April 24, 2007

Obscure Architectural Term of the Day!

We haven't opened up the ol' Penguin lately, so here's one that's been just waiting for the right time to be heard:

CRINKLE-CRANKLE WALL. A serpentine or continuously snake-like curving or undulating wall.

From the Penguin Dictionary of Architecture, Third Edition

Probably the best known example for all of us rude Colonials would be the one Tom Jefferson had constructed in the gardens at the University of Virginia. The advantage of this type of construction is the ability to create a single-wythe wall(the width of a single brick rather than two or more interlocked faces) that is still very strong.

And it's interesting-looking, to boot.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at April 24, 2007 02:05 PM
Comments

If ole' Thomas J had layed off his significant wine collection he might have been able to lay bricks in a straight line instead of all wobbly.

Posted by: Nate at April 25, 2007 09:15 AM