Bas-relief
A bas-relief is a form of sculpture that is carved from a flat two-dimensional plane creating a three-dimensional appearance. The backgrounds are kept shallow from the raised features, usually between a fraction of an inch to a few inches deep. It was predominately used as a decorative feature in the ancient architecture of countries such as Egypt, Greece and Italy.
The term is French and is derived from the Italian basso-relievo (‘low relief’).
A bas-relief is created in one of two ways:
- By carving away material such as wood, stone, ivory, and so on.
- By applying material, such as strips of clay, to the top of an otherwise smooth surface.
The natural contours and shape of that being represented should be retained, which means that the bas-relief can be viewed from different angles without undue visual distortion.
Alto-relievo (high relief) is where the technique is applied to much deeper backgrounds, usually of between a foot and several feet in depth.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Architectural styles.
- Architrave.
- Classical orders in architecture.
- Cornice.
- Crocket.
- Elements of classical columns.
- Entablature.
- Fresco.
- Frieze.
- Gargoyle.
- Grotesque.
- Hunky punk.
- Large-scale murals.
- Moulding.
- Pedestal.
- Pediment.
- Pendentive dome.
- Pilaster.
- Rustication.
- Soffit.
- Stained glass.
- Tessera.
- The history of fabric structures.
- Trompe l’oeil.
- Tympanum.
IHBC NewsBlog
Discover webinars, lectures, training, and other events via IHBC's CPD Circular
The IHBC lists quality providers of education and learning in the historic built environment, and emails a monthly recap of their upcoming events.
Denmark’s 300-year-old homes of the future
On Læsø, houses are thatched with thick, heavy bundles of silvery seaweed that have the potential to be a contemporary building material around the world.
Upcoming Heritage Open Days to feature in-person and online events
For the first time in its history, England’s largest festival of heritage and culture will feature online events as well as in-person activities. Heritage Open Days (HODs) returns in September, thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
RSA report ‘Heritage for inclusive growth’ published
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) shows the scale of the ‘missed opportunity’ if we continue to separate heritage policymaking and economic policymaking.
UKGBC creating new 'Policy Playbook' covering retrofit of the existing housing stock
The resource format has proved to be a successful way of providing guidance for local authorities on crucial policy topics.
Over-engineered buildings nullify the green benefits, from pbctoday
Insight into the smart ways to design building services to ensure they perform as designed without being over-engineered
World’s oldest operational vehicular suspension bridge receives restoration funding
Historic England (HE) has awarded £250,000 towards the restoration of the Union Chain Bridge, built in 1820, spanning the River Tweed near Berwick.
'Restoration' and 'Repair': what's the difference?
One of Ireland’s most distinguished architectural historians explores the differences between ‘restoration’ and ‘repair’ and Conservation ethics in issue 163 of CONTEXT.
Don’t demolish old buildings, urge architects
Architects say buildings should be protected – to fight climate change, reports the BBC on recent evidence given to the Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).
IHBC's latest issue of CONTEXT explores issues with Damp
It includes articles on Rethinking Retrofit to not waste carbon and not damage buildings, Assessing Moisture in porous building materials, conserving the Burns Monument using lime grout and injection mortars, Curated Decay, and more.