Architectural Glossary Architectural Terms Use this guide to help you understand what kinds of houses are out there and how to describe what you want. Check out the real estate glossary , mortgage glossary and ad glossary also available. Y-Z Adobe Unburnt brick dried in the sun, commonly used for building in the American Southwest, Spain and Latin America. Usually covered with stucco in homes. Arch The curved or pointed top on a door or open entryway.
Arches come in many different shapes and styles.
A style of architecture and interior decor dating from the late 1800s marked by the overly ornate use of undulation, such as waves, flames, flower stalks and flowing hair. A popular design style of the 1920s and '30s characterized by bold outlines, geometric and zigzag forms. Atrium An inner courtyard of a home or other building that is open to the sky or covered by a skylight. Balcony A platform projecting from a wall, enclosed by a railing or balustrade, supported on brackets or cantilevered out. Baluster A short post or pillar in a series that supports a rail, thus forming a balustrade.