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ARTS & ARCHITECTURE
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ARCHITECTURE
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ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE
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SEMICIRCULAR ARCH
semicircular arch
Arch in the form of a semicircle.
pier
Masonry upright that supports the arch.
intrados
Interior surface of the arch.
extrados
Exterior surface of the arch.
impost
Slightly projecting stone that surmounts the pier and supports the springer and the voussoirs.
springer
Stone that constitutes the arch’s first voussoir and is placed on top of the pier.
voussoir
Each of the stone wedges that make up the arch.
spandrel
Wall surface bordered by the curve of the arch, the start of another wall and the horizontal part above it.
keystone
Wedge-shaped stone in the center of an arch whose function is to balance the network of voussoirs.
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