What is Bay in Architecture?
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 space between two columns, or pilasters, or from the pier to pier in a church, including that part of the vaulting or ceiling between them, is known as a bay.
Use of term Bay in Architecture/Construction
- In architecture, a bay is something that divides a vertical plane into different areas with architectural elements like a window, doors, columns, piers, etc.
- If there are no columns or any other divisions then the regular windows are counted as a bay. Like an elevation of a house has “5 windows at the front and two windows at the side”, then it will be described as “5 bay by 2 bay”.
- In relation to windows, “Bay Windows” is popularly known in the construction industry. It is a recess in a wall and can be observed in plan and elevation. Bay window is generally glazed and can be constructed in different shapes like curved, rectilinear, polygonal, etc.
- In factories, we have a loading bay area from where all the goods are loaded and transported to different locations.
- Bay is also used in single parking spaces which are marked with paints on the ground. Parking bay for differently abled, senior citizens and others.
- The space between joist bay or rafter bay.
- A space divider, such as an animal stall, sick bay, or bay platform.
