Early construction methods relied on pillars and beams to support roofs and wall openings, and wood and stone were the most common building materials. As temples and public buildings became more sophisticated in their construction, however, pillars...

A column in structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. Other compression members are often termed columns because of the similar...

Carlo Scarpa's elaborate work takes you to a higher place, says Patrick Lynch I stated rather hubristically last week that mature architecture is the 'flowering of utility into poetry', and even asked 'how could you teach this?'I mean, we all studied poetry at...

Byline: EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE LESLIE Phillips OBE, resident roue of four Carry On and three Doctor films - the man who made 'Well, hel-low' and 'ding-dong' among the most suggestive catchphrases in the English language - is 80 today. Although his late co-star...

Q. I plan to take my MP3 player, digital camera and cell phone to the beach this summer. How can I protect them from damage?A. If you follow a few commonsense tips, you can hit the sand and surf with most of your portable electronics...

The little piles of credit card receipts on the desks of many small business owners can mean only one thing: They're trying to figure out how much of their 2006 lunches, dinners and entertainment expenses can be deducted on their tax returns.Meals and entertainment are...