Looking at Buildings

Glossary

Greek fret: In classical architecture and decoration, a band of geometrical ornament composed of straight and vertical lines. Also called Greek key.
Greek Revival: Northumberland
The conscious revival of Greek classical architecture, as distinct from its later, Roman forms. At its peak in the early 19th century, its origins can be traced to the middle of the century before.
Grisaille: Monochrome painting, especially on walls or glass.
Groin: Sharp edge at the meeting of two compartments (cells) of a groin-vault.
Groin-vault: A vault formed of two barrel vaults intersecting at right angles.
Grotesque: (lit. grotto-esque): Wall decoration adopted from Roman examples in the Renaissance. Its foliage scrolls incorporate figurative elements. Compare Arabesque. Also used for a figure or head with distorted or unnatural features in medieval art and architecture.
Grotto: Artificial cavern.
GRP: (glass-reinforced plastic): Synthetic resin reinforced with glass fibre; also called fibreglass.
Guilloche: Classical ornament of interlaced bands.
Gunloop: Opening for a firearm.