Façades

Classical Buildings: Study of classical buildings styles, designs and features including pediments, columns, porticos, and arches.

Façade Types: Study of types of façade such as tripartite façade, arcade façade, central-pavilion-and-wing façade, and temple-front façade.

Orders: Study of orders like the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders. The orders are characterized by columns and ornamentation which vary in proportion, profile and decorative details.

Ornamentation: Study of ornamental features of classical architecture such as cornices, friezes, balconies, pediments, and moldings.

Symmetry: Study of the importance of symmetry in façade design and how it is achieved by balanced architectural features.

Proportion: Study of the importance of proportion in façade design and the use of the golden ratio in classical architecture.

Materials: Study of materials used in façade construction such as limestone, terracotta, and marble.

Façade Evolution: Study of how façade architecture has evolved from ancient Greece to modern times and how motives and styles have changed over time.

Façade Restoration: Study of how historical faĉades are restored and the various techniques that are employed to preserve and protect them.

Sustainability: Study of how modern sustainable facade design incorporates energy efficient and environmentally conscious techniques.

Façade Engineering: Study of the technical aspects of façade design such as wind loads, solar gain, and thermal breaks.

Façade Detailing: Study of the intricate detailing used in façade design such as carving, embossing, and relief work.

Doric: The simplest and oldest of the orders, with a plain column shaft and a capital (top) without decoration. The frieze between the architrave and cornice is either plain or decorated with alternating triglyphs (rectangular blocks with three vertical grooves) and metopes (square panels).

Ionic: More ornate than the Doric order, with tall and slender columns that feature volutes (scrolls) at the capital and a decorated frieze. The base of the columns is also more elaborate than that of the Doric order.

Corinthian: The most ornate of the orders, with a column capital that resembles an inverted bell adorned with acanthus leaves. The frieze is typically decorated with panels of relief sculpture, and the base is similar to that of the Ionic order.

Composite: A blending of the Corinthian and Ionic orders, with the double scroll (volute) of the former and the acanthus leaves of the latter.

Tuscan: Similar to the Doric order, but with a smooth column shaft and a simplified capital consisting of an echinus (the convex portion at the top of the column) and an abacus (a square block). No frieze or decorative details are present.

Romanesque: A style popular in the Middle Ages, characterized by round arches, thick walls, and small, round-headed windows. Decorative elements include sculpted capitals, relief carvings, and ornamental bands known as string courses.

Gothic: An architectural style of the Late Middle Ages, characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and elaborate stone tracery on both the exterior and interior of buildings. Gothic façades often feature elaborate decoration, such as slender columns, niches with statuary, and intricate carvings.

Renaissance: A period of renewed interest in classical antiquity, characterized by the use of symmetry, proportion, and classical orders. Renaissance façades often feature rustication (a surface treatment that creates a rough, textured appearance), pilasters (flat columns attached to walls), and ornamental details such as pediments, cornices, and relief sculpture.

Baroque: An ornate and theatrical style popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by elaborate decoration, sinuous curves, and dramatic lighting effects. Baroque façades often feature bold projections, curved pediments, and intricate ornamentation, such as cherubs, cartouches, and other decorative motifs.

Rococo: A style that emerged in the mid-18th century, characterized by playful ornamentation, delicate curves, and a lighthearted approach to architectural design. Rococo façades often feature decorative motifs such as scrollwork, foliate designs, and shell-like curvatures.