Pilaster

In classical architecture, a pilaster is a rectangular support that resembles a flat column. It includes the usual features of a classical column; a capital at the top, the shaft of the column itself, a base and a plinth, but it usually only projects a third of its width or less from the wall.

Pilasters are traditionally used for decorative rather than structural purposes, often as a means of breaking up an otherwise empty expanse of wall. As with columns, different classical orders can be represented, and the surface of a pilaster can be left plain or can be fluted.

The term ‘canton’ refers to a pilaster that appears at the corner intersection of two walls.

Roman architecture made common use of pilasters, as did Renaissance Europe where they became popular on both interior and exterior walls, and as a feature of the Greek Revival style.

NB Short Guide, Scottish traditional shopfronts, published, on 18 April 2017 by Historic Environment Scotland, suggests that a pilaster is : ‘A column, shaft and base which projects slightly from the wall but is generally not structural in nature. Used for shopfront design particularly from the 1850s onwards. May be decorated or plain, often with fluting or reeding.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Anta.
• Arcade.
• Architrave.
• Barrel vault.
• Bas-relief.
• Classical orders in architecture.
• Colonnade.
• Corbel.
• Cornice.
• Cornice coving and architrave definitions.
• Crocket.
• Elements of classical columns.
• Entablature.
• Fillet.
• Fluting.
• Frieze.
• Italian Renaissance revival style.
• Moulding.
• Pedestal.
• Pediment.
• Soffit.
• Trompe l’oeil.