Rose window A circular, often stained-glass architectural window common in medieval churches, notable for radial tracery and symbolic imagery; developed from Romanesque oculi into the elaborat…
Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton (Melbourne) Royal Exhibition Building Late 19th-century exhibition hall in Carlton, Melbourne. Built for international exhibitions, it hosted the opening of Australia's federal parliament and is a UNESCO World Heritage…
Royal Palace of Turin (Palazzo Reale) Royal Palace of Turin Historic seat of the House of Savoy in Turin, Italy. A multi-period palace with state apartments, collections, gardens and UNESCO recognition as a Savoy residence.
Royal Palace, Oslo (Slottet) Royal Palace, Oslo Official residence of Norway's monarch in central Oslo. A 19th-century Neoclassical palace with 173 rooms, built for King Charles III John and used for state ceremonies and seasona…
Rubble (broken stone and quarry waste) Rubble Rubble: irregular broken stone found in quarries, soil, and construction. Covers types, characteristics, history, uses in masonry, fill, drainage and distinctions from dressed or c…
Rungrado May Day Stadium: Pyongyang's multi-purpose arena and site of the Mass Games Rungrado May Day Stadium Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, completed 1989, is a large multi-purpose stadium noted for mass gymnastics (Arirang), political celebrations and an often-cited capacity of a…
Sacred architecture: design and meaning of religious buildings Sacred architecture Sacred architecture studies the form, function and symbolism of buildings for worship—churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and stupas—tracing their history, elements and role in…
Sagrada Família: Gaudí's Unfinished Basilica in Barcelona Sagrada Família Large Roman Catholic basilica in Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudí, celebrated for its inventive modernist architecture, symbolic façades and long, ongoing construction; UNESCO-li…
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral Church of Ireland cathedral in Cork, rebuilt in the 19th century in a richly decorated Gothic Revival style by William Burges; noted for sculpture, stained glass, mosaics and civic…
Salesforce Tower — San Francisco's tallest skyscraper Salesforce Tower A comprehensive overview of Salesforce Tower in San Francisco: design, history, uses, and its role in the city skyline since completion in 2018.
Salesforce Tower (Indianapolis) — Indiana's tallest office skyscraper Salesforce Tower (Indianapolis) Salesforce Tower in Indianapolis is a 247 m (811 ft), 49‑story commercial skyscraper completed in 1990. Formerly Bank One Tower and Chase Tower, it is the tallest building in India…
Salisbury Cathedral: Early English Gothic masterpiece in Wiltshire Salisbury Cathedral Salisbury Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Mary) is a leading Early English Gothic cathedral in Salisbury, England, famed for its 123 m spire, 13th-century construction, Magna Carta c…
Salt Lake Tabernacle Historic assembly hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, built by the LDS Church in the 1860s, known for its distinctive dome, exceptional acoustics, and role as home to the Tabe…
SANAA — Sejima and Nishizawa Architects SANAA SANAA is a Tokyo-based architecture partnership led by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, noted for minimalist, light-filled public buildings and winner of the 2010 Pritzker Prize.
Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge Sanjō Ōhashi is a historic bridge in central Kyoto spanning the Kamo River on Sanjō-dōri. It marks cultural routes, appears in ukiyo-e art, and remains an important local crossing…
Scaffold: temporary work platforms and access structures Scaffold A scaffold is a temporary elevated structure that provides access and support for construction, maintenance, events, and other tasks. Materials, types, safety and historical uses v…
Scagliola: Techniques, History and Uses of Imitation Marble Scagliola Scagliola is a decorative plaster technique that imitates marble and other stones. This article explains its materials, methods, history, applications and conservation issues.
Scale model: overview, construction, history and uses Scale model A scale model is a proportional physical representation of an object, made larger or smaller than the original, used in design, testing, display, education and collecting across ma…
Scandinavium: Gothenburg's multi‑purpose indoor arena Scandinavium Scandinavium is a major indoor arena in Gothenburg, Sweden, opened in 1971. It hosts sports, concerts, exhibitions and is best known as the home of Frölunda HC ice hockey.
Schloss Esterházy (Esterhazy Palace) in Eisenstadt Schloss Esterhazy Historic Esterházy family palace in Eisenstadt, Austria — a Baroque landmark notable for architecture, long association with composer Joseph Haydn, and present-day museum and conce…
Schloss Lenzburg — Lenzburg Castle Schloss Lenzburg Hilltop medieval castle above the old town of Lenzburg in Canton Aargau, Switzerland. One of the country's oldest castles, now a museum and cultural venue with historic architectur…
Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel Schottenstein campus National campus in Jerusalem housing the Israel Antiquities Authority, research and conservation facilities and a World Center for the Dead Sea Scrolls; designed by Moshe Safdie.
Seating capacity: limits, measurement, and examples Seating capacity Seating capacity is the maximum number of people who can be seated in a given space, set by physical layout, safety codes, and design. This article explains how capacity is determi…
Seismic retrofit: strengthening existing structures against earthquakes Seismic retrofit Seismic retrofit modifies existing structures to reduce earthquake damage and related wind hazards. It covers assessment, common techniques, regulatory issues, costs, examples, and…
Seljuk architecture: forms, development and regional variations Seljuk architecture Architecture produced under the Seljuks (11th–13th centuries), noted for monumental entrances, madrasas, caravanserais, and a fusion of Persian, Byzantine and Anatolian building tr…
Semi-dome (architecture) Semi-dome A semi-dome, or half-dome, is an architectural element formed by halving a dome to cover a semicircular space such as an apse or niche; used since Roman times and prominent in Byza…
The Senedd (Senedd Cymru): the building and seat of the Welsh Parliament Senedd The Senedd is the purpose-built debating chamber and public building in Cardiff Bay that houses Senedd Cymru (the Welsh Parliament); noted for its open design, sustainable features…
Seville Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See) Seville Cathedral A major Gothic cathedral in Seville, Spain — one of the largest churches in the world, renowned for its Giralda tower, grand altarpiece, historic site and UNESCO World Heritage sta…
Shadows-on-the-Teche: Antebellum Plantation House in New Iberia, Louisiana Shadows-on-the-Teche Shadows-on-the-Teche is an 1833–34 Greek Revival brick mansion on Bayou Teche near New Iberia, notable for its architecture, plantation history, gardens and preservation by the Nat…
Shanghai Tower A 632 m, 128-storey megatall skyscraper in Pudong, Shanghai; a mixed-use landmark noted for its twisting form, double-skin façade, and role as China's tallest building.
Shanghai World Financial Center A 492-metre mixed-use skyscraper in Shanghai's Pudong district, notable for its trapezoid aperture, observation decks, offices, hotel, and role in the city's skyline development.
Shed: definition, types, materials, uses and maintenance Shed A shed is a simple single-storey outbuilding used for storage, hobbies or workshops. This article explains common types, materials, history, typical uses and practical maintenance…
Shun Hing Square (Diwang Building) Shun Hing Square Shun Hing Square, or Diwang Building, is a landmark mixed-use skyscraper in Shenzhen, China. Completed in 1996, it rises about 384 m with 69 floors and remains an important part of…
Sidewalk A sidewalk is a paved pedestrian way beside a road, called pavement or footpath in other English varieties. This article explains its design, history, uses, accessibility, and comm…
Signal Iduna Park (Westfalenstadion) — Dortmund's football stadium Signal Iduna Park Signal Iduna Park, formerly Westfalenstadion, is Borussia Dortmund's home ground in Dortmund, Germany. Renowned for its capacity, atmosphere and the 'Yellow Wall' standing terrace.
Silo (agricultural storage for silage) Silo A silo is a structure for storing silage — wet, fermented forage — to preserve feed for livestock. Articles covers types, construction, fermentation, uses, hazards and distinctions…
Singer Building (New York City skyscraper) Singer Building Early 20th-century New York skyscraper (completed 1908, demolished 1968) that was briefly the world's tallest and later razed to make way for One Liberty Plaza; notable in skyscrap…
Six World Trade Center Six World Trade Center was the eight‑story U.S. Customs House in the original World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, opened in 1973 and destroyed after severe damage on Sep…
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): history, work, and influence Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a leading American architecture, urban planning, and engineering firm, noted for major skyscrapers, advances in structural design, and global pr…
Skybridge, Chicago — West Loop luxury condominium Skybridge, Chicago Skybridge is a high-rise luxury condominium in Chicago’s West Loop, completed in the early 2000s and noted for its elevated linking element and a 2003 Emporis Skyscraper Award.
Skyscraper: Definition, Design, History, and Urban Role Skyscraper Comprehensive overview of skyscrapers: what defines them, structural and architectural features, historical development, uses in cities, and distinctions like supertall and megatal…
Slighting: deliberate damage to fortifications and important buildings Slighting Slighting is the intentional damaging or partial demolition of a building—especially castles—to render it militarily useless. Used historically as warfare tactic, punishment, or pr…
Smedestraat 33 (Haarlem): a historic late 17th‑century entrance Smedestraat 33 An encyclopedic overview of the distinctive doorway at Smedestraat 33 in Haarlem, Netherlands: its architectural features, historical context from the late 17th century, past use a…
Soldier Field — Chicago's landmark stadium and event venue Soldier Field Soldier Field is a historic stadium in Chicago, home of the NFL's Chicago Bears and a longtime site for concerts, soccer, public gatherings and major sporting events.
Southwark Bridge A road and footbridge across the River Thames in central London linking Southwark with the City of London; known for its steel arches, nearby cultural landmarks, and Victorian orig…
Spandrel: architectural space, ornament, and broader meanings Spandrel A spandrel is the triangular or curving area beside or between arches or between stacked windows; used structurally and decoratively and also as a metaphor in other fields.
Spire (architectural element) Spire A spire is a tapering structure mounted atop a building or tower, commonly associated with churches; it combines aesthetic, symbolic and structural roles and appears in many histor…
St. Patrick's Cathedral — Manhattan's Neo‑Gothic landmark St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York) Prominent Roman Catholic cathedral on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, known for its Neo‑Gothic design, twin spires, liturgical role, and cultural significance as a New York City…
