Rectilinear

By Deane Barker • • tags: definition •

Definition: characterized by straight lines

The word seems to be heavily used in architecture and engineering.

Why I Looked It Up

From The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper

The earliest skyscraper designers saw merit in highlighting the rectilinear nature of [the new rigid-frame system] on the building’s exterior, but by the second decade of the century, frames were increasingly hidden.

The frame of a skyscraper has to be rectilinear, because straight lines and specific angles are what transfer the loads and make the system work. The debate discussed above was how much of that “rectilinear-ism” should be displayed on the outside of the building.

Links to this – The Quad October 21, 2024
It’s short for “quadrangle,” which is the shape it was originally when it was a courtyard inside a building. If a courtyard is surrounded by rectilinear buildings, then it’s going to form a rectangle of some kind. Some universities have gathering places that are no longer enclosed (or even...
Links from this – The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper November 20, 2021
This book absolutely achieves what it sets out to do. It’s a glossy, illustrated love letter about how skyscrapers are built and managed. If that’s what you want, then this is your book. It’s not very deep, but it doesn’t really try to be. The illustrations are well-done and helpful. There are...