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Architectural Glossary
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Basic Building Elements
Specialized Consultants
Architectural Drawing Types
Construction Methods
Australian Materials
Sustainability Features
Housing Types
Professional Roles
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3
3D Modeling
Creating three-dimensional representations of buildings for visualization and analysis.
3D Printing in Construction
Using large-scale 3D printers to create building components or entire structures.
A
Accent Lighting
Decorative lighting that highlights architectural features or artwork.
Access Control
Systems that manage and monitor who can enter different areas of a building.
Accessible Entrance
An entrance easily accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities, featuring ramps, wide doorways, and automatic doors.
Accessible Pathways
Clear, unobstructed routes within and around a building that allow easy movement for wheelchair users and those with mobility aids.
Accessible Toilets
Bathrooms designed to be fully accessible, featuring grab bars, roll-in showers, lowered sinks, and ample space for maneuvering wheelchairs.
Acoustic Consultant
Professional who designs sound environments and noise control systems.
Acoustic Panels
Materials designed to absorb sound waves and reduce echo and reverberation.
Acoustic Performance
How well a building controls sound transmission and provides appropriate acoustic environments.
Adaptive Facade
Building skin that automatically responds to environmental conditions through sensors and actuators.
Adaptive Reuse
Repurposing existing buildings for new functions while preserving their architectural significance.
Adaptive Reuse
Converting historic buildings for new uses while preserving their heritage character.
Aerogel Insulation
Ultra-lightweight insulation material with exceptional thermal performance.
Affordable Housing
Housing options that are financially accessible to individuals and families with low to moderate incomes in Australia, often subsidized by government ...
Affordable Housing
Housing options that are financially accessible to individuals and families with low to moderate incomes, often subsidized by government programs.
Air Tightness
How well a building is sealed against drafts and air leaks, improving energy efficiency.
Alarm System
Electronic systems that detect intrusion, fire, or other emergencies and alert authorities.
Aquifer Thermal Energy
Systems that use groundwater for heating and cooling buildings efficiently.
Arborist
Tree specialist who assesses vegetation health and protection during construction.
Architect
Professional who designs buildings and oversees their construction, ensuring aesthetic, functional, and regulatory standards are met.
Architrave
A decorative moulding framing a door or window opening, covering the gap between frame and wall.
Art Deco
A style from the 1920s-1930s characterized by geometric shapes, bold lines, and decorative motifs, often seen in commercial buildings and cinemas.
As-Built Drawing
Drawings created after construction showing actual dimensions and locations as built.
AS1428 (Accessibility Standards)
Australian standards ensuring buildings are accessible to people with disabilities, covering ramps, doorways, and facilities.
Asbestos Removal
The process of safely extracting asbestos-containing materials from buildings, mandatory due to health risks.
Atmospheric Water Generation
Technology that extracts water from air humidity for building use.
Atrium
A large, open space within a building, often with a glass roof, bringing in light and connecting multiple floors.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Technology overlaying digital information onto real-world views for design and construction.
Axonometric Drawing
A type of parallel projection drawing showing a building in three dimensions without perspective distortion.
B
Backsplash Designs
Decorative and functional surfaces behind countertops, protecting walls from spills and adding visual interest with tiles, glass, or other materials.
BAL (Bushfire Attack Level)
A rating that shows a home's exposure risk to bushfires, guiding design and materials to improve fire resistance.
Balustrade
A railing system with posts and handrails to prevent falls from stairs or elevated areas.
Bamboo Flooring
Eco-friendly flooring made from fast-growing bamboo, known for its strength, sustainability, and modern aesthetic.
Barrel Vault Ceiling
A curved ceiling forming a continuous arch over a space.
Basalt
A hard, dense volcanic rock with dark grey to black colour, used for paving and features.
BASIX
A NSW government tool ensuring new homes meet water and energy reduction targets, aiming to make buildings more sustainable and reduce greenhouse gas ...
Battery Storage
Systems that store energy generated by solar panels for use when the sun isn't shining.
Beam
A horizontal structural element that carries loads across spans, transferring weight to columns or walls.
Bi-fold Doors
Doors composed of multiple hinged panels that fold back when opened, maximizing space and creating wide openings.
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
Digital 3D models of buildings with data about materials, systems, and costs, helping architects and engineers collaborate.
Biodiversity Enhancement
Design features that support local wildlife and plant species.
Biomimetic Materials
Building materials inspired by natural structures and processes.
Biomimicry
Designing buildings inspired by nature's models, systems, and elements.
Biophilic Design
Incorporating natural elements and processes into building design to enhance the connection between occupants and nature, improving well-being and pro...
Bioremediation
Using plants and microorganisms to clean contaminated soil and water around buildings.
Bioretention
Landscape features that filter stormwater through engineered soil and plants.
Bioswale
Landscaped channels that slow, filter, and infiltrate stormwater naturally.
Bioswales
Vegetated, shallow channels designed to concentrate and convey stormwater runoff while removing debris and pollution.
Blackbutt Timber
A popular Australian hardwood, pale to honey-brown, known for strength and bushfire resistance.
Blast-Resistant Design
Building features designed to protect against explosive forces and maintain structural integrity.
Blower Door Test
A test measuring how airtight a building is by using a fan to pressurize the structure.
Bluestone
A dense, blue-grey volcanic rock frequently used in Australian paving, steps, and landscaping for its strength and elegant look.
Body Corporate
A legal entity in multi-unit developments managing common areas, setting rules and budgets for apartment living.
Breathing Wall
Dynamic building envelope that adjusts permeability based on environmental conditions.
Bricklayer
Tradesperson who builds walls, fireplaces, and other structures using bricks, blocks, and other masonry units.
Brutalism
A stark style using raw concrete and bold, blocky forms, often seen in institutional buildings.
Building Code of Australia (BCA)
A part of the NCC that sets minimum requirements for design and construction to protect health, safety, and sustainability in Aussie buildings.
Building Designer (RBP)
A registered professional who plans and creates building designs, focusing on form, function, and compliance with regulations, but not necessarily as ...
Building Envelope
The building's outer "skin" (walls, windows, roof) that separates indoors from outdoors, helping keep warmth in and weather out.
Building Inspection
Regular checks to ensure construction complies with approved plans and building standards.
Building Inspector (RBP)
A registered professional who examines buildings during and after construction, ensuring work complies with codes, permits, and quality standards.
Building Management System (BMS)
Central computer system controlling and monitoring building services.
Building Permit
A separate permit from a building surveyor ensuring construction meets building standards before and during building works.
Built-in Furniture
Custom-designed furniture integrated into the architecture, such as shelves, benches, and entertainment units.
Built-in Wardrobes
Custom storage systems integrated into bedroom walls for clothing and personal items.
Bulk Insulation
Traditional insulation materials like batts, boards, and blankets that resist heat flow, commonly used in walls, floors, and ceilings.
Bushfire-Resistant Construction
Special design and material choices that help buildings survive or resist ignition in bushfire-prone areas.
Butler's Pantry
A secondary kitchen area used for storage, prep, and serving, keeping the main kitchen clutter-free.
Butler's Pantry
A secondary kitchen area for storage, prep, and serving, keeping the main kitchen clutter-free.
C
Cable Net Structure
Structural system using networks of cables to create large-span enclosures.
Cable-Stayed Structure
A structural system using cables connected from towers to support the structure below.
CAD (Computer-Aided Design)
Software used to create precise architectural drawings and models.
Californian Bungalow
American-influenced style popular in 1920s Australia with low-pitched roofs and natural materials.
Cantilever
A beam or part of a building that projects out without visible support directly underneath.
Capital Costs
The initial expenses of constructing or purchasing a building.
Carbon Neutral Building
A building that produces as much energy as it consumes, resulting in zero net carbon emissions.
Carbon Sequestration
Incorporating features that capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Carpenter
Tradesperson who builds, installs, and repairs wooden structures and fixtures, such as frameworks, cabinetry, and furniture.
Casement Window
A window hinged at the side that swings open like a door, offering wide, unobstructed views.
Cathedral Ceiling
A high, sloped ceiling that follows the roofline, creating dramatic interior space.
Cavity Wall
A wall with two separate layers and an air gap between them for insulation.
CCTV System
Closed-circuit television for monitoring and recording activity in and around buildings.
Ceramic Tiles
Hard, glazed tiles made from clay, offering durability, water resistance, and a wide range of colors and patterns.
Ceramic Tiles
Hard, glazed tiles used for floors, walls, and bathrooms, known for their durability, ease of cleaning, and variety of colors and patterns.
Change Orders
Formal requests to alter original construction plans, which may affect cost and timeline.
Chilled Beam Systems
Passive cooling devices that use chilled water to cool air without fans.
Circadian Lighting
Lighting systems that change color temperature throughout the day to support natural body rhythms.
Circular Layouts
Designing spaces in circular or semi-circular arrangements to promote inclusivity and equality, reflecting Indigenous social structures.
Clash Detection
Software analysis that identifies conflicts between different building systems before construction.
Clear Floor Space
Unobstructed areas that provide enough room for wheelchair users to navigate freely within a space.
Clerestory
A high section of wall that contains windows above eye level to bring in natural light.
Climate Data Analysis
Using local weather data to inform building design decisions.
Climate Zone 1 (Hot Humid Summer)
Northern Australia with high temperatures and humidity year-round, requiring design for heat and moisture management.
Climate Zone 2 (Warm Humid Summer)
Coastal areas with warm, humid summers and mild winters requiring balanced design approaches.
Climate Zone 6 (Mild Temperate)
Southern coastal areas with moderate temperatures requiring less extreme design responses.
Climate Zone 7 (Cool Temperate)
Cooler southern regions requiring design focus on heating efficiency and thermal performance.
Climate Zone 8 (Alpine)
Mountain regions with cold winters requiring high-performance thermal design.
Cluster Housing
Groupings of homes built close together around shared open spaces, promoting community and efficient land use.
Co-housing
Community living arrangements where residents have their own private homes but share common spaces and facilities, fostering collaboration and social ...
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