When you build a new home, you should know a few things. When architect is in deep conversation with you, he may use a few technical terms also. If you are not able to digest those newly heard strange words, it will end in confusions only. To avoid such confusions, learn a few technical words if you have already planned of your new home. Through this article, I am providing a brief note on different terms commonly used by architects, yet not common among common man.

Cantilever – For shade

Cantilevers are constructed to give shades and safety to lower parts of the building and it resembles a balcony a lot. It’s a bracket, beam or slab that budges from the wall. It can also said to be a sitting arrangement or balcony with only one end fixed. Concrete, iron or steel is used for its construction. Cantilevers are also efficient to support an upper part of the building, balcony and canopy. This technique can be used to arrange a simple book shelf to construct a complex bridge. 

Pantry – For serving

This area is used to store food, in between kitchen and dining hall. Normally oven is placed in pantry and this area can be used for heating food materials using oven, bread toasting and simple tasks like preparation of tea. In addition to food items, you can store kitchen accessories and dishes also in pantry. Give preference to storage while designing a pantry. A pantry can also be constructed by giving a separate cabinet in kitchen or dining area, instead of constructing a room. Pantry is also used as a serving area in modern kitchen.

Mood lighting – To change your mood

Mood lighting is used to vary the moods of a room, by changing its intensity. Intensity of lighting can be varied in each corner to provide a separate mood for your room. Earlier uniform lighting was given to a room. Now architects have identified the hidden beauty of dark and black shades. They use it wisely to give a different look to interior. Thus came new suggestions to give equal importance to low intensity luminance similar to high intensity and bright lighting spaces. 

Mood lighting helps to give a romantic touch to your interior. It should be done according to the intensity of light available in rooms. Floor lamps, table lamps and ceiling lights can be used effectively to do mood lighting.

Duplex - for two-storey

Double storied flats are known as duplex. It’s possible to make a duplex by buying two flats of the same building that comes one above the other. A staircase is sufficient to connect these two floors. Normally constructors make such duplexes if asked so. It serves the purpose of a two storey building and area can be most effectively used. Though it’s a bit expensive, a lot of buyers are coming forward also. 

If two separate apartments are connected by a common wall, it’s also termed as duplex. Triplex of 3 floors and quadruplex of 4 floors are also available. Yet all of them are grouped under duplex.

Vault – Roofs to give illusion of spacious

This roof is used to make your rooms spear spacious. Dome, barrel vault, rib vault, fan vault – vaults are of different types. Dome is semicircular in shape. Simplest of all is barrel vault. Vaults combine modern technology methods giving more possibilities in designing. It’s made of blocks and is cheap too! It doesn’t need centering (the layer constructed before applying concrete) that’s needed in all other construction strategies, thus making it cost effective. They belong to compression structures that are strong due to the shape adopted.

Niche – The new showcase of interior

Now days of showcases have gone. They are now replaced with niche. They are small borrows or hollows build in walls to place decorative pieces like curios, flower vases, small statues or crystals. You can place more than one niche in one wall. You can also use a single big one. According to your imagination you can place them in horizontal lines, vertical lines or as slope, in any number or shape. You can use wooden paneling, colourful tiles or painting to make them different. You should plan it earlier so that you can leave those places in wall during its construction. It can be provided in bathrooms or bedrooms to place small items also.

Pergola – The semi open space

Beams prepared using concrete or wood, if spread horizontally or vertically, the semi-open space thus formed is known as pergola. It invites a lot of air and sunlight inside your rooms. Pergola roofing can be done anywhere in balcony, courtyard or upper part of staircase. Thin beams are best for your interior, but distance between the beams should be below 6 inches. For safety you can use glass or polycarbonate sheets above beams.

Bottle trap – A part of drainage system

Bottle trap is a part of wash basin, sink or drainage system. They are thin straight pipes and don’t have curves or bends. In the middle, another pipe is joined perpendicular to this one through which dirt water flows out. A shallow is provided beneath it to store good water that blocks poisonous gases of water circulation from getting inside. Bottle traps are available in different materials. For exposed plumbing, decorative types of bottle traps can be used.

Lintel – The beam fixed above doors and windows

The horizontal beam given above doors and windows is known as lintel. They are provided for extra protection and strength to these parts. Lintel supports the extra weight of the building walls too. While constructing lintels its ends should not be inserted too much inside the walls. Allowed insertion is 4-6 inches only. Lintels can be used to join small distances only.

Foyer – For small visits

It’s an area of home for less known people, strangers or guests on short visits. Its location is in between veranda and living room. So, when a person enters home, he reach living room through foyer. It’s a sitting area where a few chairs can be placed. People coming for official purposes can be seated in foyer and it is a part of modern architecture homes. By constructing foyers family members never lose their privacy in front of a stranger. 

Foyers are normally designed as corridors and hence never take much space. To make it appear spacious and attractive mirror and small table are placed. Mirror gives a false appearance of big room. In some homes, bathrooms are also provided with foyers. A door can be provided from inside to enter the foyer. 

Mezzanine floor - For study space

In double height rooms, if given an extra slab it’s known as mezzanine floor. It budges out like a balcony and can be constructed by giving a slab of 4 inch thickness from any room wall. You can make it royal by constructing this structure using wood. But it’s very costly. A small staircase can be provided through which a person can reach here. Mezzanine floor should be clearly visible from the ground floor and it serves as a decorative purpose. Also, it’s provided as open. It can be used as a study space or computer room also.

Bidet – For toilets

Bidets are new guests to bathrooms. Though it’s popular in European countries, it’s not common in Indian bathrooms. It looks similar to washbasin but is used for cleaning body parts. Pan is of low height and separate taps are fitted for both hot and cold water. Water flows from different directions making cleaning process easy. That’s the reason why doctors of European countries promote the use of bidet in toilets.

All images belong to author's collection.