Kolonnás

Kolonnás is a Hungarian architectural term used to describe a space, street, or façade characterized by a row of columns forming a colonnade (kolonnád). The word derives from the Latin columna and is used to indicate an architectural feature that creates shelter, rhythm and a shaded passage.

In a kolonnás structure, columns are evenly spaced and support an entablature or arches. The arrangement may be a continuous arcade between walls or free-standing columns forming a portico or cloister. Materials include stone, brick, or concrete, and the columns may follow classical orders or be simplified to suit the building’s style.

Historically, kolonnás elements appear in classical Greek and Roman architecture and in later revival styles, such as Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture. In Hungarian and Central European contexts, many city streets, courtyards, or public buildings feature kolonnád façades that provide both shelter and a monumental rhythm.

Functionally, kolonnás designs delineate pedestrian spaces, create shaded promenades, and emphasize hierarchy and perspective in urban design. The term is commonly used in descriptions of architecture and town planning and often appears in guidebooks and architectural histories as a descriptor of arcaded, column-lined environments.