Fallingwater Vocabulary Words

An ARCHITECT is a person who plans and designs buildings, and often supervises their construction.

A BEAM is a horizontal structural member whose prime function is to support or carry loads.

BEVEL is to cut something at a sloping angle, other than a right angle.

BOLSTERS are vertical members that support a beam from beneath.

A BUFFET is a counter on which to place food or tableware, away from the dining table.

A CANOPY is an overhanging roof or covering.

A CANTILEVER is a beam or other structural member that projects beyond its supporting wall or column.

A CARPORT is a 3-sided enclosure for cars, with a ceiling and walls but no door.

CASCADES are small falls in a stream, usually in a series.

A CASEMENT window is hinged along its sides, and opens along its entire length.

A CLERESTORY window opens an upper zone of the wall to admit light and ventilation.

COMPRESSION is the state of being pushed together, or shortened by a force.

A COUNTERBALANCE is an equal force on the opposite end of a suspended beam.

DEFLECTION is a movement in a structure away from its established position as a result of forces acting on the structure.

A DROPLEAF TABLE is a table that can be made more compact by folding down its two ends, or leaves.

An EAVE is that part of a roof that projects beyond the wall

FLAGSTONE is a flat stone, usually 1 to 4 inches thick, used for paving on floors and walkways.

JOISTS are parallel beams that support floors and ceilings, and are supported in turn by larger structural beams or walls.

LIVE LOAD is a movable external load on a building (such as the weight of furnishings, people, equipment, etc.)

MASONRY is the art of shaping, arranging, and uniting stone, brick, building blocks, etc., to form walls and other parts of a building.

MORTAR is a mixture of cement, water, and fine sand that is used to join masonry work.

A MULLION separates and supports windows and doors.

A PARAPET is a low guarding wall at a point of sudden drop, such as at the edge of a terrace.

A PIER is a column designed to support concentrated load.

POST-TENSIONING is a method of strengthening reinforced concrete by stressing, or pulling, on steel rods or cables after the concrete has hardened. The pulling forces make the concrete compress, or push together, making it stronger.

REINFORCED CONCRETE is concrete containing steel reinforcement. The steel and concrete work together to resist too much tension and compression. Concrete is made of cement, water, sand, and aggregate (usually gravel or small stones).

SASH is the framework of a window.

SANDSTONE is sedimentary stone native to this area.

A SCREEN’s function is merely to separate, protect, seclude, or conceal, but not to support.

A SKYLIGHT is a window in a roof or ceiling to let in light from above.

A STRUCTURAL FOLD is a fold in the building material used to make the material stronger.

STUCCO is an exterior finish, or coating, made of cement, lime, sand, and water.

TENSION is the state of being pulled or stretched.

A TERRACE is a flat roof or a raised space adjoining a building, paved or planted, especially one used for leisure enjoyment.

TEXTILES are woven fabrics, such as rugs, upholstery, clothing.

A TRELLIS is a network of beams that can support vines or other kinds of natural growth.

VENEER is a thin sheet of wood that has been cut or sliced from a log; it can be used as a facing material on less attractive wood.

A WARDROBE is a cabinet for clothes. At Fallingwater they are built-in and cantilevered from the walls.