A spandrel[1] is a roughly triangular space, usually found in pairs, between the top of an arch and a rectangular frame, between the tops of two adjacent arches[2], or one of the four spaces between a circle within a square. They are frequently filled with decorative elements.
There are four or five accepted and cognate meanings of the term spandrel in architectural and art history, mostly relating to the space between a curved figure and a rectangular boundary – such as the space between the curve of an arch and a rectilinear bounding moulding, or the wallspace bounded by adjacent arches in an arcade and the stringcourse or moulding above them, or the space between the central medallion of a carpet and its rectangular corners, or the space between the circular face of a clock and the corners of the square revealed by its hood. Also included is the space under a flight of stairs, if it is not occupied by another flight of stairs.[3]
In a building with more than one floor, the term spandrel is also used to indicate the space between the top of the window in one story and the sill of the window in the story above.[4] The term is typically employed when there is a sculpted panel or other decorative element in this space, or when the space between the windows is filled with opaque or translucent glass, in this case called "spandrel glass". In concrete or steel construction, an exterior beam extending from column to column usually carrying an exterior wall load is known as a "spandrel beam".[5]
In architectural ornamentation, the horizontal decorative elements that are hung over interior and exterior openings between the posts are called spandrels. They can be made of sawn out wood, ball-and-dowels, and spindles. Wooden ornamental spandrels are known as gingerbread spandrels. If they are in an arch form, they are called gingerbread arch spandrels.[6] The spandrels over doorways in perpendicular work are generally richly decorated. At Magdalen College, Oxford, is one which is perforated. The spandrel of doors is sometimes ornamented in the Decorated period, but seldom forms part of the composition of the doorway itself, being generally over the label.[7]
Domesedit
Spandrels can also occur in the construction of domes and are typical in grand architecture from the medieval period onwards. Where a dome needed to rest on a square or rectangular base, the dome was raised above the level of the supporting pillars, with three-dimensional spandrels called pendentives taking the weight of the dome and concentrating it onto the pillars.
See alsoedit
Alfiz, an area encompassing the spandrels and voussoirs, sometimes also extending to the floor
^Dutton, Denis (2009). The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 92–93. ISBN9780199539420.
^Emmitt, Stephen; Gorse, Christopher A. (2010). Barry's Introduction to Construction of Buildings. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 551. ISBN9781118658581.
^Ching, Francis D. K. (2014). Building Construction Illustrated. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons. p. 8.31. ISBN9781118458341.
^Bisharat, Keith A. (2004). Construction Graphics: A Practical Guide to Interpreting Working Drawings. Chichester: Wiley. p. 354. ISBN9780471219835.
^Russell, Jonathan (2005). 2006 national renovation & insurance repair estimator. Carlsbad, CA: Craftsman Book Co. p. 229. ISBN9781572181649. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Spandril". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 593.
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of spandrel at Wiktionary
Media related to Spandrels at Wikimedia Commons
November 13, 2023
spandrel, anti, tank, missile, term, from, evolutionary, biology, biology, spandrel, roughly, triangular, space, usually, found, pairs, between, arch, rectangular, frame, between, tops, adjacent, arches, four, spaces, between, circle, within, square, they, fre. For the anti tank missile see AT 5 Spandrel For the term from evolutionary biology see Spandrel biology A spandrel 1 is a roughly triangular space usually found in pairs between the top of an arch and a rectangular frame between the tops of two adjacent arches 2 or one of the four spaces between a circle within a square They are frequently filled with decorative elements Spandrels of a Tudor archSpandrels of a circle within a squareSpandrel figures of winged victories Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel ParisSpandrel panels Contents 1 Meaning 2 Domes 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksMeaning editThere are four or five accepted and cognate meanings of the term spandrel in architectural and art history mostly relating to the space between a curved figure and a rectangular boundary such as the space between the curve of an arch and a rectilinear bounding moulding or the wallspace bounded by adjacent arches in an arcade and the stringcourse or moulding above them or the space between the central medallion of a carpet and its rectangular corners or the space between the circular face of a clock and the corners of the square revealed by its hood Also included is the space under a flight of stairs if it is not occupied by another flight of stairs 3 In a building with more than one floor the term spandrel is also used to indicate the space between the top of the window in one story and the sill of the window in the story above 4 The term is typically employed when there is a sculpted panel or other decorative element in this space or when the space between the windows is filled with opaque or translucent glass in this case called spandrel glass In concrete or steel construction an exterior beam extending from column to column usually carrying an exterior wall load is known as a spandrel beam 5 In architectural ornamentation the horizontal decorative elements that are hung over interior and exterior openings between the posts are called spandrels They can be made of sawn out wood ball and dowels and spindles Wooden ornamental spandrels are known as gingerbread spandrels If they are in an arch form they are called gingerbread arch spandrels 6 The spandrels over doorways in perpendicular work are generally richly decorated At Magdalen College Oxford is one which is perforated The spandrel of doors is sometimes ornamented in the Decorated period but seldom forms part of the composition of the doorway itself being generally over the label 7 Domes editSpandrels can also occur in the construction of domes and are typical in grand architecture from the medieval period onwards Where a dome needed to rest on a square or rectangular base the dome was raised above the level of the supporting pillars with three dimensional spandrels called pendentives taking the weight of the dome and concentrating it onto the pillars See also editAlfiz an area encompassing the spandrels and voussoirs sometimes also extending to the floor Cathedral architecture Spandrel biology Squinch SkeuomorphReferences edit less often spandril or splaundrel Dutton Denis 2009 The Art Instinct Beauty Pleasure and Human Evolution New York Oxford University Press pp 92 93 ISBN 9780199539420 Emmitt Stephen Gorse Christopher A 2010 Barry s Introduction to Construction of Buildings Ames Iowa Wiley Blackwell p 551 ISBN 9781118658581 Ching Francis D K 2014 Building Construction Illustrated Hoboken N J John Wiley amp Sons p 8 31 ISBN 9781118458341 Bisharat Keith A 2004 Construction Graphics A Practical Guide to Interpreting Working Drawings Chichester Wiley p 354 ISBN 9780471219835 Russell Jonathan 2005 2006 national renovation amp insurance repair estimator Carlsbad CA Craftsman Book Co p 229 ISBN 9781572181649 Retrieved 8 March 2021 nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Spandril Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 593 External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of spandrel at Wiktionary nbsp Media related to Spandrels at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spandrel amp oldid 1184928660, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
