aisled

Aisled is an architectural term used to describe a building that contains one or more aisles—long passageways running parallel to the main central space and separated from it by rows of columns or arches. In churches and basilicas, the central space is the nave; the side passageways are the aisles, creating a nave-and-aisle configuration that influences light and circulation.

In ecclesiastical architecture, aisled plans range from single-aisled churches to multi-aisled interiors with two, three, or more aisles. The aisles typically run the full length of the building, separated from the nave by arcades of columns or piers, and may extend into the chancel or apse. The arrangement shapes interior proportions and vaulting, and clerestories are often used to bring light into the nave.

Outside religious buildings, aisled layouts occur in secular spaces such as market halls, libraries, and large halls, where parallel aisles organize space for displays, seating, or stalls. Aisled plans are characteristic of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, and their later revivals, and they remain a common feature in various historic and contemporary buildings.

Etymology: The term aisled derives from the noun aisle, from Old French aisle, from Late Latin ala, wing, reflecting the concept of side passageways flanking a central space.