clasping buttress

architecture

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June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

In architecture, a buttress is an exterior support, typically made of masonry, that projects from a wall. Its primary function is to strengthen the wall or counteract the outward thrust generated by arches or roofs. While buttresses have been used since ancient times, they are particularly associated with Gothic architecture, where they evolved into the more complex flying buttress.

A clasping buttress is a type of corner buttress that supports intersecting walls by encircling the corner. Buttresses can serve both practical and decorative purposes, with designs carved into them or added as ornaments like pinnacles.1

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buttress
of corner buttresses—diagonal, angle, clasping, and setback—that support intersecting walls.
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of corner buttresses—diagonal, angle, clasping, and setback—that support intersecting walls.
Read More