Balustrades have been extensively used since the early Renaissance period in Italy and can be seen in the parapets of palaces in Venice and Verona. Balustrades add to the beauty of a building and are not only used externally but internally as well as in buildings. Other than being used to support parapets of balconies, balustrades have been used to support railings of staircases.
During the Renaissance period, expensive materials were used in making balustrades. Marble, limestone and gut stones were the favourite materials used in making balusters. In a balustrade, a series of balusters are made having the same design and dimensions and are placed on a footing with the railing fitted on the top.
The most commonly found design in balustrades is that of a half open pomegranate flower. The concept for the designs of balusters was taken from decorative items. Since a baluster is a moulded structure; the wheel of the potter and the lathe machine were used to make decorative balusters.
Decorative balusters follow many different design concepts that may be taken from the shape of flowers, fruits and symmetrical designs. Balustrades adds to the beauty of a building and the famous mogul emperor Shah Jehan used them in the Red Fort of Agra and Delhi. The balustrades of the Baroque Era are quite different from those of the Neoclassical Era and the Renaissance period.
Balustrades serve two distinct purposes: they are used to support a railing and to look decorative and add to the overall beauty of the building. A building with an ugly balustrade on its roof, balcony or anywhere inside shall stand out like a sore thumb and spoil the entire beauty of the building.
Decorative balustrades are not easy to design because they are used to enhance the look of the place they are used in. Decorative balustrades are not only limited to buildings, but they are also used in furniture. The purpose is to augment the beauty of a chair, table or any other piece of furniture.
Modern day architects and artists are using decorative balustrades quite extensively. Modern art and modern day materials have made their way into replacing traditional designs and materials of balustrades. Wrought iron and aluminium are now commonly used in making decorative balustrades. Cheaper materials like urethane and polyurethane are also being used. The designs of decorative balustrades have changed radically. Solid material is used now in decorative balusters with panels fitted in frames with an internal light that can be switched on to show the paintings on the panels. On some decorative balustrades external lights like spot lights are also used to display the form and shape of the balusters.
Such a wide variety of materials that is now available to designers, artists and architects have changed the entire concept of balustrades. A modern glass and steel structure will have aluminium balusters on the stair-walls. The use of external balusters has decreased as people prefer using balconies, terraces and roofs for more practical purposes. However, decorative balustrades are used in the interior of homes and offices extensively.
During the Renaissance period, expensive materials were used in making balustrades. Marble, limestone and gut stones were the favourite materials used in making balusters. In a balustrade, a series of balusters are made having the same design and dimensions and are placed on a footing with the railing fitted on the top.
The most commonly found design in balustrades is that of a half open pomegranate flower. The concept for the designs of balusters was taken from decorative items. Since a baluster is a moulded structure; the wheel of the potter and the lathe machine were used to make decorative balusters.
Decorative balusters follow many different design concepts that may be taken from the shape of flowers, fruits and symmetrical designs. Balustrades adds to the beauty of a building and the famous mogul emperor Shah Jehan used them in the Red Fort of Agra and Delhi. The balustrades of the Baroque Era are quite different from those of the Neoclassical Era and the Renaissance period.
Balustrades serve two distinct purposes: they are used to support a railing and to look decorative and add to the overall beauty of the building. A building with an ugly balustrade on its roof, balcony or anywhere inside shall stand out like a sore thumb and spoil the entire beauty of the building.
Decorative balustrades are not easy to design because they are used to enhance the look of the place they are used in. Decorative balustrades are not only limited to buildings, but they are also used in furniture. The purpose is to augment the beauty of a chair, table or any other piece of furniture.
Modern day architects and artists are using decorative balustrades quite extensively. Modern art and modern day materials have made their way into replacing traditional designs and materials of balustrades. Wrought iron and aluminium are now commonly used in making decorative balustrades. Cheaper materials like urethane and polyurethane are also being used. The designs of decorative balustrades have changed radically. Solid material is used now in decorative balusters with panels fitted in frames with an internal light that can be switched on to show the paintings on the panels. On some decorative balustrades external lights like spot lights are also used to display the form and shape of the balusters.
Such a wide variety of materials that is now available to designers, artists and architects have changed the entire concept of balustrades. A modern glass and steel structure will have aluminium balusters on the stair-walls. The use of external balusters has decreased as people prefer using balconies, terraces and roofs for more practical purposes. However, decorative balustrades are used in the interior of homes and offices extensively.