What is an Arcade (Architecture)?
An arcade is a continuous row of arches supported by columns or piers. Together, these arches form a covered passage or gallery that serves both a structural and a spatial function. Arcades appear on the exterior of buildings — as public walkways along a facade — as well as in the interiors of churches, palaces, and public buildings.
The word arcade derives from the Latin “arcus” (arch). During the Italian Renaissance, arcades were widely used at ground-floor level of palazzi and public buildings, allowing pedestrians to walk sheltered from rain and sun. This principle lives on in modern cities where shops and cafes are housed beneath covered colonnaded passages.
An arcade is distinguished from a portico in that its supporting elements are freestanding columns between which arches are sprung. A portico typically has a straight entablature (horizontal beam) rather than arches.
Applications
Arcades are used in:
- Public and religious buildings: as covered processional passages in churches or monasteries (cloisters)
- Urban architecture: as sheltered pedestrian walkways along shopping streets and squares
- Residential buildings: as ornamental elements on the facades of villas and country houses
- Garden architecture: as covered pergola-like structures with arches and columns
For DIY builders, the garden arcade is a popular project: a row of arches made from timber or metal that forms a covered garden walkway, often planted with climbing plants such as roses or wisteria.
Related Terms
- Arch
- Column
- Pilaster
- Portico
- Pergola
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