Architecture

Cliveden: Historic country house and estate on the River Thames Cliveden Cliveden is a historic country house and 375-acre estate on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire, England, noted for its gardens, Charles Barry architecture, notable residents and i…

Clock Cabinet at the Palace of Versailles Clock Cabinet A private cabinet in Versailles housing the Passemant astronomical clock — an 18th-century fusion of horology, astronomy and courtly decoration that reflected Louis XV's scientific…

Cloister: definition, form, history and uses Cloister A cloister is a covered, often arcaded walkway enclosing a central open space, found in monasteries, churches and colleges. Its design, history and functions shaped religious and e…

CNA Center (333 South Wabash) — Chicago office high‑rise CNA Center CNA Center is a 622 ft, 44‑story red office tower at 333 South Wabash in Chicago's Loop, noted for its distinctive color and illuminated facade used for corporate and civic message…

Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) Colosseum Ancient Roman amphitheatre in Rome, built in the 1st century AD; an architectural, cultural and historical landmark used for games, spectacles and public events, now a major touris…

Columbia Center (Seattle) Columbia Center Tallest skyscraper in Seattle and Washington state, a 76‑story office tower completed in the 1980s with a stepped profile, upper‑floor observation space, and a prominent role in th…

Architectural Column: Form, Function, and History Column A column is a vertical structural element that transfers loads, provides form and ornament, and has evolved from ancient stone shafts to modern steel and concrete members.

Comcast Center (Philadelphia skyscraper) Comcast Center Comcast Center is a major office skyscraper in Center City Philadelphia, rising about 297 m with a multi-story glass lobby and serving as Comcast’s principal headquarters since the…

Comcast Technology Center A 91‑floor mixed‑use skyscraper in Center City Philadelphia, the Comcast Technology Center is 1,121 ft tall and serves as Comcast's major office and broadcast hub, with hotel and p…

Comerica Park Comerica Park is an open-air baseball stadium in downtown Detroit, home to the Detroit Tigers since 2000. It is noted for its urban setting, fan amenities, and role in the revitali…

Commerzbank Tower (Frankfurt) Commerzbank Tower Commerzbank Tower is a 259 m office skyscraper in Frankfurt, completed in 1997. Designed by Norman Foster, it features a triangular plan, stacked sky gardens and early sustainable…

Concert hall: function, design, history, and notable examples Concert hall An introduction to concert halls: what they are, their acoustic and architectural features, history of purpose-built halls, common uses, and famous examples worldwide.

Condé Nast Building (4 Times Square) Condé Nast Building A 48‑story office tower in Times Square, New York City, completed in 1999 and notable for its media tenants, distinctive glass facade and early emphasis on energy‑efficient design.

Condominium (condo) — ownership, governance and structure Condominium A condominium is a form of property ownership where individuals own private units and share undivided interests in common areas; associations manage maintenance, rules, and collect…

Containment building (nuclear reactor safety structure) Containment building A containment building is a reinforced structure surrounding a nuclear reactor that confines radioactive material, controls pressure and releases, and supports other engineered saf…

Contemporary architecture: overview, characteristics, and development Contemporary architecture An encyclopedic overview of contemporary architecture: its defining traits, historical development since the late 20th century, typical uses, and how it differs from modern and his…

Corbel: definition, history, forms, and architectural uses Corbel A corbel is a projecting support built of stone, wood, or metal that carries weight from a wall; this article explains its forms, history from Neolithic to modern use, and distinct…

Corinthian order: the ornate classical column style Corinthian order The Corinthian order is the most decorative of the three principal classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture, noted for slender fluted columns and capitals ornamented with a…

Cottage: traditional small house and its modern forms Cottage A cottage is a small dwelling, often rural and traditionally modest. This article explains its characteristics, historical origins, regional variations, current uses, and how it di…

Courthouse: Function, Design, and Role in the Justice System Courthouse A courthouse is a public building where courts convene. This article explains its functions, typical layout, historical development, typical uses, and differences among courthouse…

Courtyard (architectural space) Courtyard An open-air, often enclosed space within or adjacent to a building. Courtyards provide light, ventilation, privacy and social space in many cultures and are adapted in historic and…

Coventry Cathedral (St Michael's): history, architecture and legacy Coventry Cathedral St Michael's Cathedral in Coventry is the Anglican seat known for its ruined medieval predecessor, a modern 20th‑century replacement, and a global reconciliation ministry symbolize…

Craftsman architecture An early 20th-century American form of the Arts and Crafts movement emphasizing handwork, natural materials, simple forms, low roofs, porches, built-ins, and harmony with the lands…

Crain Communications Building A distinctive 41-story office tower in Chicago noted for its slanted, diamond-shaped crown, vertical façade slit, name changes, and prominent place in the city skyline and popular…

Crow Island School: Modernist, Child-Centered Elementary School in Winnetka Crow Island School Crow Island School (Winnetka, Illinois) is a landmark 1940 elementary school known for its child-centered modern design, educational innovations, award recognition, and influence o…

Crypt (burial chamber beneath a church or building) Crypt A crypt is an underground chamber used for burials, relics, or chapels beneath churches and other buildings; historically important for funerary practice, architecture, and preserv…

Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) — Retiro Park, Madrid Crystal Palace (Madrid) A 19th‑century iron-and-glass pavilion in Madrid's Retiro Park, erected in 1887 to display plants from the Philippines; now a venue for art exhibitions and a noted example of histo…

Cubicle: workspace stall and private changing enclosure Cubicle A cubicle is a small enclosed space used for work or private activities. Common forms include office workstations and changing stalls at pools or gyms, each with distinct design an…

Cupboard (cabinet): design, history, parts and common uses Cupboard A cupboard, or cabinet, is a storage furniture unit with shelves and doors used in homes and other spaces; this article covers its construction, history, typical locations, and com…

Damascus Gate (Bab al‑Amud) — principal north gate of Jerusalem's Old City Damascus Gate Damascus Gate (Bab al‑Amud) is the main northern entrance to Jerusalem's Old City. Built by the Ottomans in 1538 over a Roman gateway, it marks a long sequence of urban, religious…

Daniel Burnham: American Architect and City Planner Who Shaped the Modern City Daniel Burnham Daniel H. Burnham (1846–1912) was an American architect and urban designer known for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the 1909 Plan of Chicago and his influence on the City B…

Deerfield Residence (Chief Secretary's Lodge) in Phoenix Park, Dublin Deerfield Residence Official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, the Deerfield Residence (formerly the Chief Secretary's Lodge) is an 18th-century Georgian house set in extensive grounds with…

Defensive wall: purpose, types, history and significance Defensive wall A defensive wall is a built barrier that protects people, property, or territory. This article explains forms, construction, historical development, notable examples, and their mil…

Demolition: Methods, Equipment, Safety, and Environmental Considerations Demolition Comprehensive overview of demolition: techniques, equipment, safety and regulation, waste management and how it differs from deconstruction.

Dessau: German city of Bauhaus, industrial heritage and Garden Realm Dessau Dessau is a city in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, known for the Bauhaus school, nearby Wörlitz landscape parks, its industrial history and the 2007 merger that created Dessau-Roßlau.

Deutsche Bank Twin Towers (Frankfurt): Twin 155 m Corporate Headquarters Deutsche Bank Twin Towers Deutsche Bank Twin Towers in Frankfurt: two identical 155 m office skyscrapers in Westend‑Süd serving as the bank’s corporate headquarters and a prominent landmark of Germany’s fin…

Dharahara (Bhimsen Tower) — landmark tower of Kathmandu Dharahara Dharahara, also known as Bhimsen Tower, was a historic nine‑storey tower in central Kathmandu built in 1832. It served as a prominent viewpoint and cultural symbol until its collap…

Dining room: purpose, design, history, and social role Dining room A room for consuming meals in homes and public buildings; covers layout, typical furniture, historical development, social functions, and design variations.

Ditherington Flax Mill (Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings) Ditherington Flax Mill Late-18th-century industrial building in Shrewsbury, considered the world's first iron-framed structure and influential in the development of modern framed architecture; Grade I li…

Dock: structure, types, uses and distinctions Dock A dock is a platform near or over water used for mooring, loading, or recreation. This article explains common designs, components, history, uses, and how docks differ from piers,…

Dollhouse: Miniature Homes, History, and Collecting Dollhouse An overview of dollhouses: definition, common scales and materials, historical development, uses in play and collecting, notable examples, and regional naming distinctions.

Dome (architecture): form, types, history and uses Dome An architectural dome is a rounded roof or building form with varied types—from hemispherical and onion domes to geodesic shells—used across cultures for structural, acoustic and s…

Dome of the Rock A late 7th-century Islamic shrine in Jerusalem built over the Foundation Stone, revered in Judaism, Christianity and Islam for its religious, historical and architectural significa…

Doric order (ancient Greek architectural order) Doric order The Doric order is the earliest and sturdiest of the classical Greek architectural orders, known for fluted, base-less columns, simple capitals, and an entablature with triglyphs a…

Dormitory (residence hall): definition, types, history, and uses Dormitory Comprehensive overview of dormitories (dorms): their design, common features, varieties, historical development, typical uses, benefits and challenges in student, worker, and insti…

Dry stone wall A dry stone wall is a mortar-free masonry structure built by carefully fitting stones. This article explains its construction, history, types, uses, and conservation, with regional…

Dungeon: history, types, and cultural significance Dungeon A dungeon is a secure room or cell historically used to detain people in castles and fortifications. This article explains its forms, features, origins, uses, and the distinct oubl…

Duplex — a two‑unit residential building Duplex A duplex is a dwelling that contains two separate housing units. It can be arranged side‑by‑side or stacked, and is used for owner‑occupancy, rentals, or small multi‑family living…