halfpilasters

Halfpilaster is an architectural term describing a pilaster that is applied to a wall but projects only partially from it. Unlike a full pilaster, which reads as a more three‑dimensional, freestanding member, a halfpilaster presents a shallow, flattened projection that emphasizes the vertical line without a strong sense of depth.

Typically, a halfpilaster imitates the form of a pilaster shaft, base, and capital at a reduced scale or simplified profile. It is used to create visual rhythm along a wall, frame openings, or articulate corners and bays without the weight or expense of a fully modeled pilaster. In interiors and on façades, halfpilasters often accompany cornices, friezes, and other horizontal members to organize space and reflect classical or neoclassical orders.

Materials and construction vary: halfpilasters can be carved from stone, cast in plaster or stucco, or applied as a wood or plaster applique. In many cases they are integrated into the wall face, functioning primarily as decorative elements, though they may also help align and organize architectural divisions.

In architectural history, halfpilasters appear in classical traditions and revivals, where they provide a lighter alternative to full pilasters while preserving the visual language of pilastering. They are distinguished from fully projecting pilasters and from engaged columns by their reduced projection and emphasis on planar treatment of the wall.