ironframed

Ironframed is a term used in architecture to describe buildings whose structural skeleton is formed primarily of iron members, such as columns and beams, connected by riveted joints. It denotes a phase in construction where iron, rather than wood or masonry, provides the essential load-bearing framework.

Emerging in the 18th and 19th centuries, iron-framed construction developed as iron production and metallurgy advanced. Cast iron was commonly used for decorative façades and certain structural elements, while wrought iron offered greater ductility for frames. Joints were typically riveted, and builders could achieve longer spans and larger openings than traditional load-bearing masonry. However, iron frames were susceptible to weight and fire-related concerns, and early iron frames could be brittle under certain loads.

Iron-framed structures influenced later steel-frame construction and the development of the modern high-rise. The approach contributed to industrial aesthetics, with exposed ironwork and a visible skeleton that contrasted with masonry infill.

Today the term is primarily of historical interest, used by historians and conservationists to describe a particular stage in the evolution of building technology. Some surviving iron-framed buildings are preserved as industrial heritage assets.