ‘belonging to or occurring in the present’, therefore, it’s not linked to a singular style.
Contemporary architecture is considered to be innovative, responsive to the site and climate, and generally forward-looking. For that reason, contemporary designs are often highly unique buildings that evoke polarising opinions.
Browse contemporary exterior designs
Browse contemporary exterior designs
Curvilinear
Surely this is a trick word. Two words that mean the opposite of each other bolted together to create one word. Quite simply it means curvy; and I don’t understand the need to complicate it… just say curvy!
Surely this is a trick word. Two words that mean the opposite of each other bolted together to create one word. Quite simply it means curvy; and I don’t understand the need to complicate it… just say curvy!
Elevation
The elevation of a home is simply the 2D view of it, typically from the outside of the building. A set of architectural drawings will generally consist of several elevations: front, rear and side, often labelled north, south, east or west elevation. Interestingly, and somewhat confusingly, because it is a 2D drawing, you will never actually see the building the way it is viewed in a real-world elevation, because we see objects in perspective.
For that reason, external 3D perspective drawings of the building will be far more useful and accurate when understanding how the building will look from a particular point; this is further highlighted for homes that sit either above or below street level. An accurately prepared 3D perspective will demonstrate the effect of either looking up or down upon the building.
The elevation of a home is simply the 2D view of it, typically from the outside of the building. A set of architectural drawings will generally consist of several elevations: front, rear and side, often labelled north, south, east or west elevation. Interestingly, and somewhat confusingly, because it is a 2D drawing, you will never actually see the building the way it is viewed in a real-world elevation, because we see objects in perspective.
For that reason, external 3D perspective drawings of the building will be far more useful and accurate when understanding how the building will look from a particular point; this is further highlighted for homes that sit either above or below street level. An accurately prepared 3D perspective will demonstrate the effect of either looking up or down upon the building.
Fenestration
Fenestration is a fancy word that refers to the design, proportion and location of windows in a building. Windows are required to provide several key functions in a home, such as managing natural light from season to season, ventilation, connecting with the outdoors, offering surveillance and adding visual interest to a building. All this means that fenestration is a lot more complex than simply making the building look good.
Find architects in Australia
Fenestration is a fancy word that refers to the design, proportion and location of windows in a building. Windows are required to provide several key functions in a home, such as managing natural light from season to season, ventilation, connecting with the outdoors, offering surveillance and adding visual interest to a building. All this means that fenestration is a lot more complex than simply making the building look good.
Find architects in Australia
Fenestration plays a key role in the design of homes, both new and old.
Facade
The facade is the primary frontage of a building, typically facing the street or other open space. A more cynical view held by architects and designers from time to time might be that the facade is often the cover by which their book will be judged.
See the rest of this house
The facade is the primary frontage of a building, typically facing the street or other open space. A more cynical view held by architects and designers from time to time might be that the facade is often the cover by which their book will be judged.
See the rest of this house
Folly
A folly is generally a little bit of fun within the overall design; a quirky or extravagant element created to draw attention, to be pondered or sometimes to make a statement or share a view, be it subtle or blatant.
Section
A section is a drawing that shows a vertical slice through a building. They are often favoured by designers and architects to show changing interior heights within a building, the relationship of the building with the site and ground levels and connections between various elements of a building. They are probably also the most confusing drawings to those new to the process; though once understood, are very worthwhile.
A folly is generally a little bit of fun within the overall design; a quirky or extravagant element created to draw attention, to be pondered or sometimes to make a statement or share a view, be it subtle or blatant.
Section
A section is a drawing that shows a vertical slice through a building. They are often favoured by designers and architects to show changing interior heights within a building, the relationship of the building with the site and ground levels and connections between various elements of a building. They are probably also the most confusing drawings to those new to the process; though once understood, are very worthwhile.
Scale
Scale refers to the size of a building or an element of a building. Designers often talk about appropriate scale, which can sometimes relate to the exterior scale of a building and the way it either sits within the streetscape (or landscape) or imposes upon it.
Scale refers to the size of a building or an element of a building. Designers often talk about appropriate scale, which can sometimes relate to the exterior scale of a building and the way it either sits within the streetscape (or landscape) or imposes upon it.
Likewise, the scale of interior spaces is also an important consideration. Many people like the idea of high ceilings for the sense of space that they give, yet there is a risk that the room becomes so vast that it loses the sense of warmth and homey comfort that we subconsciously crave. Bigger may be better sometimes, but certainly not always.
Setback
When you start talking about council approvals for your new home or extension, you’ll be hearing about setbacks sooner rather than later. A setback refers to the distance that a building is required to be located from a particular point, most commonly a site boundary. Councils like prescribing minimum setbacks as they help to create uniformity within a streetscape as well as protect neighbouring properties from overshadowing, overlooking and the general impact upon amenity caused by overdevelopment.
When you start talking about council approvals for your new home or extension, you’ll be hearing about setbacks sooner rather than later. A setback refers to the distance that a building is required to be located from a particular point, most commonly a site boundary. Councils like prescribing minimum setbacks as they help to create uniformity within a streetscape as well as protect neighbouring properties from overshadowing, overlooking and the general impact upon amenity caused by overdevelopment.
Vernacular
Vernacular architecture is a style that is based on local needs, availability of materials and skills, and climatic considerations. It may often also reflect local traditions. The earliest examples of vernacular house design did not engage traditionally trained architects, but rather utilised the design skills and traditions of local builders.
Vernacular architecture is a style that is based on local needs, availability of materials and skills, and climatic considerations. It may often also reflect local traditions. The earliest examples of vernacular house design did not engage traditionally trained architects, but rather utilised the design skills and traditions of local builders.
One of the more recognisable styles of Australian vernacular design is the lovingly named Queenslander of north-east Australia. They were developed in the 1840s as a local response to the warm, sub-tropical climate. In contrast to the masonry, European-influenced homes that came before them, and which didn’t cope with the climate, Queenslanders were commonly built above the ground.
They were constructed with lightweight timber frames and featured large wraparound verandahs. This all combined to allow for more protection from the sun, as well as encouraging natural cross-flow ventilation. The lightweight construction didn’t have the thermal mass properties of masonry homes and therefore didn’t store heat, making them cool down much faster.
The Queenslander: beautiful, enduring and here to stay
They were constructed with lightweight timber frames and featured large wraparound verandahs. This all combined to allow for more protection from the sun, as well as encouraging natural cross-flow ventilation. The lightweight construction didn’t have the thermal mass properties of masonry homes and therefore didn’t store heat, making them cool down much faster.
The Queenslander: beautiful, enduring and here to stay
More recently, architects such as Glenn Murcutt have further developed and expressed regional styles of Australian vernacular design. His lightweight, pavilion-styled buildings (such as the Marie Short farmhouse near Kempsey in northern NSW) have won major awards worldwide and inspired many young Australian designers and architects to delve more deeply into the question of ‘What is Australian design?’
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What architectural terms are you still wondering about? Share with us in the Comments section.
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Tell us
What architectural terms are you still wondering about? Share with us in the Comments section.
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Read more architecture stories
Refers to the way in which connected parts of a building are assembled to make them clear and distinct from each other. Articulation is most commonly used when describing the facade of a building.
Extensions that make their own mark