Architecture A to Z [Guide to Popular Concepts]

This video introduces and defines common architecture terms from A to Z. It is no secret that architecture is full of jargon and unique vocabulary. This can be the subject of jokes and memes but it can also lead to confusion and frustration. The reliance on jargon is somewhat forgivable — the task of translating complex spatial, geometric, and compositional principles into verbal language is difficult. However, it means that one must invest in learning the language to fully grasp written and verbal communication about buildings. This video helps by providing definitions for 26 common architectural terms in alphabetical order. Terms include: aesthetic, buttress, circulation, diagrammatic, enfilade, fenestration, geodesic, hierarchy, iconic, jamb, kitsch, legibility, morphology, node, ornament, program, quoin, rustication, stereotomy, tectonics, urbanism, yurt, and zeitgeist. Whether you're in architecture school, or an architecture enthusiast, armed with this fundamental vocabulary, you’ll be able to keep up with any architectural conversation.

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__About the Channel__
Architecture with Stewart is a YouTube journey exploring architecture’s deep and enduring stories in all their bewildering glory. Weekly videos and occasional live events breakdown a wide range of topics related to the built environment in order to increase their general understanding and advocate their importance in shaping the world we inhabit.

__About me__
Stewart Hicks is an architectural design educator that leads studios and lecture courses as an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also serves as an Associate Dean in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and is the co-founder of the practice Design With Company. His work has earned awards such as the Architecture Record Design Vanguard Award or the Young Architect’s Forum Award and has been featured in exhibitions such as the Chicago Architecture Biennial and Design Miami, as well as at the V&A Museum and Tate Modern in London. His writings can be found in the co-authored book Misguided Tactics for Propriety Calibration, published with the Graham Foundation, as well as essays in MONU magazine, the AIA Journal Manifest, Log, bracket, and the guest-edited issue of MAS Context on the topic of character architecture.

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#architecture

[keggg]

For quick reference:

A --- Aesthetic
B --- Buttress
C --- Circulation
D --- Diagramattic
E --- Enfilade
F --- Fenestration
G --- Geodesic
H --- Hierarchy
I --- Iconic
J --- Jamb
K --- Kitsch
L --- Legibility
M --- Morphology
N --- Node
O --- Ornamentation
P --- Program
Q --- Quoin
R --- Rustication
S --- Stereotomic
T --- Tectonic
U --- Urbanism
V --- Vernacular
W --- Weathering
X --- Xylography
Y --- Yurt
Z --- Zeitgeist

[Orinslayer]

Defenestraton is the act of throwing someone out a window.

[Silvarret]

You know they're a real architect when they mention "zeitgeist" at least once :)

[l_l]

Have you ever thought of the architecture of video game level designs? They are purpose built spaces(virtual), meant to convey a certain ambience. Your virtual building walkthroughs kind of remind me of them. A very informative and amazing video though!

[imadasmone]

Very relevant..

As much as I enjoyed this, I would suggest to do a video on architectural styles..
Where I am from, I observed that many students misinterprete words such as organic, modern, style, green etc... if you could take this up, would be great..

[kikibr]

I love that you brought up the Geodetic. Other mathematical structures such as paraboloids seem to have been forgotten in the recent years, yet they are extremely aesthetically pleasing in my opinion.

[CSarchitecture]

It's nearing 10 years since i graduated from arch school & I'm so happy that i just found this YouTube channel!

[studioa]

Your channel perfectly fills in the gaps left by architecture schools today. Thank you for doing what you do!

[DianaEstrellaB]

I'm an architect but English isn't my first language so I find these very helpful, I really enjoy your channel and appreciate your work!

[phillipmooseable]

Architecture is a lot more fun when there’s a really cute guy teaching it. Keep making these vids.

[drotleff]

I rarely add comments to any video but I have to say your videos are outstanding. Clear, concise, educational. Thank you

[abjeh]

Just a minor correction, 4:38 Fuller didn't 'invent' the term geodesic, it had been around for years in mathematics, notably investigated by Riemann and used by Einstein in developing relativity. Great video though!

[BigLongPinkDingDong]

Really good and high quality content, I’m glad I found your channel. Keep up the good work!

[sirwilliamwindmill]

Stewart... I've been on a watching spree of your videos.. I really think that you've come up with a great concept.. I've always wanted to learn more about architecture, I'm a filmmaker and this makes so much

[VagabondMorrison]

Stewart, thank you so much for existing! This channel is seriously so great!

[daviddodds]

As soon as you said ‘C’ is for Corridor, I knew ‘E’ would be for Enfilade. I still love it when I find this situation in homes. It is so light and airy. I was, however, definitely wrong when it came to predicting which terms you’d use for several of the letters. For some reason, I figured ‘P’ would refer to Palladian (as in a window) or palladiana. Oddly, I’m looking out of one right now as I’m sitting in a suburban AirB&B. Then again, such fenestration references might lead to ‘C’ becoming a modern equivalent, a Chicago window. I also figured ‘T’ would be for Trabeation or Trabeate and ‘A’ would be for Archuation or Arcuate. There are so many terms and so few letters in the alphabet. Good job, as always!

[maikocarlo]

Loving the vids man! Very helpful and I find myself curious to look up the references you include

[andykitts]

Very much enjoyed this video which defines the terms so clearly.

I live in Edinburgh and there are a lot of examples of rustification, especially for the 'below ground floor' front for tenements prolific in the New Town and other sloping areas. I always wondered what the term for this look was and now I do.

[plastic]

So dope, cuz there is a lot you can do with a concept! I would love to see you expand on vernacular, like a video on different solutions or the same solution to the same problem or factor would be cool.

[danroberts]

Great video! I’m a MUPP at UIC and this is both interesting and useful information for planners to communicate with architects. Thanks for posting.