Are you looking to enhance the exterior of your home or business? If you answered yes, then consider hiring an architect that can help you add unique touches to the building. The specific type of unique building design, which has been used for thousands of years, is the ever-popular column.

Several Popular Columns To Make Your Building Unique

When you’re contemplating a column design for your building, there are several to choose from. Each one has their own distinct style and will accentuate just about any home. However, before you apply any style to your home, there are some things you should know about each one.

Three Common Greek Columns

If you’re looking for Greek columns, you have three specific styles you can go with. They include the Corinthian, Doric and Ionic architecture styles. Each one is different mainly by the column top; however, the bases and shaft are also distinguishable.

Another way to determine if you’re looking at a Greek column is the fluted design. What does fluted means? It means channels are carved into the column’s shaft, which runs parallel to each other along the length; the traditional fluting has 24 channels.

Keep in mind that each Greek column style developed as time passed, going from a basic design to a more ornate design as the population grew.

Doric Columns

Of all the Greek designs used, the Doric columns are the simplest, which means they are also the oldest. The capital, which is the Doric column top, is shaped much like a saucer that is wider than the shaft. It opens upward so that it supports the square top surface, providing structural support where the column is being used.

Ionic Columns

When you look at the Greek Ionic style column, you’ll notice that it’s got a carved scroll that curves out from all its corners on the square top; these are called spirals and/or helixes. These helixes are connected through the carving, which resembles a piece of paper where both ends are wrapped, curling downward.

Corinthian Columns

While the Doric and Ionic columns are simplistic, the Corinthian column is quite complicated in its design and is the most slender. Until this design, the base of the columns were function rather than decorative. On the Corinthian design, the capital is carved with acanthus leaves, wrapped around imprinted scrolls and sprinkled with engraved flowers.

Five Roman Column Designs

There were many aspects of the Greek civilization that the Roman civilization adopted including the building column architecture. The Roman architects took the three Greek column styles and came up with two as well. These are the Tuscan and Composite columns.

Tuscan Columns

When you see the Roman Tuscan style column, you’ll notice that it’s similar to the Green Doric style; however, the Tuscan doesn’t have a base, fluting or a top that’s shaped like a saucer with a flat square part over it.

Doric Columns

The Doric columns are similar to the Tuscan style with its bases and top; however, the shafts are fluted with less channels on it than the Greek column version.

Ionic Columns

When you look into the Ionic style found on the Roman columns, you’ll notice that it has scrolled carvings situated at the corners on the top. This style is much more complex than the Greek column style.

Corinthian Columns

The Romans also adopted the most intricate design of the Greek culture called the Corinthian column. The capital has meticulous leaf and flower carvings than extend down the column.

Composite Columns

If you want a combination of the Greek Ionic style and Corinthian design, then you’ll want to use the Composite Column for your building. This design has a complex style with has leaves and floral design along with scrolls and/or spirals carved in the material.

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Article Source: A Look At the Greek and Roman Column Architecture

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A Look At the Greek and Roman Column Architecture