Modern and stylish balustrade is a combination of practicality and beauty

The balustrade, which appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe today, is an architectural element that is actively used both in the external and internal design of private estates and public buildings. New materials make it possible to create a beautiful and reliable fence, which effectively emphasizes the advantages and neatly helps to mask individual defects.

When and where appeared

Researchers argue that the balustrade is an invention of the ancient Assyrians who used it to protect the opening of windows in the process of decorating the palace facades. Europeans got acquainted with balustrade systems only at the end of the XV century, when they began to be actively used in Italy. At that time, the balustrade, the photo of which you see, was installed in Verona and Venice and served as an alternative to small arcades. In the form in which we know it today, the balustrade was proposed by the architect from Italy Giuliano di Sangalo. He used this element as an external decoration when building a terrace in the Villa Medici, and later in the construction of palaces in antique style. Originally balusters in balustrades copied classical columns, but in due course appeared figured columns of various forms, creating more expressive silhouettes and drawing of a through hole of the gap.

What it is

As already mentioned, the balustrade is an architectural element consisting of balusters and pedestals - supporting vertical elements that support the horizontal handrail. On the curbstones are installed balusters and from above are fixed by a handrail, as a result of which it is possible to obtain not only a reliable protective fence protecting from falling from a height or limiting space, but also an exquisite and unique decor element that advantageously emphasizes the individuality of the style of your house or apartment.

Balustrade complexes are actively used by modern designers for landscape decoration. Most often on the street set balustrades made of concrete, as they are most resistant to various adverse environmental influences and do not require special care.

Today, depending on the material from which they are made, several types of balustrades are selected, let's look at them in more detail.

What are they made of?

The most modern material used for making balustrades is polyurethane. It is light, durable, not prone to rotting and cracking.

Professionals argue that aesthetically the most attractive material is gypsum, because it produces the most openwork designs with the possibility of high detail. The disadvantage of gypsum balustrades is their fragility, because of what they have to be repaired every 5-6 years.

The stone balustrade, whose photo is located below, is beautiful and will perfectly complement the decor of the large country residence in the classical style. But only the installation of such a construction will cost several times more expensive than its cost, quite high. In addition, because of the large mass of stone fences, there is always a sufficient risk of their collapse.

Balustrades, made of concrete, are lighter than stone, and, in addition, can be reinforced with reinforcement. They are durable, durable and can be painted and decorated at the request of the customer.

The most plastic and light material used to make the fences is wood. It allows you to create very light and delicate elements of the balustrade. However, it has one significant drawback - while constantly being exposed to various environmental factors, the tree loses its shape, darkens and collapses. That is why a wooden balustrade is an object of annual repair and painting.

What are the

Despite the fact that the balustrades are very different in their appearance, the main elements of their design are the same:

• The bottom is the lower beam, laid between the thumbs.
• Curbstones - the main element, which is the main load.
• Balusters (figured columns) - are installed on the curb and serve to support the railing.
• Handrails (handrails) - serve to fix the balusters between each other.

It should be noted that balusters can be not only round, but also have a rectangular, square, triangular section and even are flat. Today they are recognized as classic examples of the balustrade of the Roman Sistine Chapel. In them, the gaps between the columns are calculated so that the areas of the balusters and cut-outs themselves are almost equal, and this allows harmonizing their drawings harmoniously.

Why is she in the kitchen

For what you need a fence in the garden or park - it's understandable. But why do we need a kitchen balustrade? It is a decorative element designed to decorate open shelves or top sections, as well as serve as an obstacle to the fall of various objects. Decorated with this element, the kitchen looks stylish and elegant.

They produce such decorative furniture fences from different types of wood such as oak, alder and ash. They can be painted immediately after manufacture - they do not require grinding.