B as in Balustrade

Back-of-house ⟨bæk ʌv 'haʊs⟩
place Behind the scenes; spaces designated to service and utility.

Backpunch ⟨'bækpʌntʃ⟩
document A site walkthrough to ensure all items on the punchlist have been adequately resolved.

Bad ⟨'bæd⟩
category Not good; improper by some established measure.

Balance ⟨'bælɛns⟩
consideration A harmonious state of equilibrium where multiple objects can be perceived simultaneously without overpowering or conflicting with one another.

Balconette ⟨'bælkənɛt⟩
element A small balcony; where Juliet might perch when Romeo comes around.

Balcony ⟨'bælkəni⟩
place A occupiable, exterior projection from the upper level of a building.

Baluster ⟨'bæləstəɹ⟩
element A very small column whose lintel is a balustrade; a support of guard or handrail.

Balustrade ⟨'bæləstɹeid⟩
element A very small lintel whose column is a baluster; the grip of a guard or handrail.

Banal ⟨bə'nɑ:l⟩
category Unoriginal, boringly so.

Banister ⟨'bænɪstəɹ⟩
element A very small colonnade composed of balusters and balustrades; a guard or handrail.

Baroque ⟨bə'ɹoʊk⟩
category Overly complex; relating to the neoclassical complications (yet not quite mannerisms) that occur after rebirthed imagery loses interest.

Base middle top ⟨beis 'mɪdəl tɑp⟩
concept Vertically tripartite.

Beautiful ⟨bju:tɪfʌl⟩
concept Aesthetically pleasing; providing delight through sensory intake; as opposed to sublime, uplifting and knowable.

category In the eye of the beholder; all tastes are acquired.

Bespoke ⟨bi'spoʊk⟩
category Unique; custom-made; tailored; one-off; particular; project-specific; made-to-order; individual; fitted; personalized; specially-designed; exclusive.

… Not mass-produced; standard; ready-made; cookie-cutter; off-the-shelf; generic; easily replicated.

… The go-to word for the un-go-to-able.

Béton brut ⟨be'tɔ:n bʁy⟩
material + method Concrete whose exposed faces are left unfinished after curing; literally raw concrete.

Bibb ⟨bɪb⟩
equipment A small spout or faucet onto which a hose may be attached.

Bid ⟨bɪd⟩
document A price estimate from a contractor for the construction of a project.

Bigness ⟨'bɪgnɪs⟩
concept Architecture of a scale that borders urbanism (thus somewhat anti-urban in context), and becomes disjointed in order to exist, its parts assembling as an indifferent vessel for the uses and ideologies of others, its contents; the problem of the large.*

* Koolhaas.

Bilbao effect ⟨bɪl'baʊ ə'fɛkt⟩
concept A phenomenon where the spectacle of architecture revitalizes a location otherwise slated for dereliction.

Blocking ⟨'blɑkɪŋ⟩
enforcement Additional framing material (usually pieces unsuited for vertical support) used to stiffen or fill in the interior structure of a stud wall; dwang or nogging.

Blueprint ⟨'blu:pɹɪnt⟩
rep tech An antiquated method of technical representation and reproduction; a set of drawings that lay out a design for construction.

Bo Bardi ⟨bo 'bɑrdi⟩
person One of the few architects generally thought to be good.

Bofill ⟨bo'fiʎ⟩
person One of the few architects generally thought to be good.

Bolection ⟨'boʊlɛkʃən⟩
embellishment Raised mouldings around the panel of door or other ornamented surface.

Boolean ⟨'bu:liən⟩
rep tech Relating to a true-false logical operation, often used to create form through the binary interplay of solid and void.

Boring ⟨'bɔ:ɹɪŋ⟩
concept Familiar and unambiguous; not interesting, but also not comforting or confusing.*

* Atwood.

Break down ⟨'bɹeik daʊn⟩
action To subdivide or convolute a massing so its scale does not impose; to crack under the unwarranted pressures of design school or professional practice.

Brick ⟨'bɹɪk⟩
material + method Despite its rectilinear modularity, it wants to be an arch. No wonder it was fired.

Brutalism ⟨'bɹutəlɪsm⟩
category Heroic.*

* Pasnik, Kubo, Grimley.

Bucolic ⟨bju'kɑlɪk⟩
category Beautiful and serene as the countryside.

Building ⟨'bɪldɪŋ⟩
place An often, but not necessarily, occupiable man-made construction,

action Assembling a sizable object or undertaking.

Bungalow ⟨'bʌŋgəloʊ⟩
place A one-story house.

Busing ⟨'bʌsɪŋ⟩
action The practice of transporting people, typically school children, to other regions of the city in order to advocate desegregation; a cause of white flight.

Buttress ⟨'bʌtʃɹɪs⟩
enforcement A support that holds up a wall by pushing against whatever lateral forces may threaten to topple it over.

BwO ⟨'bɑdiz wɪð'aʊt 'ɔɹɡənz⟩
concept Bodies without organs; structureless vessels through which countless possibilities may flow, redefining the overall entity through various temporary potential contents.*

* Deleuze & Guattari.

Byzantine ⟨'bɪzɪnti:n⟩
category Overly intricate; relating to the postclassical complications (yet not quite romanesques) that occur after 'original' imagery loses interest.