Architecture

Durham Cathedral Norman-era cathedral in Durham, England, founded AD 1093. Renowned for its Romanesque architecture, shrine of St Cuthbert, medieval relics, crypt and cloisters, UNESCO World Herita…

Dwight Yorke Stadium (Bacolet, Tobago) Dwight Yorke Stadium A multi-use sports stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, named for Dwight Yorke. Seating about 7,500, it was built for the 2001 FIFA U-17 tournament and hosts football, athletics and regiona…

Dzong — Himalayan fortress‑monastery Dzong A dzong is a fortified Buddhist monastic complex found mainly in Bhutan and Tibetan cultural regions, combining religious, administrative and defensive roles with distinctive massi…

Earthship: self‑sufficient, sustainable housing built from recycled and natural materials Earthship Earthships are off‑grid homes that combine recycled materials, passive solar design, rainwater harvesting and on‑site wastewater reuse to minimize reliance on public utilities.

Edo Castle (Edo-jō): history, structure, and legacy Edo Castle Edo Castle, founded by Ōta Dōkan in the 15th century and expanded by Tokugawa Ieyasu, was the political center of feudal Japan; its moats, walls and gates remain at the heart of th…

Edward Durell Stone: Mid‑Century American Architect Edward Durell Stone American architect (1902–1978) recognized for large mid‑century public and institutional buildings, a decorative modernist vocabulary, and influential — sometimes controversial — c…

Eero Saarinen: Finnish‑American Architect and Designer Eero Saarinen Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) was a Finnish‑American architect and industrial designer known for expressive, sculptural modernism and landmark projects such as the Gateway Arch, TWA Te…

Elevated Building Foundation: seismic isolation integrated into the superstructure Elevated building foundation An overview of elevated building foundations — a form of seismic base isolation built into a raised structural platform — covering principles, components, history, uses, advantages…

Eliel Saarinen: Finnish architect and educator Eliel Saarinen Eliel Saarinen (1873–1950) was a Finnish-born architect who led early Nordic Art Nouveau design and later influenced American modernism through teaching and work at Cranbrook and i…

Elks Temple (Boise, Idaho) Historic 1914 Elks Temple in Boise, built in Italian Palazzo style for the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Emergency exit: purpose, design, regulations and safe use Emergency exit Designated routes and doors intended for rapid evacuation during fires, medical crises, or other emergencies; includes signage, construction features, legal requirements, and maint…

Emirates Stadium Emirates Stadium is the home ground of Arsenal F.C. in north London. Opened in 2006 and named for the Emirates airline, it is a modern multi-use venue for football, events, tours a…

Empire State Building Iconic Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, opened 1931; 102 floors, famous observation decks, landmark status, and major cultural symbol of New York.

English country house: history, architecture and social role English country house An overview of the English country house: definition, architectural features, historical development, social uses and later conservation and reuse.

English Gothic architecture Architectural style in England from c.1180–1520 characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses and evolving window tracery across three main phases.

Entablature (classical architectural element) Entablature Horizontal superstructure resting on columns in classical architecture; composed of architrave, frieze, and cornice. Variations reflect Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders and cont…

Erasmus Bridge (Erasmusbrug) — Rotterdam cable-stayed landmark Erasmusbrug Cable-stayed bridge across the Nieuwe Maas in Rotterdam, opened 1996. Known as "the Swan", it links the city centre with Kop van Zuid and carries road traffic, tram line 20, cyclis…

Erich Mendelsohn: German expressionist architect and modernist innovator Erich Mendelsohn Erich Mendelsohn (1887–1953) was a German-Jewish architect known for expressive, dynamic forms. His work ranges from the Einstein Tower to department stores and houses in Europe, P…

Eureka Tower — Melbourne skyscraper and observation deck Eureka Tower Eureka Tower is a 297.3 m residential skyscraper in Melbourne's Southbank. Opened in 2006, it is known for its gold-plated upper levels, the Eureka Skydeck on level 88, and symboli…

Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse A modernist federal courthouse in downtown Chicago, completed in 1964 and designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, housing several federal courts and agencies, and named for Senator E…

Exeter Hall — 19th-century London meeting hall for religion and reform Exeter Hall Exeter Hall was a large assembly hall on the north side of The Strand in London (built 1829–1831). It hosted religious, missionary, philanthropic and public meetings and played a k…

Façade (architecture): definition, elements, history and uses Façade A façade is the exterior face of a building—commonly the front—comprising design, materials and structural elements that shape appearance, function and cultural meaning.

Fairmont Pacific Rim Luxury mixed-use tower in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. A 48‑storey, 140 m building opened on 4 February 2010 housing a Fairmont hotel, private residences and event facilit…

Fallingwater — Frank Lloyd Wright’s celebrated house over a waterfall Fallingwater Fallingwater is a 1930s house by Frank Lloyd Wright built over a waterfall in Pennsylvania, noted for its cantilevers, integration with the landscape, built-in furnishings and stat…

Fan vault (Perpendicular Gothic architecture) Fan vault A fan vault is an English Gothic ceiling form in which ribs radiate in a conical fan; developed in the Perpendicular Gothic period and seen in late medieval cathedrals and churches…

Fence — definition, types, history, uses and differences from walls Fence A fence is a constructed barrier—often wood or metal—used to mark boundaries, contain animals, provide privacy or security. This article explains parts, common materials, historica…

Ferris wheel A Ferris wheel is a large, rotating amusement structure with passenger cars. This article explains its design, history from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, common uses, vari…

Fire escape: purpose, design, history and safety Fire escape A fire escape provides an emergency route from a burning structure. This article explains what fire escapes are, how they are built, their history, common types, regulatory role an…

Fire station: purpose, design, history, and community role Fire station A fire station (firehouse or fire hall) is a building housing firefighting vehicles, equipment and personnel. This article explains its layout, staffing, history, functions, and va…

Fireplace: Structure, Types, History, Uses, and Safety Fireplace Overview of fireplaces covering structure and parts, major types, historical development, common uses, maintenance and safety considerations, and environmental and cultural notes.

First Canadian Place First Canadian Place is a major office skyscraper in Toronto's financial district, rising to about 298 m and serving as the Toronto headquarters of the Bank of Montreal. It is a pr…

Flatiron Building: New York's Wedge-Shaped Early Skyscraper Flatiron Building A concise encyclopedia entry on the Flatiron Building (originally the Fuller Building), its design, history, cultural role, and landmark status in Manhattan, New York City.

Floor (building surface and storey): materials, structure, and uses Floor An article about floors: the horizontal surface inside buildings, the meaning of storey, typical materials and construction layers, numbering conventions, safety, maintenance and s…

Floor plan: Architectural diagrams of building layouts Floor plan A floor plan is a scaled, top-down drawing that shows the arrangement of rooms, walls, doors, windows and fixtures on a single level of a building, used in architecture, constructi…

Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore): History, Architecture, and Significance Florence Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral of Florence, is famed for Brunelleschi’s brick dome, its polychrome marble exterior, and a layered history from medieval origins to Renaissance…

Folly (architecture): ornamental buildings in landscape design Folly A folly is an ornamental building or structure created mainly for aesthetic effect in parks, gardens, or estates, often evoking ruins, temples, towers, or exotic pavilions and used…

Fortress (military fortification) Fortress A fortress is a heavily fortified structure built to resist attack. This article explains fortress design, historical development, typical defenses, siege tactics, and notable dist…

Frame: definition, types, uses, and design considerations Frame A frame is a structural or enclosing element that supports, contains, or defines an object or system. This article surveys physical frames, frames in technology and science, histor…

Frank Gehry: Architect and Innovator in Contemporary Architecture Frank Gehry Frank Gehry (born 1929) is a Canadian‑American architect known for sculptural, deconstructivist buildings such as the Guggenheim Bilbao and Walt Disney Concert Hall. He won the Pri…

Frank Lloyd Wright: Architect of Organic Architecture and the Prairie School Frank Lloyd Wright Profile of Frank Lloyd Wright, the influential American architect behind organic architecture and the Prairie School; examines his major works (including Fallingwater), Usonian hou…

Frank Lloyd Wright–Prairie School of Architecture Historic District Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District Residential historic district in Oak Park, Illinois, notable for Prairie School architecture and more than 80 buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; recognized locally and on th…

Franklin Center (Chicago) Franklin Center is a major office skyscraper in Chicago’s Loop, completed in 1989 and known for its 307-meter height, postmodern design, and prominent place in the city skyline.

Frederick Law Olmsted — founder of American landscape architecture Frederick Law Olmsted American landscape architect and social reformer (1822–1903) who shaped public parks, pioneered design principles, and promoted parks as vital to urban life.

Frei Otto German architect and engineer known for pioneering lightweight, tensile and membrane structures; influential form-finding methods and ecological minimalism. Best known for the roof…

Frieze (architectural element) Frieze A frieze is the central horizontal band of an entablature in classical architecture, often plain or decorated with sculpted reliefs; it has distinct forms, history, and functions i…

Furniture: types, materials, history and everyday uses Furniture Comprehensive overview of furniture: definition, common materials and construction, room groupings, historical development, design and sustainability considerations, care and buyin…

Garage: Types, Features, History and Uses Garage A garage is a covered space for storing or servicing vehicles. This article explains common types, typical components, historical development, uses, safety considerations and disti…

Gargoyle: architectural waterspout and carved grotesque Gargoyle A gargoyle is a carved stone waterspout on a building, common in medieval architecture. It channels rainwater away and often takes animal or human forms; distinct from non-function…