Glossary of Architecture - S

S

Screens passage

The passage at one end of the Great hall of a English medieval house or castle, and separated from it by the spere.

Sommer or Summer

Girder or main "summer beam" of a floor: if supported on two storey posts and open below, also called a "bress" or "breast-summer". Often found at the centerline of the house to support one end of a joist, and to bear the weight of the structure above.

Spandrel

In a building fascade, esp. glass, the section covering floor partions.

Spere

The fixed structure between the great hall and the screens passage in an English medieval timber house.

Springer

The lowest voussoir on each side of an arch.

Squinch

A piece of construction used for filling in the upper angles of a square room so as to form a proper base to receive an octagonal or spherical dome.

Squint

An opening, often arched, through an internal wall of a church providing an oblique view of the altar.

Sunburst

A design or figure commonly used in architectural ornaments and design patterns, including art nouveau

Systyle

in the classical orders, this describes columns rather thickly set, with an intercolumniation to which two diameters are assigned.