4 Ways Columns Can Enhance Your Space
Here are ways in which columns can be used in the exteriors and interiors of your home
A column is to a building what the spine is to a human body. They are the vertical systems that are part of an architectural framework on which other elements of a building are supported. They bear the load of the structure and transfer the weight to the ground. They are responsible for holding up the structure, but these columns can also become aesthetic elements – and what an impact they can make! Here are some ways columns take centre stage in a home’s design.
A modern representation of these columns can be seen in this facade where wrought-iron columns have been used to create a framed facade by defining clean borders through contemporary design.
2. Define interior spaces
Here, columns have been smartly integrated with the decor. The two columns have been used as a design element on both sides of a kitchen island, defining that space.
Tip: Some columns in an interior might be load-bearing. These must not be broken down, since they are an important part of the framework of the building and any changes can possibly cause major damage to the structural system. It is a good idea to incorporate them into your interior design.
Here, columns have been smartly integrated with the decor. The two columns have been used as a design element on both sides of a kitchen island, defining that space.
Tip: Some columns in an interior might be load-bearing. These must not be broken down, since they are an important part of the framework of the building and any changes can possibly cause major damage to the structural system. It is a good idea to incorporate them into your interior design.
In this house the wooden beam and post (a twist on the structural column) stand independent of any frame structure. The wooden posts appear to have no real structural purpose, and exist to define areas within the large living space.
A spacious bathroom can be given elegant appeal by installing columns around a bathtub or a shower area. The picture shows a bath with Doric columns crafted in white marble, a regal reminder of ancient Greek and Roman bathhouses.
3. Lend grandeur to a landscape
Columns are great for outdoor spaces, too. As shown in the picture, they support the wooden slatted roof (pergola) which helps shade the area.
Columns are great for outdoor spaces, too. As shown in the picture, they support the wooden slatted roof (pergola) which helps shade the area.
Apart from creating secluded spaces in the outdoors, columns can beautifully define pathways, patios and thoroughfares, interspersed with potted plants, for an alluring landscape. Here, you can see Corinthian stone columns at the home’s entrance.
4. Adorn semi-open spaces
Semi-open spaces play an important role in defining one’s experience with nature. Columns in these spaces frame views to the outside, apart from marking the divide between the outside and the inside. Stone cladding on the columns gives an exotic appeal to this patio-like space.
Semi-open spaces play an important role in defining one’s experience with nature. Columns in these spaces frame views to the outside, apart from marking the divide between the outside and the inside. Stone cladding on the columns gives an exotic appeal to this patio-like space.
An Indian version of an outdoor patio space, this double-height space, reminiscent of a shamiana (marquee), has striking hexagonal columns clad in exquisite marble. The open window with jali work draws inspiration from the jharokha (window) of Mughal architecture, adding to the royal feel of the space.
The traditional wooden Chettinad columns mark out the courtyard space and the passageway alongside and accentuate the ethnic theme of this house. Placed next to a soothing pool of water, the columns fit perfectly with the traditional style of the house and complement its elements, such as the lamp-shaped central fountain.
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Tell Us:
Which technique would you adopt for your home? Please post in Comments below.
Read More:
Must-Have Garden Accessories
7 Indian Living Rooms That Blur the Lines Between Inside and Outside
Tell Us:
Which technique would you adopt for your home? Please post in Comments below.
The ancient Greeks used columns extensively to create impactful and grand facades for their buildings. This style became a symbol of Greek architecture: slender tapering columns topped by a triangular entablature, consisting of an architrave or horizontal beam that supported a frieze or band of decoration above it, topped by a cornice. The Greek columns were divided into three orders: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. These styles were widely copied across the world.
Adapted to contemporary times, columns are used as independent and free elements to create imposing facades, such as the one in the picture. This not only creates a striking first impression but also provides a beautiful semi-open double-height porch-like space.