In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. The cross section of the pier is generally square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also possible. In medieval architecture, massive circular supports called drum piers, cruciform (cross-shaped), and composite piers are common. A deep foundation installation for a bridge in Napa, California. ... The Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece Architecture (from Latin, architectura and ultimately from Greek, αρχιτεκτων, a master builder, from αρχι- chief, leader and τεκτων, builder, carpenter) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... // Sociological concept In social sciences, superstructure is the set of socio-psychological feedback loops that maintain a coherent and meaningful structure in a given society, or part thereof. ... Isometric view of a typical arch An arch is a curved structure capable of spanning a space while supporting significant weight (e. ... This article is about the edifice (including an index to articles on specific bridge types). ... In geometry, a cross section is the intersection of a body in 3-dimensional space with a plane, or of a body in 2-dimensional space with a line, etc. ... For other uses, see square. ... In geometry, a rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral where all four of its angles are right angles. ... Church of the Intercession on the Nerl(1165) - an archetypal example of early Russian architecture. ... Circle illustration In Euclidean geometry, a circle is the set of all points in a plane at a fixed distance, called the radius, from a fixed point, the centre. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ...

In buildings that are designed as a sequence of bays, each window or door opening between piers is considered a single bay. A Bay is a module in classical or Gothic architecture, the distance between two supports of a vault or the unit of an opening and its framing on a façade. ...

See also

• column
• pilaster