Like any specialty, architecture has its own vocabulary. Sometimes learning the words will help you
see specific elements in a building that you may have overlooked before. Thanks to the Historic
Architecture Sourcebook, edited by Cyril M. Harris, (McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1977) for help with
these definitions.
Adamesque - borrowed from the 18th century architecture of the Scottish-English architect Robert
Adam, and characterized by clarity of form, use of color and delicate classical motifs. Elliptical
curves, swags and garlands, and applied relief decoration in cornices and entablatures, are all
characteristic. It is more commonly associated with interior design than exterior.
Addition – the extension or increase in building size, floor area or height.
Administrative Officer – the Construction Official in charge of the granting of building permits in the
City.
Alteration – the change in the exterior architectural features of any improvementor addition.
Application – the request to the Commission made pursuant to this Ordinance for the purposes of
obtaining a Certificate of Appropriateness or other action bythe Commission hereunder specified
houses, churches, schools, municipal buildings, commercial structures, bridges, canals, farm houses,
churches, schools, municipal buildings, commercial structures, bridges, canals, farm structures,
parks, gardens, street furniture, etc.
structures, parks, gardens, street furniture, etc.
Arts and Crafts - the artistic/architectural movement of the late 19th and early 20th century that
spurned historically derived styles and forms and sought a return to "natural" materials and simple
lines. Also called "Craftsman" design and particularly associated in the US with New Jerseyan
Gustav Stickley. Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie houses are the most inventive expression of the Arts
and Crafts philosophy.
Balustrade - the short, vertical members, usually circular in section, used to support a handrail. It is
associated with classical architecture, although balustrades are found in Queen Anne style houses,
too.
Barrel vault - a vault or arch of plain, semi-circular cross-section supported by parallel walls.
Bay - the space for a window or door; usually similar in spacing for all floors. A house is described
as having a "five bay façade" or a "three bay façade" based on the number of openings across any
one-floor level of the front elevation.
Blind windows - a common device in 18th and 19th century architecture for keeping the exterior
rhythm of window openings or bays even where no window is required or possible due to the interior
use. A window opening is outlined on the exterior and permanently covered with shutters that look
closed.
Brackets - any overhanging member projecting from a wall to support a weight, such as a cornice,
outside the wall. In American domestic architecture, they are usually applied as a detail along the
roofline, and do not actually support extra weight. The mid-19th century was particularly fond of
brackets; the Italianate style was also called "American bracketed" by contemporaries.
Casements - windows that are hinged on the side and open to swing out like doors.
Certificate of Appropriateness (or “C/A”) – that document issued by the Historic Preservation
Commission required before work commences on any landmark or any building, structure, site, or
object located within a landmark district.
Chamfered posts - usually found as support posts in American domestic architecture of the 1840s
through 1870s. A square post has a beveled edge or corner, usually at a 45-degree angle, for most
of the length of the post. The tops and bottoms of the post are square, usually with simple capitals
and bases of applied molding.
Cheek wall - a rounded sidewall, usually shingled, which surrounds an inset window, used
decoratively in the Shingle Style and Queen Anne styles.
Clipped gable - also called a Jerkinhead gable - the end of a gable roof which it is formed into a
short triangle forming a shape halfway between a hip and a gable. Often found on early 20th century
domestic architecture intended to evoke a "cottage" feeling, it is also associated with stable
architecture.
Columns - the vertical members that carry structure in classical architecture. There are three basic
types of orders, cased on the treatment of the top, or capital: Doric (plain); Ionic (with curled 'ears');
and Corinthian (very ornate with foliate motifs).
Commission – the Historic Preservation Commission established pursuant to the provisions of a
historic preservation element in a municipality's Master Plan.
Contributing – any buildings, structures, sites, or objects that are integral components of the historic
district either because they date from a time period for which the district is significant, or because
they represent an architectural type, period, or method for which the defined historic district is
significant. See also, Non-contributing.
Cross gable - A gable roof set perpendicular to the main roof ridge; often, in mid-19th century,
centered over the façade.
Demolition – the partial or total razing, dismantling, or destruction, whether entirely or in significant
part, of any building, structure, object, or site. Demolition includes the removal of a building, structure
or object from its site or the removal or destruction of the façade or surface.
Designated Property or District – an individual building, structure, site, object, or district, which
has been designated as having historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic, or other significance
pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance.
Development – the division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels, the construction,
reconstruction, conversion, structural alterations, relocation or enlargement of any building or other
structure, and any use or change in the use of any building or other structure, or land or extension of
use of land, for which permission may be required pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law. [NJSA
40:55D-4.]
District (also often referred to as “Landmark District”) – a geographic area with distinctly definable
boundaries composed of several buildings or sites which 1) has acquired a unity of character through
the interrelationships of the component buildings and sites; and 2) has been designated as having
historical, archeological, cultural, scenic, architectural, or other significance pursuant to the provisions
of this Ordinance.
Entablature - in classical architecture, the horizontal member (beam) carried by the columns. The
entablature is further divided into the architrave (bottom), frieze (middle), and cornice (top).
Fanlight - a semi-circular or semi-elliptical decorative transom placed over a door, giving light to the
hall or entry. Commonly used in Neoclassical styles.
Flemish Bond - the most expensive and durable brick bond, created by laying bricks lengthwise and
end-wise forming a characteristic "checkerboard" pattern.
French Doors - or Casement Doors - a door having a top rail, bottom rail, and stiles which has
glass panes throughout or nearly throughout its entire length; often used in pairs. French doors are
first used in American domestic architecture in the Italianate style of the mid-19th century.
Gable roof - the basic triangle-shaped roof common to much American architecture.
Gambrel roof - a roof with two pitches on each side. Commonly associated with barns, although first
used ca. 1790-1830 for residences, and found in some Colonial Revival and especially Dutch
Colonial houses of the early 20th century.
Half-timbering - developed in 16th century England, and characterized by exposed heavy timber
framing and masonry infill between the wooden members. It is used decoratively, not structurally, in
Tudor Revival style buildings of the early 20th century.
Historic – having historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic or other significance as defined by the
provisions of this Ordinance.
Historic District – An Historic District is one or more historic sites and intervening or surrounding
property significantly affecting or affected by the quality and character of the historic site or sites. This
area shall have a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures and/or
objects which, viewed collectively represent a significant period(s) in the development of the town
Or have a distinctive character resulting from their architectural style.
Resources within an historic district shall be classified as key, contributing, or non-contributing. The
legal definitions of these terms are provided in this glossary.
Historic Sites – the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, defines historic sites as: houses,
structures or objects which possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and
association and which have been determined, pursuant to the terms of the ordinance to be any of the
following:
Of particular historic significance to the Township of Orange by reflecting or exemplifying the
broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state or community;
Associated with the historic personages important in national, state or local history;
The site of an historic event which had a significant effect on the development of the nation, state
or community;
An embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of architecture or
engineering;
Representative of the work or works of a locally, regionally or nationally important or recognized
builder, designer, artist or architect;
Significant for containing elements of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a
significant innovation;
Able or likely to yield information important in prehistory or history;
Impervious Surface Coverage – materials other than buildings that prevent the absorption of
surface water into the ground (e.g. unroofed decks and patios, driveways, paving and swimming
pools).
Improvement – a building or other structure or any work constituting a man-made alteration of, or
addition to, any site.
Integrity – the authenticity of the historic identity of a building, structure, site, object, or district
evidenced by the survival of the physical characteristics that existed during its historic or prehistoric
period.
Intensive Level Survey – In depth documentation of buildings, structures, objects, sites, and
districts already identified in a Reconnaissance or Windshield level survey.
Inventory – a list of historic properties determined to meet specified criteria of significance.
Jigsawn ornament - machine-made decorative wooden ornament, commonly applied to houses in
the latter half of the 19th century, and sometimes known as "gingerbread". It is typically flat in one
dimension, with cut-out motifs created by a machine driven saw, the "jig-saw". The ability to cut
intricate patterns easily and quickly with this new tool of the 19th century also brought the introduction
of picture puzzles with quirky, interlocking shapes.
Key – any buildings, structures, sites, or objects which, due to their significance, would individually
qualify for landmark status.
Lancet window - a narrow window with a sharp, pointed arch typical of English Gothic architecture
from the 12th and 13th centuries. Found in revival works of the 19th century.
Landmark – a building, structure, site, or object which has a special character or special historical or
aesthetic interest as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the township,
state or nation, and which has been designated as a landmark pursuant to the provisions of this
Ordinance.
Leaded glass - Common as a decorative treatment in buildings ca. 1890-1915, particularly for the
windows set into doors, or around doors as sidelights and transoms. Clear glass is held in place by
lead strips; because lead is far narrower and more pliable than wood frames for windows, the
window can contain intricate and non-linear designs.
Master Plan – the Master Plan of the Township of Orange , as amended from time to time, compiled
pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law.
Minor Application – the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness which does not involve
demolition, relocation or removal of an historic site; does not involve an addition to a property in an
historic district or new construction in an historic district; and is a request for approval of fences,
lighting, doors, windows, roofs, paving, exterior sheathing or streetscape work which will not
substantially affect the characteristics of the historic site or the historic district.
Mullion - the vertical members separating and supporting window glass, or doors or windows
arranged in a series.
Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) – the Municipal Land Use Law of the State of New Jersey , P.L.
1975, c.291 (NJSA 40:55D), as amended from time to time.
Muntin - the horizontal members separating and supporting window glass, or any secondary framing
device in windows.
Non-Contributing – any building, structure, sites, or objects that are not integral components of a
defined historic district because they neither date from a time period for which the district is
significant nor represent an architectural type, period, or method of construction for which the district
is significant.
Object – a material thing of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historic, scenic, or scientific value that may
be, by nature or design, movable yet related to a specific setting or environment.
Ordinance – a legislative act of the governing body of a municipality adopted in accordance with
statutory requirements as to notice, publicity, and public hearing as required by law.
Ordinary Maintenance and Repair – the repair of any deterioration, wear or damage to a structure
or any part thereof in order to return the same as nearly as practicable to its condition prior to the
occurrence of such deterioration, wear, or damage with in-kind material and quality workmanship.
Ordinary maintenance shall further include in-kind replacement of exterior elements or accessory
hardware including signs, using the same materials and workmanship and having the same
appearance.
Palladian window - also known as a Venetian Window - a large window used in neoclassical styles,
divided by columns or piers resembling pilasters, into three portions, the middle one of which is
usually wider than the other and arched.
Parapet - a low guarding wall at any point of sudden drop, such as the edge of a terrace, roof,
balcony, etc. On a wall, it is the part which extends above the roof; it may be finished with a cornice.
Pediment - in classical architecture, the triangular gable end of the roof above the horizontal cornice.
The bottom piece of the triangle is completed with molding; the upper members may be incomplete
for a Broken Pediment; or curved for a Scroll Pediment. Both of these forms are common on Colonial
Revival door surrounds.
Permit – Permit approval for exterior work to be performed on any landmark, or on any building,
structure, object, or site located within a landmark district. Said permit shall include, but not be limited
to, a building permit, a demolition permit, a permit to move, convert, relocate, or remodel, or to
change the use of occupancy of any landmark or any building, structure, object, or site located within
a landmark district. “Permit” shall also include all exterior work to be performed on fences, signs,
porches, railings, steps, lighting, sidewalks, and any other work, which would alter the exterior
appearance of landmarks or properties located within a landmark district or their sites.
Porte Cochere - the drive-through extension of a porch which allows visitors arriving by vehicle to
disembark under cover of a roof and proceed to the porch and into the house without relinquishing
cover. The vehicle can drive through the porte-cochere and is directed to stables (garages) at the
rear of the property. It is not a prototype for the car port.
Preservation – the act or process of applying measures to sustain the existing form, integrity and
material of a building or structure, and the existing form and vegetative cover of a site. It may include
initial stabilization work, where necessary, as well as ongoing maintenance of the historic building
materials.
Quoins - in masonry, a hard stone or brick used to reinforce an external corner or edge; often used
decoratively to distinguish corners from adjacent masonry. Quoins are generally block-like. Wooden
classically-inspired buildings may use decorative "quoins".
Reconnaissance Level Survey – synonymous with Windshield Level Survey. See Windshield
Level Survey Definition.
Reconstruction – the act or process of reproducing by new construction the exact form and detail of
vanished or non-surviving building, structure object, or any part thereof, as it appeared at a specific
period of time when documentary and physical evidence is available to permit accurate
reconstruction.
Rehabilitation – repair or alteration that preserves significant historical or architectural features.
Restoration – the historically accurate repair or replacement of architectural features.
Sash - windows that open and close by raising and lowering within the plane of the wall. Most historic
American domestic buildings used sash windows; they are commonly referred to by the number of
panes of glass in the top sash and bottom sash, such as two-over-two or six-over one.
Site – real property, whether public or private, with or without improvements, which is the location of a
significant event or series of events, a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building,
structure, or object, or any configuration, portion, or group of the foregoing which has been
designated by the Commission as having historical, archeological, cultural, scenic, or architectural
significance pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance.
Survey – the survey of buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts located within the Village of
South Orange which is conducted by the Commission for the ascertainment of their historical,
architectural, aesthetic, cultural, or other significance pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance.
There are various types of surveys including ‘Windshield Level', ‘Reconnaissance Level', and
‘Intensive Level'.
Sleeping porch - at the turn of the 20th century, sleeping in the night air was thought to be
therapeutic. In pre-air-conditioner summers, it was often a necessity. Houses from ca. 1890 to 1930
may have had a "sleeping porch", a screened porch accessed only from the second floor bedrooms
of a house, and intended for summer use, or year-round use by "health nuts".
Terra cotta - hard, unglazed fired clay used for ornamental work and roof and floor tile. New Jersey's
"clay belt" around Perth Amboy was a center of terra-cotta production in the late19th and early 20th
centuries. It is often found in Queen Anne style houses as decorative ornament in brick chimneys.
Transom - the glass "window" above a door, often rectangular. Arched transoms are called fanlights.
Windows may have a transom above, providing additional light to the interior, but not part of the
operating part of the window beneath.
Tudor arch - a four-centered pointed arch, common in the architecture of the Tudor period in
England, and used in Eclectic Revival houses of the early 20th century to create a Tudor or "Olde
English" effect.
Windshield Level Survey – also known as a Reconnaissance Level Survey, includes initial
information on local properties including buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts, etc., as
well as a preliminary report containing an historic overview of the survey area, survey methodology,
and recommendations for further research
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Seven Oaks Park Historic Association |