Note

* Detailed information for the first 42 terms is now available, for further terms detailed information will be added in the coming days.

An amphitheatre is a type of building which is popularly used in Greek and Roman architecture. Amphitheatres are typically designed with a circular floor plan where the base acts as a staging area and seating is provided radially (changes according to the shape of the amphitheatre) around the stage moving upwards
In architecture, an arcade is a defined passageway that has a succession of contiguous arches, with each side supported by a colonnade of columns or piers. Exterior arcades are designed to provide a sheltered walkway for pedestrians. Arcades can happen on the exterior as a semi-enclosed space or on the interio
An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans through an elevated space that may or may not support the weight above it. It uses a curve to span a space between two points.
Art deco architecture is also referred to as “Deco”, It is a popular design style that was first introduced in an exhibition in 1925 in Paris and gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. It is characterized by its vivid colors, sleek and daring geometry or stylized form, and the use of extremely luxurious and detailed artwork
Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially decorative arts. Art Nouveau sought to create one unified style that blurred the line between architecture, interior design, furniture design, painting, and more
An atrium is a large open-air or skylight-covered space in any interior volume of a building. Atriums are similar to interior courtyards but they are typically enclosed and conditioned as opposed to open to the elements. These spaces are often a major feature and shared space in a building.
An auditorium is an enclosed room built to enable an audience to have live lectures, stage performances, concerts, and other gatherings.
A barrel vault is a simple form of a vault or an extruded arch. Barrel vaults are a continuous extrusion through some vaults feature ornamentation along the surface instead of a plain extrusion. It is also known as tunnel vault and wagon vault. The curves are typically circular, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the design
The term bay comes from Old French baie, meaning an opening or hole. Any division of a building between vertical lines or planes Or between architectural elements, especially the entire space included between two adjacent supports.
The belfry is a structure enclosing bells for ringing as part of a building, usually as part of a bell tower or steeple. It can also refer to the entire tower or building, particularly in continental Europe for such a tower attached to a city hall or other civic building. A belfry is a common feature in old churches.
In Architecture, Beton brut was first used by the modern architect’s Auguste Perret and Le Corbusier. The term “Beton Brut” was also coined by Le Corbusier (Futurist Architect) during the construction of the United Habitation in Marseille, France built-in 19
“Biomimicry” is the addition of two words: “bio” means life, and “mimicry” means imitating (copying). Finally, the actual meaning of “biomimicry” translates to the practice of imitating life. It also refers to the innovations inspired by nature, as one studies nature and then takes inspiration from its designs and uses them to solve human problem
Biophilic design helps us to connect with our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern built environment. In a study, it is stated that 95% of people want to have parks, gardens, and greenery around them due to the demand for space and living land. This need is not fulfilled by the
Blobitecture is a combination of two words “blob” and “architecture”. Blobitecture is the name for the architectural style of buildings designed with unique, organic forms, often resembling a blob or amoeba shape.
A bracket is an architectural element that is used as both a decorative element and a structural member. These are projected out from a wall, generally designed at the corner or at an edge to carry the load of the upper structure and provide strength at an angle.
The name ‘brise soleil’ comes from the French word ‘sun breaker‘. It is a type of solar shading system that uses a series of horizontal or vertical blades to control the amount of sunlight and solar heat that enters a building
Brutalist architecture is a style that emerged in the 1950s in the United Kingdom and grew out of the early-20th century modernist movement. Brutalist buildings are characterized by their massive, monolithic, and ‘blocky’ appearance with a rigidly geometric style and large-scale use of poured concrete.
The building envelope is the physical barrier between the exterior and interior environments enclosing a structure. It protects the inside from air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer. The envelope serves to protect the interior while facilitating climate control
A buttress is a form of structure that helps to reinforce a wall. Buttresses are built against the wall—or near the wall, and they reach across to help support the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient buildings, as a means of providing support
Byzantine architecture is a style of architecture that celebrated advancing technology and glamorous detailing. It became popular under Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. One of the most famous examples of Byzantine architecture is Hagia Sophia, which features all the popular
A canopy in architecture is an overhead roof structure that has three open sides typically intended to provide shelter or shade from the sun, rain, snow, and hail storm. It can be constructed with any materials like metal, fabric, glass, wood, etc. It is an architectural element that can also be used for decorative purposes or to emphasize elevation.
A cantilever beam is a flat, rigid structural support that is fixed at one end and hangs horizontally at the other, transferring all vertical load to the beam and the wall. A cantilever, like other structural parts, can be shaped into a beam, plate, truss, or slab.
In classical architecture, a caryatid is a sculpted female figure that also serves as a column, pillar, or other supportive architectural elements. It was used to hold up the lintel of porches and other parts of classical buildings. A classic caryatid wears a capital (the top of a column) on her hea
Circulation in architecture refers to the way people move throughout a building and how they interact with the physical space around them. Circulation also occurs before entering a building, as people approach a structure. It can be vertical or horizontal; stairs, lifts, escalators, travellators, etc. are the elements that are used
Classical architecture refers to the architecture of ancient Greeks and Romans, especially between the 5th century BCE in Greece and the 3rd century CE in Rome, and is characterized by symmetry, columns, rectangular windows, marble, etc. Greek architecture was primarily built on the post-and-beam system,
Colonial architecture is an architectural style from a mother country that has been incorporated into the buildings of settlements or colonies in distant locations. It happens when a country is colonized and begins to use architecture from the country that colonized
Contemporary architecture refers to the current style of architecture of the twenty-first century. Contemporary architecture deviates from late-20th-century contemporary architecture by including eco-friendly characteristics and embracing all forms of creativi
The context in architecture is defined as the interconnection of circumstances that surround a specific place, site, or project and should be related to and connected in some way. The buildings and structures that comprise the built environment do not exist in isolation; rather,
Contextual architecture, also known as contextualism, refers to architecture that reflects the shapes, features, and geographical characteristics of the surrounding landscape. Mostly, the structure is designed in response to the urban and natural environment.
Corbusian is an adjective used to describe architecture in the same style as Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier was the popular name for the Swiss architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, one of the most famous architects to ever live. His modernist style was based on ideas of functionalism
Daylight is an important component of architecture in its historical, theoretical, and technical conceptions, with the ability to inspire people and illuminate design elements. Light’s aesthetic and psychological qualities are combined with building orientation, cross-section, interior finishes, window design, and integration with electric lighting in daylighting design principles. 
Everyone knows that architecture has been a conservative discipline since the beginning of time. It demands order, stability, function, and logic, but deconstructivism moves away from these constructing rules.
An earth air tunnel, also known as an earth air heat exchanger, is an essential technique that is used for the pre-cooling or pre-heating of a system that consists of a pipe, duct, or tunnel network buried underground at a reasonable depth.
An entrance in architecture refers to the designated point of access to a building, house, or any other space. It is a It is a threshold between the inside and outside of the building and acts as a critical element in the overall design of the building by serving both functional and symbolic purposes.
Gothic architecture is a kind of medieval European architecture that flourished from the middle of the 12th century through the 16th century and, in certain places, continued into the 17th and 18th centuries. [1] [2] [4] It developed from Romanesque architecture, and Renaissance architecture replaced it.
Lego Architecture is a series of Lego sets owned by LEGO Groups. It focuses on replicating the most famous architectural landmarks, buildings, and structures throughout the world
Parking means a moving vehicle is stopping, halting, or leaving at a specific location in an area that is typically designated for that purpose. Before parking any vehicle in a particular location, it is important that we make sure that parking a vehicle there is safe or allowed by the local authorities
Passive cooling uses cost-free and renewable sources of energy like the wind and sun to provide lighting, cooling, and ventilation for a house. It is a natural or passive way of cooling a building or space without using any mechanical or electrical devices…
A school is an educational or institutional building that is designed to provide structured learning to students. Education is the fundamental and most important element of a modern society because it enables us to identify things, understand them, and take different outcomes from them.
A staircase, also known as stairs, stairwell, or stair room, is a room in any type of building where a staircase is located. It is used for vertical connectivity between different levels or floors of the building. It provides vertical movement for users from one floor to another. A staircase consists of two flights, one for going up and the other for going down.
Ventilation is derived from the Latin word “ventus,” which means “the movement of air” . It refers to the process of continuously providing fresh air to an indoor space by removing or diluting polluted air.
Amphitheatre Design Standards
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is a type of building which is popularly used in Greek and Roman architecture. Amphitheatres...
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Types of Arcade
Arcade
In architecture, an arcade is a defined passageway that has a succession of contiguous arches, with each...
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Different Type Of arches
Arch
An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans through an elevated space that may or may not support...
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Empire state Building
Art Deco
Art deco architecture is also referred to as “Deco”, It is a popular design style that was first introduced...
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Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially decorative arts....
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Atrium
Atrium
An atrium is a large open-air or skylight-covered space in any interior volume of a building. Atriums...
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auditorium design considerations
Auditorium
An auditorium is an enclosed room built to enable an audience to have live lectures, stage performances,...
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example of baroque architecture
Baroque Architecture
What is Baroque Architecture?Baroque architecture is a remarkable architectural style that emerged...
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Barrel Vault
Barrel Vault
A barrel vault is a simple form of a vault or an extruded arch. Barrel vaults are a continuous extrusion...
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Bay Architecture
Bay
The term bay comes from Old French baie, meaning an opening or hole. Any division of a building between...
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Belfry, Bell Tower
Belfry
The belfry is a structure enclosing bells for ringing as part of a building, usually as part of a bell...
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Beton Brut
Beton Brut
In Architecture, Beton brut was first used by the modern architect's Auguste Perret and Le Corbusier....
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Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India
Biomimicry
"Biomimicry" is the addition of two words: "bio" means life, and "mimicry" means imitating (copying)....
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biophilic design principles, benefits
Biophilia
Biophilic design helps us to connect with our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern built...
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Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, England
Blobitecture
Blobitecture is a combination of two words “blob” and “architecture”. Blobitecture is the name for the...
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Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy at Nighttime
Brackets
A bracket is an architectural element that is used as both a decorative element and a structural member....
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Examples of brise Soleil in buildings
Brise Soleil
The name ‘brise soleil’ comes from the French word ‘sun breaker‘. It is a type of solar shading system...
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Example of Brutalism, History
Brutalism
Brutalist architecture is a style that emerged in the 1950s in the United Kingdom and grew out of the...
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brutalist buildings examples
Brutalist Architecture
What is brutalist architecture?Brutalist architecture is a popular architectural style that emerged...
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Building Envelope
Building envelope
The building envelope is the physical barrier between the exterior and interior environments enclosing...
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Milan Cathedral, Italy
Buttress
A buttress is a form of structure that helps to reinforce a wall. Buttresses are built against the wall—or...
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Example of Byzantine architecture Hagia. Sophia, Istanbul
Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture is a style of architecture that celebrated advancing technology and glamorous...
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Metal canopy over entrance
Canopy
A canopy in architecture is an overhead roof structure that has three open sides typically intended to...
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Cantilever bridge above river in city
Cantilever
A cantilever beam is a flat, rigid structural support that is fixed at one end and hangs horizontally...
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Caryatids example
Caryatid
In classical architecture, a caryatid is a sculpted female figure that also serves as a column, pillar,...
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Circulation in Architecture
Circulation
Circulation in architecture refers to the way people move throughout a building and how they interact...
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Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Classical Architecture
Classical architecture refers to the architecture of ancient Greeks and Romans, especially between the...
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college design considerations and layout
College Design
What is a College?A college is an educational or institutional building that is designed to provide...
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colonial architecture in India
Colonial Architecture
Colonial architecture is an architectural style from a mother country that has been incorporated into...
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Burj khalifa
Contemporary Architecture
Contemporary architecture refers to the current style of architecture of the twenty-first century. Contemporary...
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Example of Context in Architecture
Context
The context in architecture is defined as the interconnection of circumstances that surround a specific...
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Example of Contextual Architecture
Contextual architecture
Contextual architecture, also known as contextualism, refers to architecture that reflects the shapes,...
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Corbusian
Corbusian is an adjective used to describe architecture in the same style as Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier...
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Fenestration through daylight
Daylighting
Daylight is an important component of architecture in its historical, theoretical, and technical conceptions,...
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Case Study of Walt Disney Concert Hall
Deconstructivism
Everyone knows that architecture has been a conservative discipline since the beginning of time. It demands...
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Working of Earth Air Tunnel
Earth Air Tunnel
An earth air tunnel, also known as an earth air heat exchanger, is an essential technique that is used...
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how to approach in a building
Entrance
An entrance in architecture refers to the designated point of access to a building, house, or any other...
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Milan cathedral is an example of a Gothic Architectural Style
Gothic Architecture
Gothic architecture is a kind of medieval European architecture that flourished from the middle of the...
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legoland models display
Lego Architecture
Lego Architecture is a series of Lego sets owned by LEGO Groups. It focuses on replicating the most famous...
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turning radius and types of parking
Parking
Parking means a moving vehicle is stopping, halting, or leaving at a specific location in an area that...
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Passive cooling techniques
Passive Cooling
Passive cooling uses cost-free and renewable sources of energy like the wind and sun to provide lighting,...
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school design standards
School Design
A school is an educational or institutional building that is designed to provide structured learning...
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type of standards staircase
Staircase
A staircase, also known as stairs, stairwell, or stair room, is a room in any type of building where...
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types of ventilation
Ventilation
Ventilation is derived from the Latin word "ventus," which means “the movement of air” . It refers to...
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31. Core​

In architecture, a core is a vertical void in a building that serves circulation and services. A circulation core or a service core is the vertical grouping of an elevator, stair, or pair of the two. A core can also refer to a service core that is vertically continuous throughout the building. If you look at a series of floor plans of a building, you may be able to spot the core by finding the continuous program at the same spot on each floor—for example, the size and location of the stairs, and lift should generally stay the same for many levels.

32. Crypt

A crypt or vault is a stone chamber that is constructed beneath the building (partially or entirely below the ground level ), usually a church or other building. Crypts can also be found in palaces, cemeteries, mausolea, chapels, and public buildings.

33. Cruciform ​

Christian churches are commonly described as having a cruciform architecture. In Early Christian, Byzantine, and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture, this is likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross, with arms of equal length, or later a cross-in-square plan.

34. Curvilinear​

The curvilinear architecture includes curved lines. It is often understood as the opposite of rectilinear. Curvilinear forms of architecture have a vital influence on environment-behavior in terms of promoting communication, encouraging movement, lifting the spirit, aiding orientation, changing perception, enhancing social experience, increasing pleasure, supporting the sense of community, and relieving the sense of distance and dissolving social boundaries.

35. Corbel​

The term ‘corbel’ refers to an architectural member that projects out from a wall and acts as a type of bracket to carry weight, such as that imposed by a balcony above. Corbels are built into walls to a depth that allows the pressure on the embedded portion to counteract the load on the exposed portion. Traditionally, they are made of stone, timber, or metal. 

36. Diagram

An architecture diagram is a visual representation of all the elements that make up part and helps us break down concepts. They help break down ideas as broad as a concept behind a building to as detailed as mechanical systems in a project.

37. Dome

The name Dome is derived from the Latin word “Domus”. A dome is an architectural element in the form of a half-sphere that comes from a simple arch. Domes can be made in many sizes and from many materials

38. Elevation

An elevation is one kind of architectural drawing used to describe a project. It is a horizontal orthographic projection of a building that represents one façade of a building. Elevations are a common design drawing and technical architectural or engineering convention for graphic representation of architecture.

39. Envelope

The entire outer shell of a building is enclosed by its roof systems, exterior walls apertures, doors, windows, foundation, or anything else that separates the interior of the building from the exterior. The envelope can minimize temperature gain or loss and moisture infiltration, and protection from colder and warmer outdoor temperatures and precipitation, and it includes both an insulation layer and an air infiltration layer. It is a key factor in the “sustainability” of a building. Common measures of the effectiveness of building  envelopes include protection from the external environment, indoor air quality, durability, the influx of natural light, and energy efficiency

40. Ergonomics

Ergonomics is a study that helps in designing a space more comfortable and safe by including human characteristics, anthropometry, needs, and limitations. It improves the features and performance of the space and reduces errors.

41. Extrados

The extrados can be defined as “the exterior curve of a vault or arch”. It is the top face of a keystone present in the arch. An extrados can also be used to define the outside curve of a dome or the upper curving face of a body of voussoirs.

42. Eave

The word eave comes from the old British word “Efes”, which means a border. Eaves are the parts of a roof that overhang or project out horizontally beyond the side of a building. They act as a protection agent which throws water away from the wall and also act as a decorative architectural element.

43. Fenestration

In architecture, fenestration refers to the openings in a building’s envelope, most notably the doors, windows, curtain walls, skylights, etc. In easy words, fenestration is anything that allows for passage from outside to inside. Fenestration is usually viewed as an aesthetic feature, but it also affects the performance of the building. For example, a strategically placed window can considerably increase natural lighting and reduces the use of indoor lighting fixtures, thus saving electricity. They can also be used for passive solar heating for reducing the workload on space heating systems

44. Floor plan

A floor plan is a technical or visual drawing representation of a home’s interior on a scale from above (a view). It shows the relationship of walls including key elements of the house/building plan like doors, windows, rooms, spaces, circulation pattern (vertical & horizontal), stairs, wall thickness, and other main furniture. It also communicates the room names and sizes, as well as the dimensions between the walls and the rooms.

45. Free plan​

A Free plan or “open plan”, in the architecture world, refers to the ability to have a floor plan designed with non-load-bearing walls and floors by creating a structural system that holds the weight of the building by ways of an interior skeleton of load-bearing columns and beams. The major load is carried by the outer walls and columns carry the rest.

46. French door

French doors, also known as double doors or double windows, are a pair of wooden/glass doors with large glass areas that extend most of the height. The glass on the doors is typically divided into smaller panels. French doors are typically in pairs (but not always) and they are often used to separate a back entry or other interior condition since they do not offer much privacy as a front door.

47. Frieze

A frieze is a common design element in the classical architecture of Rome and Greece, It is a long and narrow sculptural band that runs between the cornice (at the top) and the architrave (on the lowest level). The material which can be used to make frieze is carved wood, plasterwork, and another decorative medium.

48. Gable

A Gable is the triangular part of the roof or wall between the edge of intersecting roof pitches. Gable roofs are efficient because of the steep slope which allows water, and snow to drain easily and they also give better interior ventilation.

9. Groin vault

A groin vault is also known as a double barrel vault or a cross vault because it is produced by the intersection of two barrel vaults at a right angle. The word “groin” refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults. Sometimes the arches of the groin vault are pointed instead of round.

50. Industrial

Industrial architecture is designing and constructing buildings that serve industries. The industrial architecture includes factories, warehouses, iron or steel mills, water towers, foundries, refineries, power plants, and many more. These factories or warehouses are used for safely processing raw materials into new products.

51. Ionic

The Ionic order is one of the three orders of classical architecture in Ancient Greek and Roman Architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. It is second-order to be developed and has a middle ground in terms of ornamentation.

52. Isometric

Isometric is a form of architectural drawing, which helps in representing 3D objects/shapes in 2D drawings. It gives a clear view of 3 sides in simple perspective and it is drawn on an angle of 30-30 degrees, 30-60 degrees, etc.

53. Juxtaposition

The juxtaposition doesn’t refer to an architectural element but it is a common word that is used to describe an architectural idea. Juxtaposition is described as placing two visual elements near one another, basically by using the contrast between them to highlight the unique qualities of each element. In simple words, placing two opposite objects next to each other emphasizes the contrast. Example:- Louvre museum, Paris, France.

54. Keystone

A keystone known as a capstone is the center wedge-shaped stone at the apex of a masonry arch. It is placed at the center after all the other pieces of stone/brick are joined. It helps in binding all the pieces together and also provides structural support. Keystones are often larger than other pieces.

55. Lintel

A lintel known as lintol is a type of horizontal beam/span that is provided above openings like Doors, Windows, fireplaces, and portals in buildings to support the load coming from the above structure. The width of the lintel and wall are equal, but length and thickness can vary.

56. Louver

A louver, also known as a louvre, is a design element that is arranged in either vertical or horizontal (also arranged at any suitable angle) blades. It is used to let in light and air but keep out the rain, direct sunlight, and noise. Louvers are generally used over windows and doors.