A millennia-long history in temples, palaces, monuments and capitals from empires to county seats has given the column a special significance beyond most ordinary building components. Even a drawing of a column can suggest “architecture,” as in the logo for the American Institute of Architects. But for an architectural element some would say was perfected in the fifth century BCE, the column has proven to be surprisingly adaptable to the designs and demands of every century since. Today’s column can be manufactured to the most exacting classical dimensions or to an original new design combining components in a way never done before.

This course provides a thorough introduction to the possibilities of today’s architectural column, from the simplest low-cost “off the shelf” columns to new capabilities for customizing, whether the objective is to adapt, replicate or innovate. Important considerations for selecting and specifying columns are considered, including materials, manufacturing, installation, assessing structural needs and meeting code requirements.

Columns are extremely versatile, as examples in the course will show. They are useful and attractive indoors as structural or non-structural room dividers and accents, and provide privacy and style outdoors in porches, loggias, terraces and entertainment areas. Examples old and new express both the enduring legacy and the new capabilities of the architectural column.

Column Structure

The basic function of the column is to bear and distribute weight through compression, but many columns today are purely decorative, and some of the most famous columns in the world from Trajan’s in Rome to Nelson’s in Trafalgar Square are free-standing structures in their own right.