All About Column Houses

Column decoration of buildings is found almost everywhere in the world. Architects from different countries and eras quite often used this building element in the design of their structures. Palaces have been decorated with pylons since ancient times in Egypt, Greece and China. Nowadays, such buildings are also not uncommon. The surviving mansions of the 19th century, administrative buildings of the 20th century in America, Europe, and Russia are a vivid confirmation of this. The XXI century was no exception. Increasingly, owners of private houses are turning to the idea of ​​erecting columns to decorate their homes.

In the construction of private low-rise residential buildings, columns of different types are used: round, rectangular, pilasters (half-columns combined with a wall), made of different materials: brick, concrete, stone, metal and even wood. Wherein they not only perform a decorative function, but also serve as supports for the walls, that is, they play the role of a supporting structure.

In addition to the design of facades, vertical pillars are often found in the interior of houses. In this case, they can have 2 location options:

• along the walls or in the corners of the room - remove some of the load from the wall;
• in a free area or in the center of a room - they support the ceiling, often used in variants of houses with an attic.

Columns fit into a wide variety of architectural ensembles, they look great in combination with one-story buildings, even in a rustic and modern style.

Perhaps it is difficult to imagine a classic mansion that is not decorated with columns. These architectural elements give the building a solemn and aristocratic look, create a sense of luxury and respectability. Mansions in the classical style, as a rule, are designed with monolithic columns, clear geometric shapes (most often round). Decorative supports are made of reinforced concrete, they serve as a reliable vertical support and remove a significant part of the load from the walls.

The variety of rustic styles is amazing, whether it be an American ranch building, a Russian hut or an Alpine chalet. And in each of these styles there is a place for decorating a dwelling with columns. The vertical supports that support part of the roof at the entrance to the house are the personification of reliability and good quality. They are performed in the same style as the structure itself:

• wooden - carved, in the form of log cabins;
• stone - from natural stones, laid vertically, or from bricks, faced, for example, with Dagestan stone;
• reinforced concrete - decorated with decorative facade plaster.

In addition to traditional styles, columns have found their application in modern urbanistic variants of houses. It can be high-tech, loft, minimalism. In these cases, the support pillars acquire a pronounced stylistic orientation.

• High tech - supports of a futuristic look, can be zigzag, glass or acrylic with neon illumination. Often they play the role of a supporting structure for a large balcony-platform that protrudes far beyond the facade.

• Loft - the urbanistic style dictates its own rules, therefore, columns made of uncladded bricks are most often present here.

• Minimalism - since the style implies simplicity and grace, the columns should not be massive. In this style, they most often perform precisely a practical function: they can serve as a support for the ceiling in a spacious dwelling without internal walls.

The material for creating columns is selected depending on several factors:

• general style of the building;
• the material from which the structure itself was erected;
• the expected load (whether the supports will hold the balcony, load-bearing walls or porch canopy).

Let's consider the most common options.

Columns of this type are also called monolithic. They are a structure made of reinforcing cage and concrete, are erected quite quickly, do not require special financial costs, and can withstand increased loads perfectly. Another significant plus is that it is these decorative pillars that look best in the decor of massive buildings of the classical style. Due to the increased vertical rigidity, they often serve as the main support in two-story buildings with wide balconies.

However, during construction, it is worth considering the ratio of the length of the column to the diameter, since it will differ for supporting and decorative structures.

These elements are one-piece round, rectangular or square tube. The installation of steel columns does not take much time, but the material itself is financially more expensive than other options. In addition, lifting equipment will be required to transport and position these supports.

Metal supports are used for buildings with no more than 2 floors, since steel structures do not have sufficient strength to support massive structures. In addition, metal columns require mandatory treatment with anti-corrosion compounds. Most often, steel supports are found in modern urban loft or high-tech styles.

Brick structures are a fairly common option in modern construction of private low-rise buildings. Brick can withstand increased loads, is a fairly durable material. To strengthen the structure, brick columns are often equipped with a steel pipe, around which brickwork is made.

Ideal for timber houses. For the manufacture of wooden supports, as a rule, rounded logs or a bar with a rectangular section are used. Wood material is environmentally friendly, easy to process. Wooden columns can be decorated with intricate carvings and colored ornaments. Such a solution will perfectly fit into the rustic Russian style, with its help you can create an extraordinary fairytale tower.

Supports without decor will also look great. The woody texture itself is quite beautiful and will easily fit into a brutal rustic style or ethno and eco-style oriented towards nature. For a minimalist style, wooden columns can be painted in a solid color, for example, black or red.

There are many beautiful examples.

• Mansion in classic style. Round snow-white columns allow the wide balcony to float in the air.

• Russian country style. A real merchant tower, as if from a fairy tale.

• Urban loft. Steel columns inside the room serve as both a decorative element and a support for the suspended ceiling.

• Brick columns - an excellent solution for the design of a country house.

• House with columns in the Chinese style creates a mysterious atmosphere of the East.

For houses with columns, see the video.