A colonnade is a line or layers of columns, commonly associated with classical architecture. They are used in various ways, such as flanking a portico or lining covered walkways. Colonnades can be made from various materials and in different styles, and are often used in formal buildings to give an air of gravitas.
A colonnade is an architectural element formed by columns spaced at regular intervals. Commonly, a colonnade appears in the form of a line of columns, although a colonnade can also be several layers deep. Many people associate the colonnade with classical architecture, as colonnades were common features in Greek and Roman temples and other public buildings. They continue to be used on formal public buildings such as museums and law courts to give these structures an air of gravitas.
This architectural feature can be used in several ways. Classically, a colonnade flanks a portico, a type of covered porch leading to a building’s entrance. For an iconic image of a portico, look for a photograph of the Parthenon in Greece; the Parthenon has a very impressive portico flanked by giant columns. Colonnades can also line covered walkways that can lead between buildings or through formal gardens.
A colonnade is also a distinguishing feature of a basilica, a structure with a large open central space bordered by a colonnade. By passing through the columns, people can move from the open nave to smaller enclosed spaces; in classical cultures, a basilica was an important structure that often housed administrative officials along with an open market. Mimicking the design of the basilica, a vaulted colonnade flanks an open courtyard, especially in Mediterranean architecture, where an open, breezy central space can keep a house cool in the hot summer months.
The size and design of a colonnade can vary widely, and the columns made can be made from materials such as limestone, marble, or even wood, in which case they are usually painted. In formal buildings, the columns are often massive, to complement the building’s size and presumably to intimidate visitors. Slender, smaller columns are used in formal house architecture; Regency architecture, for example, often featured modest colonnades as feature features of public houses and structures. This architectural style developed from the Neoclassical school of architecture, which also integrated many columns.
The columns used to build a colonnade can be of any style. In most cases, they are used as structural supports for a roof or the building they accompany, although it is possible to use free-standing columns in a colonnade. Free-standing colonnades sometimes appear in formal gardens, where the designer wishes to utilize an architectural feature without overwhelming the viewer with a hedge.
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