What Are Balustrades?

Today a baluster means one of the vertical elements that support the upper portion of a railing. The supporting structure, with all of the smaller vertical elements combined, is termed a balustrade. The parts of the railing system commonly consist of a top rail or hand rail, a bottom rail or ground, the newel posts, which are the end posts, and the balustrade.

History

The word baluster comes from the Italian word balaustra which translates as pomegranate flower. The traditional balaustra was shaped like a flower bud or partially opened flower. This balaustra form was used in many elements such as furniture and candle sticks. It was also used as an architectural element and served a functional purpose in railings and staircases.

Various forms of balustrades have been used throughout the world for many centuries. Locations as remote as Assyria and India feature them. Balustrades were quite popular in the Renaissance. The Medici palace includes examples of balustrades. Michelangelo and Bernini both used them in their designs.

Materials

Traditional balustrades were made from wood and clay. The wood lathe and the potter's wheel were ancient tools used in the construction of the original balustrade.

Today, we continue to see wood and, to a lesser degree, clay balustrades. Stone, cement, metal and glass are becoming more popular. Plaster remains an option. A wide variety of artificial or man-made materials also are used. These include polyurethane, polystyrene and polymer stones.

Styles

Balustrades come in a wide variety of different styles. Traditionally, balusters were designed to look like a flower bud or vase. These traditional elements are still present in homes today. You'll also find many classically designed wooden balustrades. Today we see a wide variety of inventive designs in metal with rod iron. These range from minimalistic to elaborate fantasy designs.

Balustrades can also be cut in half lengthwise and attached to a building. In this situation, they serve only an ornamental function but can add a great deal of architectural interest to a home or building.

Spacing

Check with your building department to see whether any codes regulate the distances between individual balusters. For safety purposes, you may wish to make sure that a child or pet cannot squeeze through the balusters or get caught in them.

For strictly aesthetic purposes, the general rule is to allow the same distance between the balusters as the size of the square bottom section. Efforts to economize by spacing the balusters farther apart so that fewer are used often fail to deliver on a pleasing appearance.

Purpose

A balustrade serves several purposes. One of the primary ones is to support the top rail. Balustrades also have safety purposes in home, commercial and industrial settings. Additionally, they can serve an ornamental purpose, adding design elements to the architecture or landscape.

References

• Stairs and Staircases Domestic Uses of Balustrades
• Trendir: Stairs & Balustrades