Custom Arcade / Colonnade

A history of greatness: from antiquity to the present day

First, let’s define the terms, because the arcade meaning in architecture is quite specific. Colonnades consist of rows of columns united by a common horizontal entablature. Arcades, on the other hand, are a series of arches supported by columns or piers.

Each arcade arch passes its load down to the supports, and this repetition gives the steady rhythm of arcade architecture. The ancient Greeks and Romans used them to create majestic temples, spacious public forums, amphitheaters and grandiose aqueducts. The Roman arcade, as seen in the tiered facade of the Colosseum and in aqueduct bridges, set the pattern for centuries to come. In those days every colonnade or arcade was a symbol of triumph, order, state power and high status.

These structures had to be carved from monolithic marble or limestone, a process that required a colossal amount of labor. Such projects employed the best (and most costly) stonemasons and engineers of the day. The arcade became the hallmark of church architecture in the Middle Ages: the arcade in Ottonian architecture divided the nave from the side aisles with series of round arches, the Gothic arcade subsequently added pointed arches and a more lofty, airy rhythm. During the Renaissance and the Classical period architects re-envisioned this architectural device, turning it into an essential feature of royal palaces, estates and celebrated urban complexes around the world.

Why are colonnades and arcades needed?

The rhythmic pattern of the arcades and colonnades creates interesting visual effects in the space: their silhouettes reveal a whimsical interplay of light and shadow. However, we must not lose sight of the most important practical function of these elements.

Colonnades and arcades create a pleasant microclimate, shielding the building’s residents and visitors from the scorching sun, heavy rain, and wind. In addition, they serve as excellent landmarks, intuitively guiding people toward the main and grand entrances: a colonnade entrance is noticeable from the street long before the door itself.

Use in modern architecture

In today’s world, these classic forms are experiencing a rebirth, and modern arcade architecture often reinterprets them with cleaner profiles and simpler detailing. When we look at outstanding examples of colonnades in contemporary architecture, we see them being used in the most prestigious and expensive real estate projects.

A five-star hotel, a major corporation’s headquarters, or a luxury country estate looks more prestigious when a colonnade is placed at the entrance. The expansive space will not feel empty and will look luxurious and majestic. Arched galleries are also often built on the ground floors of high-end urban mixed-use complexes and arcade apartments. Thanks to this design feature, commercial spaces and boutiques blend harmoniously into the design, and residents and guests can stroll outdoors, undisturbed by inclement weather, in the best European traditions.

Custom Arcade / Colonnade: a solution from Decorative Architectural Shapes

Large-scale projects featuring colonnades and arcades always look impressive, but there’s a catch. Implementing such architectural elements using traditional cast stone or concrete today presents serious challenges. For one thing, natural stone is heavy, which significantly increases the structure’s weight. In addition, the construction process itself requires massive foundations and heavy lifting equipment. All of this makes the project unreasonably expensive and labor-intensive. At the same time, inexpensive alternatives made of ordinary foam covered with a thin plaster mesh cannot withstand the loads. There is a high probability that they will quickly crack and lose their appearance.

You’ll find solutions to most of these problems in the Decorative Architectural Shapes line. Custom architectural foam is our core specialty, and we handle architectural fabrication in-house, in our 45,000 sq. ft. workshop. Our colonnade and arcade system embodies classic craftsmanship while being crafted from lightweight EPS foam carved on CNC hot-wire machines and reinforced with a monolithic protective polyurea elastomer coating 60–100 mil thick.

The architectural forms we create closely resemble natural hewn stone or historic stucco, both visually and to the touch. At the same time, they are free from the structural drawbacks of traditional materials. EPS is about 90% lighter than cast stone, so our arcade systems and colonnades reduce the load on foundations and floor slabs and can be installed in the shortest possible time without the use of cranes. They also feature high resistance to moisture, temperature fluctuations, and cracking.

Each project is fabricated to its own specifications. You can choose from 30+ column styles, including fluted, spiral, Greek Ionic, and Corinthian, capitals such as Roman Doric, Tuscan, or Scamozzi, matching bases, and nine texture finishes with fully customizable colors. The columns themselves are based on our architectural columns, available from 4″ to 60″ in diameter and up to 40 feet tall. To plan the layout, start with the facade length and the number of bays you want: the column spacing sets the width of each arch, and the column height sets the overall proportions. Keep in mind that EPS elements are decorative, not load-bearing, so where an arcade supports a roof, balcony, or canopy, the shells are installed around steel posts. Whether it’s a full building arcade along a retail frontage or an arcade exterior for a private residence, these systems serve architects, contractors, and developers working on hospitality, corporate, retail, and residential projects.

With customized solutions from Decorative Architectural Shapes, you choose a style, character, and element of a timeless classic design that will last for decades, highlighting the prestige and high quality of your project.