Architecture

Gate: definition, types, history and modern uses Gate A gate is a movable passage through a barrier such as a wall or fence. This article explains forms, components, historical roles, and contemporary uses from garden gates to airport…

Gatehouse: defensive gateway and architectural feature Gatehouse A gatehouse is a fortified structure controlling access through a gateway to a castle, town or large estate. It combines military, symbolic, and residential roles and evolved from…

Gateway Tower (Chicago) Gateway Tower is a proposed 2,000-foot (610 m) mixed-use tower planned for the former Chicago Spire site in Streeterville, featuring residences, hotel, observation amenities and pu…

Geddes Plan for Tel Aviv The Geddes Plan (1925–1929) was the first master plan for Tel Aviv, prepared by Sir Patrick Geddes. It shaped the city’s Old North with garden‑city ideas, a street hierarchy, publi…

Geodesic dome: design, history, construction, and uses Geodesic dome A geodesic dome is a spherical or partial-spherical structure built from a network of triangles. This article explains its form, engineering advantages, history, applications and n…

Georgia Dome — Atlanta's former domed stadium (1992–2017) Georgia Dome The Georgia Dome was a large multi-purpose domed stadium in downtown Atlanta (1992–2017), owned by the State of Georgia and known for hosting NFL games, college events, concerts an…

Glenn Murcutt — Australian architect Glenn Murcutt Glenn Murcutt (born 1936) is a British-born Australian architect known for lightweight, climate-responsive buildings and for winning the 2002 Pritzker Prize and other international…

Googie: Atomic Age and Populuxe Architecture and Design Googie Googie is a mid‑20th‑century American design and architecture style—futuristic, car‑oriented, neon‑lit—originating in postwar California and influencing diners, motels and signage…

Gothic architecture — form, development, and legacy Gothic architecture Gothic architecture, a medieval European style (c.12th–16th centuries), is defined by pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses that enabled tall, light-filled cathedrals…

Gothic Revival architecture A historicist architectural movement beginning in the late 18th century that reinterpreted medieval Gothic forms for churches, universities, civic buildings and domestic architectu…

Granary (grain storage building and structure) Granary A granary is a structure or room for storing harvested grain. It protects grain from moisture, pests and spoilage and has evolved from simple raised bins to modern sealed silos and…

Great American Ball Park — Cincinnati Reds' Home Stadium Great American Ball Park Modern riverfront ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio; home of the Cincinnati Reds since 2003. Notes on design, history, major events, amenities and public access.

Great hall (medieval main room) Great hall A great hall was the principal communal room in medieval palaces, castles and manor houses, used for dining, administration, ceremony and display of status across Europe.

Great house (large staffed residence) Great house A great house is a large, often historic residence maintained with resident domestic staff. Common in aristocratic and wealthy households, many were altered or repurposed during 19…

Greek cross A symmetrical Christian cross with four equal arms meeting at a central point, used in Eastern Christianity, church plans, heraldry, flags and decorative arts.

Greenhouse (Glasshouse): Design, History, and Uses Greenhouse A greenhouse is a glazed structure for cultivating plants under controlled conditions. This article outlines greenhouse types, components, climate control methods, history, uses, a…

Grid plan (urban street layout) Grid plan A grid plan is a street layout in which roads meet at right angles to form regular blocks. Used since antiquity, it shapes navigation, land division, and urban growth across cultur…

Hagia Sophia: Byzantine cathedral, Ottoman mosque, and global architectural landmark Hagia Sophia A concise, neutral overview of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: its origins, architecture, history of religious use, restorations, and cultural significance from Late Antiquity to the pre…

Halifax Town Hall 19th-century Grade II listed municipal building in Halifax, West Yorkshire, noted for designs by Charles Barry and Edward Middleton Barry and sculptural work by John Thomas.

Hall church (architectural type) Hall church A hall church is an ecclesiastical building in which the nave and aisles rise to approximately the same height, producing a broad, unified interior plane and distinct lighting and…

Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) — Palace of Versailles Hall of Mirrors (Versailles) The Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles is a grand 17th‑century gallery famed for its mirrored arches, gilded ornament, Le Brun ceiling paintings and major historical event…

Hammerbeam roof: timber-framed open roofs of Gothic architecture Hammerbeam roof A hammerbeam roof is a timber framing system that permits wide, open interior spaces without full tie beams. Originating in medieval England, it became a hallmark of Gothic and Got…

Hangar: Structure, Types, and Uses for Aircraft Storage and Maintenance Hangar A hangar is a sheltered building for storing and servicing aircraft. This article explains construction, common types, historical development, operational uses, and safety or regul…

Hanging Houses of Cuenca (Casas Colgadas) Hanging Houses of Cuenca Medieval cliffside dwellings in Cuenca, Spain, known for their cantilevered wooden balconies over the Huécar gorge; now a landmark housing a mesón and the Museo de Arte Abstracto E…

Hanok: Traditional Korean House Hanok A hanok is a traditional Korean house type featuring wooden frames, ondol heating, tiled roofs and courtyards; it embodies regional adaptation, social layout and ongoing cultural p…

Hans Gericke: German architect and urban planner (1912–2014) Hans Gericke German architect and urban planner Hans Gericke (1912–2014) served at the Deutschen Bauakademie and as chief architect of East Berlin, shaping institutional practice in GDR urban p…

Hans Hollein: Austrian architect, designer and theorist Hans Hollein Profile of Hans Hollein (1934–2014), an influential Austrian architect and designer known for postmodern work, major projects like the Haas House and Museum für Moderne Kunst, and…

Harbor Point (Chicago skyscraper) Harbor Point (skyscraper) Harbor Point is a 54-story residential skyscraper on Chicago’s lakefront, near Navy Pier. Completed in the 1970s, it is a notable part of the city’s waterfront skyline.

Headquarters (main office of an organization) Headquarters The principal office or site from which an organization’s senior management, strategic direction and core support functions operate, used by corporations, NGOs, governments and mil…

Hearth: Definition, Parts, History, and Modern Use Hearth A hearth is the floor or lined chamber for a fire used for heating and cooking. This article covers its parts, historical role as the home's center, cultural meanings, and modern v…

Helmut Jahn (1940–2021): German–American Architect Known for High‑Tech Buildings Helmut Jahn Helmut Jahn was a German–American architect based in Chicago whose high‑profile glass-and-steel buildings—such as the Sony Center, One Liberty Place and Suvarnabhumi Airport—shaped…

Heron Tower (110 Bishopsgate) Heron Tower 110 Bishopsgate, commonly called the Heron Tower, is a prominent City of London office skyscraper completed in 2011, noted for its commercial space, public dining venues and a well…

High-rise building: design, history, uses and distinguishing features High-rise building Overview of high-rise buildings: what they are, how they are built, common materials and functions, historical development, safety concerns and how they differ from mid- and low-ri…

Hill Auditorium (University of Michigan) Hill Auditorium Historic performance hall on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. Opened in 1913, known for its architecture and acoustics, and used for concerts, lectures, and universi…

Hillsborough Stadium — home of Sheffield Wednesday and site of the 1989 disaster Hillsborough Stadium Hillsborough Stadium in Owlerton, Sheffield, is the long‑standing home of Sheffield Wednesday FC. Opened in 1899, it is an all‑seater ground noted for its capacity, developments an…

Home Insurance Building Late 19th-century Chicago building widely regarded as the first modern skyscraper; noted for its fireproof metal frame, influence on high‑rise construction, and role in the Chicago…

Hop Exchange (Bankside, London) Hop Exchange Grade II listed 19th‑century exchange at 24 Southwark Street, Bankside. Opened in 1867 to centralize hop trading for brewers; an example of Victorian commercial architecture later…

Horta Museum — Victor Horta’s House and Art Nouveau Studio Horta Museum House and studio of Belgian architect Victor Horta in Saint-Gilles, Brussels; preserved Art Nouveau interiors, original furniture and archives, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritag…

House: Types, Structure, History and Social Role House An accessible overview of houses: what they are, key parts and materials, common types, historical development, uses and social importance, and how they differ from other dwellings…

House of Mirrors A house of mirrors is a funhouse attraction using reflective panels and lighting to create disorientation, visual distortion, and playful illusions. Common at carnivals, fairs, and…

House of the Faun (Casa del Fauno) — a major Roman Republican domus in Pompeii House of the Faun Large and richly decorated private house in Pompeii, dating to the 2nd century BC, famous for its bronze faun, elaborate mosaics (including the Alexander Mosaic), and well-preserve…

Housing: concepts, types, history, and social importance Housing An overview of housing: definitions, common types, structural and legal components, historical development, social and economic roles, policy distinctions, and contemporary trends.

Hugh Hardy: Architect of Theaters and Cultural Places Hugh Hardy Hugh Hardy (1932–2017) was an American architect celebrated for designing and restoring theaters, performing arts venues, and cultural public spaces across the United States.

Hut (Shelter): Types, History, Uses, and Notable Examples Hut A hut is a simple, often temporary dwelling. This article explains forms and construction, historical development (including military prefabricated huts), uses such as mountain she…

Hyatt Center (Chicago office tower) Hyatt Center Hyatt Center is a 48‑story commercial skyscraper at 71 South Wacker Drive in Chicago, completed in 2005 and owned by the Irvine Company. It serves as modern Class A office space in…

Hypostyle (architecture): definition, history, and notable examples Hypostyle A hypostyle is an architectural space with a roof supported by many columns. Common in ancient temples and mosques, it provided large covered areas using a grid of columns and shor…

Ian Athfield: New Zealand architect and founder of Athfield Architects Ian Athfield Profile of Sir Ian Athfield (1940–2015), his career, design approach, major partnerships and lasting influence on New Zealand architecture and urban design.

IDS Center — Minneapolis landmark and tallest building in Minnesota IDS Center The IDS Center is a prominent mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Minneapolis, rising about 910 ft (280 m). It houses offices, retail and a public atrium and is a focal point of the c…