Architectural Terms Beginning With "G"

Below are definitions and photographic illustrations of architectural term beginning with the letter "G".

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Gable - The vertical, triangular portion of a wall formed by a gable roof on its ends. The gable is the area from the cornice or eaves of the roof to the ridge of the roof.

Gable Dormer - A dormer with a gable roof.

Gable Roof - A roof that slopes down continuously on both sides from a central ridge line, forming gables at either end.

Gable Wall - A wall crowned by a gable.

Galleria - A promenade with a vaulted roof, usually lined with stores on the sides.

Gambrel Roof - A ridged roof divided on each of its two sides into a shallow slope on the top and a steep slope on the bottom.

Garden Wall Bond - A masonry pattern consisting of a repeating pattern of three stretchers followed by a header in each course.

Gazebo - An open-sided roofed building in a garden or park.

Georgian Colonial/Georgian Revival - A house style incorporating practical components of ancient Greek and Roman architecture, the Georgian Colonial style was a favorite of well-heeled colonists. During the 1700s, large and ornate Georgian homes became popular in England. Through the wide distribution of detailed designs, they jumped across the Atlantic Ocean during the same time period and became popular in both the New England and Southern coastal colonies. Although usually less ornate than Georgian homes in England, colonial Georgian homes shared the same basic characteristics: boxy, rectangular shape; a moderately pitched gable or gambrel roof with little or no overhang; dentil molding on the eaves; a centered front door framed by pilasters or engaged columns topped with a decorative entablature; paired chimneys on both sides of the house; and a symmetrical window layout. The Georgian Revival movement began around the turn of the 20th century, and produced houses virtually identical to the original Georgian Colonials.

Glass Block - A hollow block of translucent glass, usually with an etched or obscured face.

Greek Revival - The bold, simple lines of this building style became widely popular during the 19th century when America moved away from British styles after the War of 1812. Loosely modeled on the Parthenon in ancient Greece, Greek Revival buildings usually have a rectangular shape enclosed by a gable roof where at least one of the gables is pedimented. The main facade has a wide, undecorated frieze and the roof has a heavily defined cornice. All of the moldings are large and free of ornamentation. Most Greek Revival houses have a columned entry porch, narrow sidelights around the front door, and decorative pilasters. The front-facing gable found on large numbers of single-family homes in Boston is a legacy of the Greek Revival period. The Greek Revival style quickly fell out of use during the run-up to the Civil War.

Gutter - A channel for carrying off rainwater installed at the edges of a roof.