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Architectural Columns - Essential Facts That You Need To Know About Them

· Architectural Column
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One thing about architectural columns that you have to be aware of is the fact that they are found on all types of buildings like luxurious hotels, resorts, spectacular churches, magnificent homes, and a whole lot more. The primary reasons why these columns are still popular even to this very day is due to the fact that they are not hard to recognize. These elements are said to possess an appearance of strength wherever they are found, beauty, and elegance as well. But the question is, when was the very first column invented? How have these architectural columns changed when it comes to the way they are manufactured and used over the millennia? All the answer to these questions will be found below; hence, we encourage you to read until the very end.

Albeit the fact that Egyptians were the first people to craft architectural columns, the ones credited for inventing them were Greeks and Romans. The ancient Egyptians crafted these massive columns by working with stones. These columns had the appearance of bundled reeds in approximately two thousand six hundred BC. As for the embellishments that are said to be present in these elements, they suggest that back then, the craftsmen who built them were concerned about aesthetics and function. The columns that were later crafted by the Persians were even more elaborate, featuring capitals that are depicting a wide array of animals.
 

If you are wondering why architectural columns are so often associated with the societies of Ancient Rome and Greece, the reason for this is that these civilizations developed the designs that would later become known as the classical orders. Architectural columns that are present on Roman and Greek buildings are possible to be fluted. They often include capitals that are meticulously carved and bases, plus, they are frequently crowned with ostentatious entablatures. The most frequently used column material was stone, hence, these elements were visibly and exceptionally heavy and difficult to transport as well as install. The architectural columns of Romans and Greeks are capable of providing essential support to buildings and other structural forms, and also, they must be crafted for the purpose of making sure that they are capable of supporting an astonishing amount of weight.
 

Several of the architectural columns that can be seen on buildings today are structural; however, many of them are considered as decorative, added to the exteriors and interiors of the building for their aesthetic value. There are some points regarding these modern features that you have to take into account. The first point is that, in the recent years, an increase in the number of lightweight materials has been invented. GFRC columns and GFRP columns, for example, are said to weight much less when compared to those that are crafted using stones. Because of this, the transportation as well as the installation of columns are made easier in comparison to how they were in the past. These materials are known for being moldable as well, and this only made many more designs to become possible. Another essential point to note is the fact that these columns are now used in a larger number of applications.