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Column
STRUCTURE & PHYSICSbeginner
Definition
A vertical structural member that transfers compressive loads from beams, slabs, or trusses down to foundations. Columns can be isolated (free-standing) or embedded in walls. Their size depends on the load carried and the material used — steel columns can be much slimmer than concrete ones for the same load.
Example
Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion (1929) uses chrome-plated cruciform steel columns so slender they appear almost decorative, liberating the walls from any structural role.