Glossary
A
Aggregate
Coarse material (gravel, crushed stone) mixed with cement and water to make concrete.
As-found
An architectural philosophy valuing raw materials and ordinary objects without decoration.
Atrium
A large open-air or skylight-covered space surrounded by a building.
Axonometric
A type of drawing showing a building in 3D without perspective distortion.
Articulation
The way different parts of a building are joined to define them clearly.
Acoustics
The properties of a space that determine how sound interacts with it (often poor in raw concrete rooms).
B
Béton Brut
French for "raw concrete." The term from which "Brutalism" is derived.
Board-marked Concrete
Concrete cast in timber moulds, leaving the wood grain texture imprinted on the surface.
Brise-soleil
Sun-shading structures, often concrete fins or grids, used to deflect sunlight and reduce heat.
Bush-hammered
A textured finish created by pounding hardened concrete to expose the aggregate.
Blockwork
Construction using pre-made concrete or cinder blocks.
Balustrade
A railing supported by balusters, often made of heavy concrete in Brutalist designs.
Buttress
A structure built against a wall to support or reinforce it.
C
Cantilever
A rigid structural element (like a balcony) that extends horizontally and is supported at only one end.
Coffered Ceiling
A ceiling pattern of sunken panels (coffers), often used to reduce the weight of concrete slabs.
Curtain Wall
A non-structural outer covering of a building, usually made of glass or lightweight panels.
Cladding
Material applied over another to provide a skin or layer (e.g., stone cladding over concrete).
Circulation
The path people take through and around a building (corridors, stairs, walkways).
Core
The central vertical element of a building, usually housing lifts and stairs.
Corbusian
Relating to the style or theories of Le Corbusier, the father of Brutalism.
D
Deck Access
Walkways elevated above ground level connecting apartments, often replacing internal corridors.
Density
The number of people or dwelling units in a specific area.
Datum
A reference point or plane (like a floor level) used for measurements and design organization.
Dual Aspect
An apartment with windows on two different walls, allowing for cross-ventilation.
Duplex
A residential unit spread over two floors connected by an internal staircase.
E
Embodied Carbon
The carbon dioxide emissions associated with building materials and construction.
Exposed Services
Pipes, ducts, and wiring left visible rather than hidden behind ceilings or walls.
Elevation
A flat view of one side of a building's exterior.
Estate
A group of buildings developed as a single project, often referring to public housing.
Engineering Brick
Dense, strong bricks used for structural strength and damp-proofing.
F
Formwork
The temporary moulds (usually wood or metal) into which wet concrete is poured.
Facade
The principal front or face of a building.
Fenestration
The arrangement and design of windows in a building.
Floorplate
The amount of lettable or usable floor area on a single storey.
Finish
The texture or appearance of a surface (e.g., polished, rough, painted).
G
Grid
A network of lines (structural or aesthetic) that dictates the layout of columns and walls.
Glazing
The glass part of a window or wall.
Geometry
The mathematical shapes and angles defining the building's form.
Grade (Listing)
The classification system in the UK used to protect historic buildings (Grade I, II*, II).
Gallery
A long covered area, often open on one side, used as a walkway.