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:''The following outline is an overview and topical guide to architecture:''
Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...
– the process and the product of designing and constructing buildings. Architectural works with a certain indefinable combination of design quality and external circumstances may become cultural symbols and / or be considered works of art.


What type of thing is architecture?

Architecture can be described as all of the following: *
Academic discipline An academic discipline or academic field is a subdivision of knowledge that is taught and researched at the college or university level. Disciplines are defined (in part) and recognized by the academic journals in which research is published, a ...
– focused study in one academic field or profession. A discipline incorporates expertise, people, projects, communities, challenges, studies, inquiry, and research areas that are strongly associated with the given discipline. *
Building A building or edifice is an enclosed Structure#Load-bearing, structure with a roof, walls and window, windows, usually standing permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, a ...
s – buildings and similar structures, the product of architecture, are referred to as architecture. * One of
the arts The arts or creative arts are a vast range of human practices involving creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation. The arts encompass diverse and plural modes of thought, deeds, and existence in an extensive range of m ...
– as an art form, architecture is an outlet of human expression, that is usually influenced by culture and which in turn helps to change culture. Architecture is a physical manifestation of the internal human creative impulse. **
Fine art In European academic traditions, fine art (or, fine arts) is made primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from popular art, decorative art or applied art, which also either serve some practical function (such as ...
– in Western European academic traditions, fine art is art developed primarily for aesthetics, distinguishing it from applied art that also has to serve some practical function. The word "fine" here does not so much denote the quality of the artwork in question, but the purity of the discipline according to traditional Western European canons. *
Science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...
– systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. A science is a branch of science, or a discipline of science. It is a way of pursuing knowledge, not only the knowledge itself. **
Applied science Applied science is the application of the scientific method and scientific knowledge to attain practical goals. It includes a broad range of disciplines, such as engineering and medicine. Applied science is often contrasted with basic science, ...
– branch of science that applies existing scientific knowledge to develop more practical applications, such as technology or inventions.


Definitions of architecture

Architecture is variously defined in conflicting ways, highlighting the difficulty of describing the scope of the subject precisely: * A general term to describe buildings and other physical structures – although not all buildings are generally considered to be architecture, and infrastructure (bridges, roads etc.) is civil engineering, not architecture. * The art and science, or the action and process, of designing and constructing buildings. * The design activity of the architect, the profession of designing buildings. * A building designed by an architect, the end product of architectural design. * A building whose design transcends mere function, a unifying or coherent form or structure. * The expression of thought in building. * A group or body of buildings in a particular style. * A particular style or way of designing buildings. Some key quotations on the subject of architecture: *
Vitruvius Vitruvius ( ; ; –70 BC – after ) was a Roman architect and engineer during the 1st century BC, known for his multi-volume work titled . As the only treatise on architecture to survive from antiquity, it has been regarded since the Renaissan ...
: defined the essential qualities of architecture as "
firmness, commodity, and delight Firmness, commodity, and delight () are the three aspects of good architecture declared by the Roman architect Vitruvius in his book "De architectura" ("On architecture", 1st century BC) and also known as Vitruvian virtues, Vitruvian Triad. The lit ...
". *
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...
: "I call architecture frozen music". *
Walter Gropius Walter Adolph Georg Gropius (; 18 May 1883 – 5 July 1969) was a German-born American architect and founder of the Bauhaus, Bauhaus School, who is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modernist architecture. He was a founder of ...
: "Architecture begins where engineering ends". *
Le Corbusier Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (6 October 188727 August 1965), known as Le Corbusier ( , ; ), was a Swiss-French architectural designer, painter, urban planner and writer, who was one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture ...
: "A house is a machine for living in". *
Louis Sullivan Louis Henry Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14, 1924) was an American architect, and has been called a "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism". He was an influential architect of the Chicago school (architecture), Chicago ...
: "... form ever follows function. This is the law", usually quoted as the architectural mantra "
form follows function Form follows function is a principle of design associated with late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture and industrial design in general, which states that the appearance and structure of a building or object ( architectural form) should p ...
". *
Mies van der Rohe Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ( ; ; born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies; March 27, 1886August 17, 1969) was a German-American architect, academic, and interior designer. He was commonly referred to as Mies, his surname. He is regarded as one of the pionee ...
: "Less is more". *
Robert Venturi Robert Charles Venturi Jr. (June 25, 1925 – September 18, 2018) was an American architect, founding principal of the firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates. Together with his wife and partner, Denise Scott Brown, he helped shape the way that ...
: "Less is a bore".


Roles in architecture

Professionals involved in planning, designing, and constructing buildings include: *
Architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
– a person trained in the planning, design and supervision of building construction. ** Architectural intern – a person gaining practical experience while studying to qualify as an architect. ** Council architect – an architect employed by a local authority. **
Landscape architect A landscape architect is a person who is educated in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water manage ...
– a person who develops land for human use and enjoyment through effective placement of structures, vehicular and pedestrian ways, and plantings. **
Project architect In architecture, a project architect (PA) is an individual who is responsible for overseeing the architectural aspects of the development of a design, production of the construction documents ( plans), and specifications, from which actively uses a ...
– a person who is responsible for overseeing the architectural aspects of the development of the design, production of the construction documents and specifications. **
State architect Many national governments and states have a public official titled the state architect or government architect. The specific duties and areas of responsibility of state architects vary, but they generally involve responsibility for the design and ...
– a person who is generally responsible for the design and/or construction of public buildings in the state. *
Architectural designer The term architectural designer may refer to a building designer who is not a registered architect, architectural technologist or any other person that is involved in the design process of buildings or Urban design, urban landscapes. Architectura ...
– generally, a designer involved in architecture but not qualified as an architect. *
Architectural engineer Architectural engineering or architecture engineering, also known as building engineering, is a discipline that deals with the engineering and construction of buildings, such as environmental, structural, mechanical, electrical, computational, ...
*
Architectural technologist The architectural technologist, also known as a building technologist, provides technical building design services and is trained in architectural technology, building technical design and construction. Architectural technologists apply the scienc ...
or building technologist – a professional trained in architectural technology, building design and construction, and who provides building design services. * Building control officer or Approved Inspector *
Building inspector A building inspection is an inspection performed by a building inspector, a person who is employed by either a city, township or county and is usually certified in one or more disciplines qualifying them to make professional judgment about whether ...
* Clerk of works *
Drafter A drafter (also draughtsman / draughtswoman in British English, British and English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English, draftsman / draftswoman, drafting technician, or CAD technician in American English, American and Canadia ...
or draughtsman – a person trained in drawing up architectural drawings. * Site manager *
Building surveyor Construction surveying or building surveying (otherwise known as "staking", "stake-out", "lay-out", or "setting-out") is to provide dimensional control for all stages of construction work, including the stake out of reference points and markers t ...


People engaged in architecture

*
Architects An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
* Architecture firms * Architectural historians * Architecture critics


Architectural styles

Architectural style An architectural style is a classification of buildings (and nonbuilding structures) based on a set of characteristics and features, including overall appearance, arrangement of the components, method of construction, building materials used, for ...
– a specific way of building, characterized by the features that make it notable. A style may include such elements as form, method of construction, materials, and regional character. Influential contemporary and relatively recent styles include : *
Modern architecture Modern architecture, also called modernist architecture, or the modern movement, is an architectural movement and style that was prominent in the 20th century, between the earlier Art Deco and later postmodern movements. Modern architectur ...
– generally characterized by simplification of form and the absence of applied ornament. *
Postmodern architecture Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the 1960s as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the International Style (architecture), international style adv ...
– has been described as the return of "wit, ornament and reference" to architecture in response to the formalism of the
International Style The International Style is a major architectural style and movement that began in western Europe in the 1920s and dominated modern architecture until the 1970s. It is defined by strict adherence to Functionalism (architecture), functional and Fo ...
of modernism. *
Deconstructivism Deconstructivism is a postmodern architecture, postmodern architectural movement which appeared in the 1980s. It gives the impression of the fragmentation of the constructed building, commonly characterised by an absence of obvious harmony, ...
– based on the more general theory of
deconstruction In philosophy, deconstruction is a loosely-defined set of approaches to understand the relationship between text and meaning. The concept of deconstruction was introduced by the philosopher Jacques Derrida, who described it as a turn away from ...
, a design style characterized by fragmentation, distortion and dislocation of structure and
envelope An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin, flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter (message), letter or Greeting card, card. Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one o ...
. *
International style The International Style is a major architectural style and movement that began in western Europe in the 1920s and dominated modern architecture until the 1970s. It is defined by strict adherence to Functionalism (architecture), functional and Fo ...
or international modern– the pervasive and often anonymous style of city developments worldwide. *
Brutalism Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by minimalist constructions that showcase the b ...
– the notorious use of raw concrete and massive uncompromising forms.


Specialist subclassifications of architecture

Terms used to describe different architectural concerns, origins and objectives. * Architecture parlante ("speaking architecture") – buildings or architectural elements that explain their own function or identity by means of an inscription or literal representation. * Religious architecture – the design and construction of places of worship. * Responsive architecture – designing buildings that measure their environmental conditions (via
sensor A sensor is often defined as a device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus. The stimulus is the quantity, property, or condition that is sensed and converted into electrical signal. In the broadest definition, a sensor is a devi ...
s) to adapt their form, shape, color or character responsively (via
actuator An actuator is a machine element, component of a machine that produces force, torque, or Displacement (geometry), displacement, when an electrical, Pneumatics, pneumatic or Hydraulic fluid, hydraulic input is supplied to it in a system (called an ...
s). *
Sustainable architecture Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings through improved efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, development space and the ecosystem at large. Sometimes, su ...
– environmentally conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. *
Vernacular architecture Vernacular architecture (also folk architecture) is building done outside any academic tradition, and without professional guidance. It is not a particular architectural movement or style but rather a broad category, encompassing a wide range a ...
– traditional local building styles, typically not designed by professional architects although vernacular elements are adopted by many architects.


Architectural theory

* Architectural design values – the various values that influence architects and designers in making design decisions. *
Mathematics and architecture Mathematics and architecture are related, since architecture, mathematics and art, like some other arts, uses mathematics for several reasons. Apart from the mathematics needed when engineering buildings, architects use geometry: to define ...
– have always been close, because architecture relies upon mathematical precision, and because both fields share a search for order and beauty. *
Pattern language A pattern language is an organized and coherent set of ''patterns'', each of which describes a problem and the core of a solution that can be used in many ways within a specific field of expertise. The term was coined by architect Christopher Ale ...
– a term coined by architect
Christopher Alexander Christopher Wolfgang John Alexander (4 October 1936 – 17 March 2022) was an Austrian-born British-American architect and Design theory, design theorist. He was an Professors in the United States#Professor emeritus and emerita, emeritus profes ...
, a structured method of describing good design practices within a field of expertise. * Proportion – the relationship between elements and the whole. * Space syntax – a set of theories and techniques for the analysis of spatial configurations. *
Architecture criticism Architecture criticism is the critique of architecture. Everyday criticism relates to published or broadcast critiques of buildings, whether completed or not, both in terms of news and other criteria. In many cases, criticism amounts to an assessmen ...
– published or broadcast critique, assessing the architect's success in meeting his own aims and objectives and those of others.


Architectural terms

*
Glossary of architecture This page is a glossary of architecture. A B C The Caryatid Porch of the Athen ...


Regional architecture


Architecture of Africa

Architecture of Africa * Architecture of Algeria * Architecture of Angola *
Ancient Egyptian architecture Spanning over three thousand years, ancient Egypt was not one stable civilization but in constant change and upheaval, commonly History of ancient Egypt, split into periods by historians. Likewise, ancient Egyptian architecture is not one style, ...
* Architecture of Cape Verde * Architecture of Ethiopia * Architecture of Ghana * Architecture of Madagascar *
Architecture of Mali The architecture of Mali is a distinct subset of Sudano-Sahelian architecture indigenous to West Africa. It comprises adobe buildings such as the Great Mosque of Djenné or the University of Timbuktu. It can be found all over the Sahel region of Af ...
* Architecture of Morocco ** Architecture of Casablanca ** Architecture of Fez ** Architecture of Marrakesh *
Architecture of Nigeria Architecture of Nigeria was historically influenced by environmental conditions as well as social and cultural factors. The coming of missionaries and political changes brought about by colonialism precipitated a change in architectural style and ...
** Architecture of Lagos * Architecture of Somalia * Architecture of South Africa ** Architecture of Johannesburg ** Cape Dutch architecture * Architecture of Zimbabwe


Architecture of Asia

Architecture of Asia * Architecture of Afghanistan *
Armenian architecture Armenian architecture comprises architectural works with an aesthetic or historical connection to the Armenians, Armenian people. It is difficult to situate this architectural style within precise geographical or chronological limits, but many o ...
* Architecture of Azerbaijan **
Architecture of Baku Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
* Architecture of Bahrain *
Architecture of Bangladesh The architecture of Bangladesh is intertwined with the Architecture of Bengal, architecture of the Bengal region and the broader Architecture of India, Indian subcontinent. The architecture of Bangladesh has a long history and is rooted in Bang ...
* Architecture of Bhutan **
Dzong architecture Dzong architecture is used for dzongs, a distinctive type of fortified monastery (, , ) architecture found mainly in Bhutan and Tibet. The architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, ...
* Architecture of Cambodia * Architecture of China ** Architecture of Hong Kong * Architecture of Cyprus * Architecture of Georgia (country) *
Architecture of India Indian architecture is rooted in the History of India, history, Culture of India, culture, and Indian religions, religion of India. Among several architectural styles and traditions, the best-known include the many varieties of Hindu temple a ...
**
Architecture of Bengal The architecture of Bengal, which comprises the modern country of Bangladesh and the States and union territories of India, Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam's Barak Valley and eastern part of Bihar and Jharkhand, has a long and rich hi ...
** Architecture of Gujarat ** Architecture of Karnataka **
Architecture of Kerala Kerala architecture is a style of architecture found in the Indian state of Kerala, and in parts of the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka. Kerala's architectural style includes a unique religious sanctuary architecture that emerged in southwester ...
** Architecture of Maharashtra ** Architecture of Rajasthan ** Architecture of Tamil Nadu ** Architecture of Uttar Pradesh ** Architecture of Telangana *
Architecture of Indonesia The architecture of Indonesia reflects the diversity of Culture of Indonesia, cultural, History of Indonesia, historical, and Geography of Indonesia, geographic influences that have shaped Indonesia as a whole. Invaders, colonizers, missionarie ...
** Architecture of Sumatra **
Balinese architecture Balinese architecture is a vernacular architecture tradition of Balinese people that inhabits the volcanic island of Bali, Indonesia. Balinese architecture is a centuries-old architectural tradition influenced by Balinese people#Culture, Balinese ...
* Architecture of Iran ** Architecture of Tehran *
Architecture of Israel The architecture of Israel has been influenced by the different architectural styles of those who have inhabited the country over time, sometimes modified to suit the local climate and landscape. Byzantine churches, Crusades, Crusader castles, Is ...
* Architecture of Japan ** Architecture of Tokyo ** Okinawan architecture * Architecture of Jordan * Architecture of Korea ** Architecture of North Korea ** Architecture of South Korea * Architecture of Kuwait * Architecture of Lebanon * Architecture of Macau * Architecture of Malaysia ** Architecture of Kuala Lumpur ** Architecture of Penang * Architecture of Mongolia * Architecture of Myanmar * Architecture of Nepal ** Architecture of Kathmandu * Architecture of Pakistan * Architecture of the Philippines *
Architecture of Russia The architecture of Russia refers to the architecture of modern Russia as well as the architecture of both the original Kievan Rus', the Grand Duchy of Moscow, Russian principalities, and Russian Empire, Imperial Russia. Due to the geographica ...
* Architecture of Saudi Arabia * Architecture of Singapore *
Architecture of Sri Lanka The architecture of Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of architectural forms and styles. Shaivism has had a significant influence on early Sri Lankan architecture, during the reign of King Ravana, then Buddhism has also had a significant influenc ...
* Architecture of Taiwan * Architecture of Thailand * Architecture of Tibet *
Architecture of Turkey The architecture of Turkey includes heritage from the ancient era of Anatolia to the present day. Significant remains from the Greco-Roman period are located throughout the country. The Byzantine period produced, among other monuments, the ce ...
* Architecture of the United Arab Emirates * Architecture of Uzbekistan * Architecture of Vietnam * Architecture of Yemen


Architecture of Europe

Architecture of Europe *
Architecture of Albania The architecture of Albania ( ) is a reflection of Albania's historical and cultural heritage. The country's architecture was influenced by its location within the Mediterranean Basin and progressed over the course of history as it was once inh ...
* Architecture of Austria * Architecture of Azerbaijan * Architecture of Belgium * Architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina ** Architecture of Mostar * Architecture of Bulgaria * Architecture of Croatia * Architecture of the Czech Republic *
Architecture of Denmark The architecture of Denmark has its origins in the Viking Age, revealed by archaeological finds. It was established in the Middle Ages when first Romanesque architecture, Romanesque, then Gothic architecture, Gothic churches and cathedrals, wer ...
** Architecture of Aarhus ** Architecture in Copenhagen *
Architecture of Estonia This article covers the architecture of Estonia. History Ancient Estonia A distinguishing feature of early Estonian architecture are the many strongholds and hill-forts found throughout the country, for example Varbola and Valjala strongho ...
* Architecture of Finland * Architecture of France ** Architecture of Normandy ** Architecture of Paris *** Architecture of the Paris Métro *** Paris architecture of the Belle Époque ** Architecture of Provence * Architecture of Georgia (country) *
Architecture of Germany The architecture of Germany has a long, rich and diverse history. Every major European style from Ancient Roman architecture, Roman to Postmodern architecture, Postmodern is represented, including renowned examples of Carolingian architecture, ...
** Architecture of Berlin ** Architecture of Munich * Architecture of Greece ** Modern architecture in Athens * Architecture of Hungary * Architecture of Iceland *
Architecture of Ireland The architecture of Ireland is one of the most visible features in the Irish countryside – with remains from all eras since the Stone Age abounding. Ireland is famous for its ruined and intact Norman architecture, Norman and Anglo-Irish peopl ...
** Architecture of Letterkenny ** Architecture of Limerick *
Architecture of Italy Italy has a very broad and diverse architectural style, which cannot be simply classified by period or region, due to Italy's division into various small states until 1861. This has created a highly diverse and eclectic range in architectural de ...
** Architecture of Rome ** Italian modern and contemporary architecture * Architecture of Lithuania * Architecture of Luxembourg * Architecture of Malta * Architecture of Moldova * Architecture of Monaco * Architecture of Montenegro *
Architecture of the Netherlands Dutch architecture has played an important role in the international discourse on architecture in three eras. The first of these was during the 17th century, when the Dutch empire was at the height of its power. The second was in the first hal ...
* Architecture of North Macedonia * Architecture of Norway * Architecture of Poland ** Architecture of Warsaw *
Architecture of Portugal Portuguese architecture refers to both the architecture of Portugal's modern-day territory in Continental Portugal, the Azores and Madeira, as well as the architectural heritage/patrimony of Portuguese architects and styles throughout the worl ...
* Architecture of Romania *
Architecture of Russia The architecture of Russia refers to the architecture of modern Russia as well as the architecture of both the original Kievan Rus', the Grand Duchy of Moscow, Russian principalities, and Russian Empire, Imperial Russia. Due to the geographica ...
* Architecture of Serbia ** Architecture of Belgrade * Architecture of Slovenia * Architecture of Spain ** Architecture of Barcelona ** Architecture of Madrid * Architecture of Sweden ** Architecture of Stockholm * Architecture of Switzerland *
Architecture of Turkey The architecture of Turkey includes heritage from the ancient era of Anatolia to the present day. Significant remains from the Greco-Roman period are located throughout the country. The Byzantine period produced, among other monuments, the ce ...
** Architecture of Istanbul * Architecture of Ukraine * Architecture of the United Kingdom **
Architecture of England The architecture of England is the architecture of the historic Kingdom of England up to 1707, and of England since then, but is deemed to include buildings created under English influence or by English architects in other parts of the world, p ...
*** Architecture of Aylesbury *** Architecture of Birmingham ***
Architecture of Leeds The architecture of Leeds, a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, encompasses a wide range of architectural styles and notable buildings. As with most northern industrial centres, much of Leeds' prominent architecture is of ...
*** Architecture of Liverpool *** Architecture of London **** Architecture of the London Borough of Croydon *** Architecture of Manchester *** Buildings and architecture of Bath **
Architecture of Scotland The architecture of Scotland includes all human building within the modern borders of Scotland, from the Neolithic era to the present day. The earliest surviving houses go back around 9500 years, and the first villages 6000 years: Skara Brae o ...
*** Architecture of Aberdeen *** Architecture of Glasgow **
Architecture of Ireland The architecture of Ireland is one of the most visible features in the Irish countryside – with remains from all eras since the Stone Age abounding. Ireland is famous for its ruined and intact Norman architecture, Norman and Anglo-Irish peopl ...
** Architecture of Wales *** Architecture of Cardiff * Architecture of Vatican City


Dependencies, autonomies, and other territories

* Architecture of Gibraltar * Architecture of Kosovo ** Architecture of Peć


Architecture of North America

* Architecture of Antigua and Barbuda * Architecture of the Bahamas * Architecture of Barbados * Architecture of Belize * Architecture of Canada ** Architecture of Montreal ** Architecture of Ottawa ** Architecture of Quebec City ** Architecture of St. John's ** Architecture of Toronto **
Architecture of Vancouver The architecture of Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver area consists of a variety of modern architectural styles, such as the 20th-century Edwardian architecture, Edwardian and the 21st-century modern architecture, modernist styles. Initially, ...
* Architecture of Costa Rica * Architecture of Cuba ** Architecture of Havana * Architecture of Dominica * Architecture of the Dominican Republic * Architecture of El Salvador * Architecture of Grenada * Architecture of Guatemala * Architecture of Haiti * Architecture of Honduras * Architecture of Jamaica *
Architecture of Mexico The architecture of Mexico reflects the influences of various cultures, regions, and periods that have shaped the country's history and identity. In the pre-Columbian era, distinct styles emerged that reflected the distinct cultures of the ind ...
* Architecture of Nicaragua * Architecture of Panama ** Architecture of Panama City * Architecture of Puerto Rico *
Architecture of Saint Kitts and Nevis Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
* Architecture of Saint Lucia * Architecture of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines *
Architecture of Trinidad and Tobago Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
*
Architecture of the United States The architecture of the United States demonstrates a broad variety of architectural styles and built forms over the country's history of over two centuries of independence and former Spanish, French, Dutch and British rule. Architecture in th ...
** Architecture of Albany, New York ** Buildings and architecture of Allentown, Pennsylvania ** Architecture of Atlanta ** Architecture of Buffalo, New York ** Architecture of Chicago **
Architecture of metropolitan Detroit The architecture of metropolitan Detroit continues to attract the attention of architects and preservationists alike. With one of the world's recognizable skylines, Detroit's waterfront panorama shows a variety of architectural styles. The Post- ...
** Architecture of Fredericksburg, Texas ** Architecture of Houston ** Architecture of Jacksonville ** Architecture of Kansas City ** Architecture of Las Vegas ** Architecture of Los Angeles ** Architecture of Miami **
Buildings and architecture of New Orleans A building or edifice is an enclosed structure with a roof, walls and windows, usually standing permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, and have been adapted through ...
** Architecture of New York City ** Architecture in Omaha, Nebraska ** Architecture of Philadelphia ** Architecture of Plymouth, Pennsylvania ** Architecture of Portland, Oregon ** Architecture of San Antonio ** Architecture of San Francisco ** Architecture of Seattle ** Architecture of St. Louis


Dependencies and other territories

* Architecture of Anguilla * Architecture of Aruba * Architecture of Bermuda * Architecture of the British Virgin Islands * Architecture of the Cayman Islands * Architecture of Greenland * Architecture of Guadeloupe * Architecture of Martinique * Architecture of Montserrat * Architecture of Navassa Island * Architecture of the Netherlands Antilles * Architecture of Saint Barthélemy * Architecture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon *
Architecture of the Turks and Caicos Islands Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
* Architecture of the United States Virgin Islands


Architecture of Oceania

Architecture of Oceania *
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
** Architecture of Australia *** Architecture of Bathurst, New South Wales *** Architecture of Melbourne *** Architecture of Sydney *
Melanesia Melanesia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It extends from New Guinea in the west to the Fiji Islands in the east, and includes the Arafura Sea. The region includes the four independent countries of Fiji, Vanu ...
** Architecture of Fiji *
Micronesia Micronesia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, consisting of approximately 2,000 small islands in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. It has a close shared cultural history with three other island regions: Maritime Southeast Asia to the west, Poly ...
*
Polynesia Polynesia ( , ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are called Polynesians. They have many things in ...
** Architecture of New Zealand ** Architecture of Samoa


Architecture of South America

Architecture of South America * Architecture of Argentina * Architecture of Bolivia * Architecture of Brazil * Architecture of Chile * Architecture of Colombia * Architecture of Panama * Architecture of Paraguay * Architecture of Peru *
Architecture of Trinidad and Tobago Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...


Territories

* Architecture of Aruba *
Architecture of the Falkland Islands The culture of the Falkland Islands is essentially analogous to that of British culture. The Falkland Islands have a large non-native-born population, mainly white and from England (and to a much lesser extent, other parts of the British Isles), ...


History of architecture

*
Neolithic architecture Neolithic architecture refers to structures encompassing housing and shelter from approximately 10,000 to 2,000 BC, the Neolithic period. In southwest Asia, Neolithic cultures appear soon after 10,000 BC, initially in the Levant ( Pre-Pottery N ...
– architecture of the last part of the Stone Age, and of the people of the Americas and the Pacific up until the time of European contact. *
Ancient Egyptian architecture Spanning over three thousand years, ancient Egypt was not one stable civilization but in constant change and upheaval, commonly History of ancient Egypt, split into periods by historians. Likewise, ancient Egyptian architecture is not one style, ...
– architecture of
ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt () was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology), when Upper and Lower E ...
, which developed a vast array of diverse structures and great architectural monuments along the
Nile The Nile (also known as the Nile River or River Nile) is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa. It has historically been considered the List of river sy ...
, among the largest and most famous of which are the
Great Pyramid of Giza The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. It served as the tomb of pharaoh Khufu, who ruled during the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Old Kingdom. Built , over a period of about 26 years ...
and the
Great Sphinx of Giza The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. Facing east, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. The original sh ...
. *
Achaemenid architecture Achaemenid architecture includes all architectural achievements of the Achaemenid Empire, Achaemenid Persians manifesting in construction of spectacular cities used for governance and inhabitation (Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana), temples made for wo ...
– the architectural achievements of the Achaemenid Persians manifesting in construction of complex cities (Perspepolis, Susa, Ecbatana), temples made for worship and social gatherings (such as Zoroastrian temples), and mausoleums erected in honor of fallen kings (such as the burial tomb of Cyrus the Great). *
Armenian architecture Armenian architecture comprises architectural works with an aesthetic or historical connection to the Armenians, Armenian people. It is difficult to situate this architectural style within precise geographical or chronological limits, but many o ...
– an architectural style developed over the last 4,500 years of human habitation in the Armenian Highland (the eastern part of Asia Minor) and used principally by the Armenian people. *
Coptic architecture Coptic architecture is the architecture of the Copt, Coptic Christians, who form the majority of Christianity in Egypt, Christians in Egypt. Coptic churches range from great cathedrals such as Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to the smalle ...
– the architecture of the Copts, who form the majority of Christians in Egypt. * Dravidian architecture – a style of architecture thousands of years ago in the Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India, built by the Dravidian peoples. *
Maya architecture The Mayan architecture of the Maya civilization spans across several thousands of years, several eras of political change, and architectural innovation before the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Often, the buildings most dramatic and easily ...
– the structures of the Maya civilization, which was established circa 2000 BC and continued until its conquest by the Spanish (in the 16th and 17th centuries). Some of its notable constructions include ceremonial platforms, palaces, E-Groups, pyramids, temples, observatories, and ballcourts. *
Sumerian architecture The architecture of Mesopotamia is ancient architecture of the region of the Tigris–Euphrates river system (also known as Mesopotamia), encompassing several distinct cultures and spanning a period from the 10th millennium BC (when the first pe ...
– the ancient architecture of the region of the Tigris–Euphrates river system (also known as
Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...
). *
Ancient Greek architecture Ancient Greek architecture came from the Greeks, or Hellenes, whose Ancient Greece, culture flourished on the Greek mainland, the Peloponnese, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies in Asia Minor, Anatolia and Italy for a period from about 900 BC ...
– the architecture of ancient Greece, where the classical orders were developed, establishing a precedent for the subsequent development of classical architecture. *
Ancient Roman architecture Ancient Roman architecture adopted the external language of classical ancient Greek architecture for the purposes of the ancient Romans, but was different from Greek buildings, becoming a new architectural style. The two styles are often consi ...
– adopted the principles of ancient Greek architecture and developed both new decorative forms, and much more complex building forms, notably adopting the use of arches and vaults. *
Buddhist architecture Buddhist religious architecture developed in the Indian subcontinent. Three types of structures are associated with the sacred architecture, religious architecture of History of Buddhism, early Buddhism: monasteries (viharas), places to venerate ...
– developed by the worshipers of Buddha in South Asia in the 3rd century BCE, and associated with three types of structures: monasteries (viharas), stupas, and temples (Chaitya ). *
Inca architecture Inca architecture is the most significant pre-Columbian architecture in South America. The Incas inherited an architectural legacy from Tiwanaku, founded in the 2nd century B.C.E. in present-day Bolivia. A core characteristic of the architectura ...
– the pre-Columbian architecture of the Incas in South America, known particularly for its exceptionally precise masonry. * Sassanid architecture – the Persian architectural style that reached a peak in its development during the Sassanid era. *
Mesoamerican architecture Mesoamerican architecture is the set of architectural traditions produced by pre-Columbian cultures and civilizations of Mesoamerica, traditions which are best known in the form of public, ceremonial and urban monumental buildings and structures. ...
– the set of architectural traditions produced by pre-Columbian cultures and civilizations of Mesoamerica, best known in the form of public, ceremonial and urban monumental buildings and structures. *
Byzantine architecture Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire, usually dated from 330 AD, when Constantine the Great established a new Roman capital in Byzantium, which became Constantinople, until the Fall of Cons ...
– the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. *
Islamic architecture Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both Secularity, secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Muslim world, Islamic world encompasse ...
– encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture. * Newa architecture – style of architecture used by the Newari people in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal, ranging from stupas and chaitya monastery buildings to courtyard structures and distinctive houses. *
Medieval architecture Medieval architecture was the architecture, art and science of designing and constructing buildings in the Middle Ages. The major styles of the period included pre-Romanesque, Romanesque architecture, Romanesque, and Gothic architecture, Gothic. In ...
– a term used to represent various forms of architecture common in medieval Europe. **
Romanesque architecture Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries. The style eventually developed into the Gothic style with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Ro ...
– an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. **
Gothic architecture Gothic architecture is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High Middle Ages, High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It evolved f ...
– a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. *
Iranian architecture Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (, ''Me'māri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC with characteristic examples distr ...
– or Persian architecture is the historic architecture of Iran (Persia). *
Hoysala architecture Hoysala architecture is the building style in Hindu temple architecture developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a States and territories of India, state of Indi ...
– building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a state of India. *
Vijayanagara Architecture Vijayanagara architecture of 1336–1565 CE was a notable building idiom that developed during the rule of the imperial Hindu Vijayanagara Empire. The empire ruled South India, from their regal capital at Vijayanagara, on the banks of the Tung ...
– primarily a temple style found in Vijayanagara principality in India. *
Ottoman architecture Ottoman architecture is an architectural style or tradition that developed under the Ottoman Empire over a long period, undergoing some significant changes during its history. It first emerged in northwestern Anatolia in the late 13th century an ...
– or Turkish architecture is the architecture of the Ottoman Empire which emerged in Bursa and Edirne in 14th and 15th centuries. *
Renaissance architecture Renaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 16th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of Ancient Greece, ancient Greek and ...
– the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. **
Classical architecture Classical architecture typically refers to architecture consciously derived from the principles of Ancient Greek architecture, Greek and Ancient Roman architecture, Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or more specifically, from ''De archit ...
– architecture derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance. **
Palladian architecture Palladian architecture is a European architectural style derived from the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). What is today recognised as Palladian architecture evolved from his concepts of symmetry, perspective and ...
– a European architectural style derived from and inspired by the designs of the Venetian architect
Andrea Palladio Andrea Palladio ( , ; ; 30 November 1508 – 19 August 1580) was an Italian Renaissance architect active in the Venetian Republic. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily Vitruvius, is widely considered to be on ...
(1508–1580). *
Baroque architecture Baroque architecture is a highly decorative and theatrical style which appeared in Italy in the late 16th century and gradually spread across Europe. It was originally introduced by the Catholic Church, particularly by the Jesuits, as a means to ...
– the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and the absolutist state. *
Neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival architecture, is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy, France and Germany. It became one of t ...
– an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement which began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing features of Late Baroque. *
Victorian architecture Victorian architecture is a series of Revivalism (architecture), architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. ''Victorian'' refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the st ...
– includes several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. *
Renaissance Revival architecture Renaissance Revival architecture (sometimes referred to as "Neo-Renaissance") is a group of 19th-century Revivalism (architecture), architectural revival styles which were neither Greek Revival architecture, Greek Revival nor Gothic Revival ar ...
– nineteenth century revival style inspired by buildings of the Renaissance. *
Gothic Revival architecture Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...
– also called "Victorian Gothic" and "Neo-Gothic", an architectural movement that began in the late 1840s in England. Its popularity grew rapidly in the early 19th century, when increasingly serious and learned admirers of neo-Gothic styles sought to revive medieval forms, in contrast to the neoclassical styles prevalent at the time. *
Modern architecture Modern architecture, also called modernist architecture, or the modern movement, is an architectural movement and style that was prominent in the 20th century, between the earlier Art Deco and later postmodern movements. Modern architectur ...
– generally characterized by simplification of form and absence of ornament. Although now historical, the ubiquitous
international style The International Style is a major architectural style and movement that began in western Europe in the 1920s and dominated modern architecture until the 1970s. It is defined by strict adherence to Functionalism (architecture), functional and Fo ...
which predominates in cities worldwide remains a strong influence in contemporary architecture. *
Postmodern architecture Postmodern architecture is a style or movement which emerged in the 1960s as a reaction against the austerity, formality, and lack of variety of modern architecture, particularly in the International Style (architecture), international style adv ...
– began as an international style the first examples of which are generally cited as being from the 1950s, but did not become a movement until the late 1970s and continues to influence present-day architecture. *
New Classical architecture New Classical architecture, also known as New Classicism or Contemporary Classical architecture, is a Contemporary architecture, contemporary movement that builds upon the principles of Classical architecture. It is sometimes considered the mode ...
– a movement for reapproaching traditional architecture language, that established since the 1980s. *
Contemporary architecture Contemporary architecture is the architecture of the 21st century. No single style is dominant. Contemporary architects work in several different styles, from postmodernism, high-tech architecture and new references and interpretations of tradit ...
– the architecture of the 21st century.


Buildings

Although not all buildings are architecture, the term encompasses a huge range of building types, as summarised in the following list pages: *
List of building types This is a list of building types. It is sorted by broad category: residential buildings, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and infrastructural buildings. Residential Single-family detached Examples of single-family detached ...
*
List of buildings and structures This is a list of list of buildings and nonbuilding structures. By type * List of abbeys and priories * List of contemporary amphitheatres, List of amphitheatres (contemporary) * List of Roman amphitheatres, List of amphitheatres (Roman) ...
*
List of human habitation forms This is a list of house types. Houses can be built in a large variety of configurations. A basic division is between free-standing or single-family detached homes and various types of attached or multi-family residential dwellings. Both may var ...


Building construction

*
Building design Building design, also called architectural design, refers to the broadly based architectural, engineering and technical applications to the design of buildings. All building projects require the services of a building designer, typically a licen ...


Materials

*
Materiality (architecture) Materiality in architecture is a concept or the applied use of various materials or substances in the medium of building. This concept was previously regarded as a secondary consideration in architecture but recently emerged as an important elemen ...
*
Building material Building material is material used for construction. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rocks, sand, wood, and even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings and other structures, like bridges. Apart from natur ...
* List of building materials


Structural elements

*
Arch An arch is a curved vertical structure spanning an open space underneath it. Arches may support the load above them, or they may perform a purely decorative role. As a decorative element, the arch dates back to the 4th millennium BC, but stru ...
– a curved structure, often made up blocks or bricks, spanning across an opening and supporting the weight of structure above. Works by transferring vertical loads into compression forces. There are many arch shapes including semicircular, segmental, parabolic, pointed (gothic), three-point and flat arches. *
Beam (structure) A beam is a structural element that primarily resists loads applied laterally across the beam's axis (an element designed to carry a load pushing parallel to its axis would be a strut or column). Its mode of deflection is primarily by bending ...
– a straight structural member, typically wood or steel, capable of spanning from one support to another and supporting the weight of structure above. Works by resisting
bending In applied mechanics, bending (also known as flexure) characterizes the behavior of a slender structural element subjected to an external Structural load, load applied perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the element. The structural eleme ...
forces. *
Buttress A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient (typically Gothic) buildings, as a means of providing support to act ...
– a short section of masonry built at right angles to a wall, to resist lateral forces. *
Cantilever A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is unsupported at one end. Typically it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached. Like other structural elements, a cantilev ...
– a projecting structure without visible means of support at the projecting end. *
Column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member ...
or pillar – a relatively slender structural element, typically circular, square or polygonal in plan, that bears the weight of the structure above. *
Dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
– a roof structure, typically
hemispherical A sphere (from Ancient Greek, Greek , ) is a surface (mathematics), surface analogous to the circle, a curve. In solid geometry, a sphere is the Locus (mathematics), set of points that are all at the same distance from a given point in three ...
, constructed in a similar way to an arch. The plan shape may be circular, elliptical or polygonal, and the cross section shape can vary in the same ways as an arch. *
Door A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide securit ...
way – opening in a wall, typically rectangular, providing means of access, usually with a gate or door to provide security and weather protection. * Facade – an exterior face of a building, especially the front. *
Floor A floor is the bottom surface of a room or vehicle. Floors vary from wikt:hovel, simple dirt in a cave to many layered surfaces made with modern technology. Floors may be stone, wood, bamboo, metal or any other material that can support the ex ...
– typically a horizontal surface that is walked upon, to support the expected loads of the building. * Foundation or footing – solid base usually below ground, upon which buildings and other structures are built. Works by spreading vertical loads over a sufficient area to ensure the structure will not subside. *
Lintel A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented/structural item. In the case ...
– a structural member spanning across the top of an opening. Unlike a beam, a lintel spans a relatively short distance which can be spanned by single block of stone of sufficient depth. Concrete, timber and steel lintels are also used in different types of construction. *
Pier (architecture) A pier, in architecture, is an upright support for a structure or superstructure such as an arch or bridge. Sections of structural walls between openings (bays) can function as piers. External or free-standing walls may have piers at the ends or ...
– loadbearing structure similar to a column, but more massive. *
Truss A truss is an assembly of ''members'' such as Beam (structure), beams, connected by ''nodes'', that creates a rigid structure. In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so ...
– a structure spanning in the same way as a beam, but using materials more efficiently by using
triangulation In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by forming triangles to the point from known points. Applications In surveying Specifically in surveying, triangulation involves only angle m ...
to create a rigid structure. Typically timber or steel, used to support a pitched roof. *
Vault (architecture) In architecture, a vault (French ''voûte'', from Italian ''volta'') is a self-supporting arched form, usually of stone or brick, serving to cover a space with a ceiling or roof. As in building an arch, a temporary support is needed while ring ...
– a curved masonry structure spanning in the same way as an arch, forming either a roof or support for a floor above. *
Wall A wall is a structure and a surface that defines an area; carries a load; provides security, shelter, or soundproofing; or serves a decorative purpose. There are various types of walls, including border barriers between countries, brick wal ...
– a linear structure enclosing the exterior of an area or building, or subdividing an internal space. A wall may be loadbearing or non-loadbearing. *
Window A window is an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent ma ...
– an opening in a wall, typically rectangular, providing light and ventilation. Usually but not always glazed.


Architectural education

Professional requirements for architects Professional requirements for architects vary from place to place, but usually consist of three elements: a university degree or advanced education, a period of internship or training in an office, and examination for registration with a jurisdict ...
– Students undertake specific
vocational training Vocational education is education that prepares people for a Skilled worker, skilled craft. Vocational education can also be seen as that type of education given to an individual to prepare that individual to be gainfully employed or self em ...
in order to qualify as a professional architects. Training typically consists of one or more university degrees and a period of practical experience. In some countries, it is illegal to use the title ''architect'' without accredited qualifications. In the United Kingdom the Architects Registration Board exists solely to regulate membership of the profession. In the United States the
National Architectural Accrediting Board The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), established in 1940, is the oldest accrediting agency for architectural education in the United States. The NAAB accredits professional degrees in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. ...
regulates professional educational programs and the
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...
is an umbrella organization to recommend model laws, regulations, exams, and to facilitate reciprocity in licensure between different jurisdictions. Architectural education can involve degree types that do not directly result in licensing, such as Bachelor of Science in architecture, Bachelor of Arts in architecture, or a research PhD in architecture. Some of the qualifications specific to architectural licensing include: * Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) – undergraduate academic degree designed to satisfy the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to professional examination and registration. *
Master of Architecture The Master of Architecture (M.Arch. or MArch) is a graduate professional degree in architecture qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation (internship, exams) that result in receiving a license. Ove ...
(M.Arch.) – professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation (internship, exams) that result in receiving a license. *
Doctor of Architecture Doctor of Architecture (D Arch) is a title accorded to students who have completed a degree program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The only university currently offering a Doctor of Architecture degree in the USA is t ...
(D.Arch) – doctoral degree in the field of architecture, that can be completed after either a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree or, in some cases, another degree.


Architectural practice

*
Architectural drawing An architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building (or building project) that falls within the definition of architecture. Architectural drawings are used by architects and others for a number of purposes: to deve ...
or architect's drawing - a technical drawing of a building or building project. *
Architectural design competition An architectural competition is a type of design competition, in which an entity that intends to build new work, or is just seeking ideas, invites architects to submit design proposals. The winning scheme is usually chosen by an independent panel ...
- a specialist competition inviting architects to submit design proposals for a project. * Architectural technology or building technology - is the application of technology to the design of buildings. It is a component of architecture and building engineering and is sometimes viewed as a distinct discipline or sub-category. *
Blueprint A blueprint is a reproduction of a technical drawing or engineering drawing using a contact print process on light-sensitive sheets introduced by Sir John Herschel in 1842. The process allowed rapid and accurate production of an unlimited number ...
- an obsolete paper-based method of reproducing technical drawings producing a distinctive appearance, white lines on a blue background. The word is still in use as a by-word for a design solution ("a blueprint for future developments"). *
Brief (architecture) In architecture, a brief is a statement of a client's requirements, which form the basis for appointing an architect. The brief describes the requirements that need to be reconciled and accommodated, and is developed first as a design which is subm ...
- a written statement of a client's requirements for a building project. *
Building code A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards for construction objects such as buildings and non-building structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permis ...
or building control - a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety and environmental performance in building construction. * Computer-aided architectural design (CAAD) - software based production of technical drawings and 3-d models *
Construction law Construction law is a branch of law that deals with matters relating to building construction, engineering, and related fields. It is in essence an amalgam of contract law, commercial law, planning law, employment law and tort. Construction law co ...
- a branch of law that deals with matters relating to building construction. *
Cost accounting Cost accounting is defined by the Institute of Management Accountants as "a systematic set of procedures for recording and reporting measurements of the cost of manufacturing goods and performing services in the aggregate and in detail. It includ ...
or cost management - a vital activity in connection with building, generally performed by a specialist
quantity surveyor In the construction industry, a quantity surveyor (QS) is a professional with expert knowledge of construction costs and contracting. Qualified professional quantity surveyors can be known as Chartered Surveyors (Members and Fellows of RICS) i ...
. Construction projects are notoriously subject to
cost overrun A cost overrun, also known as a cost increase or budget overrun, involves unexpected incurred costs. When these costs are in excess of budgeted amounts due to a value engineering underestimation of the actual cost during budgeting, they are known ...
s, caused by changing circumstances or by failure to fully allow for foreseeable costs during budgeting. *
Project management Project management is the process of supervising the work of a Project team, team to achieve all project goals within the given constraints. This information is usually described in project initiation documentation, project documentation, crea ...
- the process of managing all the activities involved in a construction project, including adherence to the design and local legislation, costs and payment, and verification of project completion.


Architecture prizes

Architecture prize – Architecture prizes are generally awarded for completed projects and are chosen from publicised or nominated works, not from submissions by the originating architect. The RIBA Royal Gold Medal has in fact been refused on a number of occasions. *
Aga Khan Award for Architecture The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is an architectural prize established by Aga Khan IV in 1977. It aims to identify and reward architectural concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Muslim societies in the fie ...
(AKAA) – an architectural prize established by Aga Khan IV in 1977, awarded for achievements in design and planning in Islamic societies. *
AIA Gold Medal The AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects conferred "by the national AIA Board of Directors in recognition of a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture." It is the Ins ...
– awarded by the American Institute of Architects for a significant body of work 'of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture', first awarded 1907. * European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, also known as the Mies van der Rohe Award – awarded jointly by the European Union and the Fundacia Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, 'to acknowledge and reward quality architectural production in Europe'. *
Pritzker Architecture Prize The Pritzker Architecture Prize is an international award presented annually "to honor a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment which has produced consisten ...
– awarded annually to "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture". Founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy, the award is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture. * RIBA Royal Gold Medal – awarded annually since 1848 by the
Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...
for an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture. It is given for a distinguished body of work rather than for one building. * Carbuncle Cup – unlike the mainstream awards which reward perceived merit, this is awarded annually by the UK magazine
Building Design Building design, also called architectural design, refers to the broadly based architectural, engineering and technical applications to the design of buildings. All building projects require the services of a building designer, typically a licen ...
to 'the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months'. more...


Related fields

*
Architectural conservation Conservation and restoration of immovable cultural property describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of any immovable cultural property are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The indivi ...
– repair and restoration of buildings, especially historic structures. * Architectural technology – the application of technology to the design of buildings. *
Construction Construction are processes involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with planning, financing, and design that continues until the a ...
– the process of creating physical structures. *
Building construction Construction are processes involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with planning, financing, and design that continues until the a ...
– construction specific to buildings. *
Civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...
– the design, construction and maintenance of the physical environment e.g. bridges, canals, dams, drainage systems and roads etc. *
Building services engineering Building services engineering (BSE), service engineering or facilities and services planning engineering is a Regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that strives to achieve a safe and comfortable Indoor air qu ...
– the design of heating, ventilation and cooling and other mechanical systems, electrical power and lighting. *
Structural engineering Structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering in which structural engineers are trained to design the 'bones and joints' that create the form and shape of human-made Structure#Load-bearing, structures. Structural engineers also ...
– the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. *
Sustainable design Environmentally sustainable design (also called environmentally conscious design, eco-design, etc.) is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of ecological sustainability ...
– provides expertise in improving the environmental performance of buildings. *
Interior design Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. With a keen eye for detail and a Creativity, creative flair, an ...
– the design of interior finishes and fittings. *
Urban design Urban design is an approach to the design of buildings and the spaces between them that focuses on specific design processes and outcomes based on geographical location. In addition to designing and shaping the physical features of towns, city, ...
and
urban planning Urban planning (also called city planning in some contexts) is the process of developing and designing land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportatio ...
(urban, city, and town planning) – a technical and legal process concerned with controlling the design of structures and the use of land. *
Virtual reality Virtual reality (VR) is a Simulation, simulated experience that employs 3D near-eye displays and pose tracking to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video gam ...
– technology used to simulate a virtual world


See also

*
Architectural glossary This page is a glossary of architecture. A B C The Caryatid Porch of the Athen ...
* Index of architecture articles *
Table of years in architecture The table of years in architecture is a tabular display of all years in architecture, for overview and quick navigation to any year. __NOTOC__ ::Contents: #2000s in architecture, 2000s - #1900s in architecture, 1900s - #1800s in architecture, 1800 ...
* Timeline of architecture


References


External links


Architecture.com
published by
Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

Worldarchitecture.org
World Architecture Database
Archdaily.com
Recompilation of thousands of recent projects

list of links from the UIA
arch-library
{{DEFAULTSORT:Architecture Building materials
Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...
Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...
Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...
Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...