Architectural Terms Trivia Quiz

Answer: Concrete slab outside any much used entrance

The idea of this slab is to save wear and tear on the entrances to building grounds or passages where there is a lot of use by vehicle traffic, particularly that of turning. It saves damage being done to what is usually asphalt ground covering in those areas.

Answer: The sharp terminating edge where two curved surfaces meet

An arris is formed wherever two curved surfaces meet in such a way as to form a sharp angle where they intersect - as opposed to any two flat surfaces meeting and being joined up. An example of this can be seen in any archway, where there is a combination of several surfaces joining to form the arch.

Answer: A large even block of masonry with square edges

Something nice and simple for a change, with the hardest thing to remember being its name. One is inclined to wonder however why they're not called square blocks. An example of an ashlar can be seen in each individual block of masonry - an ashlar - which has been placed evenly beside another ashlar, and on and on, until all those individual ashlars form an external wall of a stone castle or cathedral.

Answer: A false balcony

How odd. If one is going to all the trouble to build one, they may as well make it a full balcony while they're at it. However, a balconet or balconette is a wide railing attached to the outside of an external floor length window. It gives the window, when it is opened up, the appearance of a full balcony. It's really a rather clever idea, isn't it?

Answer: A board attached to gables projecting from a roof

The purpose of a bargeboard is not only to hide exposed joins of this feature, but also to give added strength and stability to the gables. Many of the bargeboards on early buildings featured beautiful carving work as well, so they enhanced the appearance of the gables even further.

Answer: A roughly cut set-in stone that was later carved

In its primary stage, before the carving takes place, this roughly hewn stone juts out from the rest of the stone work in place. Perhaps that's why it's called a boss, who knows. However, when carving and shaping has been completed on these features, their amazing displays can turn an otherwise blank wall into a true and permanent work of art.

Answer: A small oval window set horizontally in place

Bullseye windows can usually be seen on the upper floors of older buildings, where they are surrounded by lovely wood or stone work - or without the trimming, set above doors. Their utilitarian purpose is to allow more light to enter into darkened spaces, but because they add such a lovely touch to buildings, it is suspected that they came to be appreciated more for their visual appeal rather than their usefulness.

A bullseye window is sometimes referred to as an ox-eye window.

Answer: A beam or external construction anchored at only one end

Minor examples of a cantilever are a flagpole jutting from the side of a building, or a diving board. On a larger scale, however, examples of cantilevers at work include some bridges without pylons, or the balcony on Frank Lloyd Wright's unique Fallingwater house, or those skywalks that jut out over sheer drops below, such as the one at the Grand Canyon. Cantilevers, they assure us, are perfectly safe, because the load they carry is forced back against the side of the building. Forced back against the side of the building is right where I'd be, believe me, physics or no physics.

Answer: A sunken panel in a wall or ceiling

Coffers are usually designed with a square, rectangular or octagonal shape, and are normally seen inset into the walls or ceilings of huge structures, allowing their display to be fully appreciated. They can be as plain or as beautifully carved as the designers wish.

Their only disadvantage, from a very practical point of view, is that they can accumulate dust and provide a haven for spiders or nest-building birds.

Answer: An entrance passage or avenue leading to a large building

This architectural feature can also be seen leading up to large tombs as well. In very olden times, in beehive tombs, a dromos leading to such a place was often filled in until the next ceremonial burial occurred. On a much larger scale, particularly in Egyptian and Roman architecture, each dromos was flanked all along either side leading to its destination by various statues.