Each era has its own approach to decorating buildings. The architectural elements used by the architects emphasized the style and belonging to a particular culture. These traditions have survived to this day. The facades of modern buildings are also decorated with various forms of decor, observing the style direction.
A bit of history
Palace buildings and temples erected in ancient Egypt and Sumer had columns with elements of stucco and painting. Their task was to maintain the roof of the structure. Architectural elements were also used in ancient Asia. In the process of expanding the borders of Ancient Greece, various nationalities united, each of which had its own view of architecture. Over time, certain European styles began to develop. Elements of different directions changed their forms, were supplemented with new features, without losing the main architectural style. During antiquity, the decor of the facade was carved mainly from marble. Rarely used granite andsandstone. South Asia has famous structures that have architectural elements made of durable wood. It is currently fashionable to decorate the facades of buildings with stucco decoration.
Types of decor in the design of the facade
Buildings with the use of various elements acquire individual features. Architects, using decor in facades, have the opportunity to correct the shortcomings of the building, create a unique and vivid image of the building. In the manufacture of elements, various materials are used to emphasize the lines and geometry of forms. Most often in modern buildings there are such architectural elements of the facade of the building, the names of which have come to us since ancient times - these are bas-reliefs, cornices, columns, balusters and pediments, arches, balustrades, pilasters and many other decorative types. Consider what these elements are.
Notation
- Bas-reliefs. Architectural elements in the form of sculptures, images, paintings that adorn the facade of the building and protrude from the walls by half of their volume.
- Eaves. A protruding element of a building whose task is to separate the roof from the vertical wall.
- Columns. Support under the eaves, located in a vertical position. The design resembles a round barrel with an extension at the top.
- Balusters. The architectural elements of the facade of the building, such as balusters, are small columns with carved decor. Used by the group in the design of railings, such as balcony and stair railings and other structures.
- Gables. A triangular element with two slopes on the sides, located above the cornice and completing the facade of the building.
- Arches. Arc-shaped ceiling of the opening in the wall, based on the columns. There are false arches decorating the blind span.
- Balustrades. Fences, consisting of groups of balusters, passing along the embankment, bridge, along the edge of the balcony, roof. Has pedestals for decorative statues.
- Pilasters. A decorative ledge at the top of a column or wall that has a bas-relief design.
Material for making building decor
Architectural elements of facades today are made of gypsum, polymer concrete and many other materials.
Gypsum stucco is used to recreate an architectural style such as Empire, Rococo or Art Nouveau. Gypsum is obedient and easy to model, acquiring unique forms that individualize each building that has stucco molding in the facade decor. Gypsum is used to create figures and bas-reliefs that adorn the building. This material is commercially available, and with the help of templates, you can create a unique decor element yourself. It is important to know that plaster figures are quite heavy and, installed on the roof of the building, give an impressive load to its foundation.
A material such as polymer concrete consists of crushed granite, sand and quartz flour. For bonding materialspecial resins are used. The advantage of polymer concrete is its lightness and strength. Most often, this material is used to imitate natural stone.
Also durable material is glass fiber reinforced concrete, resistant to natural phenomena and mechanical damage. Due to its lightness and simplicity, it became possible to replace elements performed in the old way with new ones without significant changes.
Artificial materials have simplified the creation of complex decor components. Modern architectural elements are simple and easy to install, which speeds up work and reduces their cost.
