kolonnubundin

Kolonnubundin is a term occasionally encountered in architectural theory and speculative design to denote a hypothetical system for binding a row of columns into a single structural unit. The word blends elements meaning column (kolonn) and binding (bundin), suggesting its function as a jointing mechanism within a colonnade. The usage is not common in mainstream architectural discourse and there is little to no attested historical practice by that exact name.

In concept, kolonnubundin would use a central spine, continuous anchor points at bases or capitals, and connectors such as timber pins, metal ties, or composite plates to transfer lateral forces and distribute axial load across multiple columns. Proponents argue that such a system could improve stiffness, reduce differential settlement, and enable modular construction of long colonnades. Critics counter that standard base treatments, entablature transfer, and reliable column-to-ground connections already address these concerns, and that a formalized binding system across multiple columns risks complicating maintenance and deterioration management.

Because the term is scarcely used in primary sources, it remains largely theoretical and occasional in modern discussion, including some design experiments and theoretical explorations rather than a documented historical technique.

Kolonnubundin thus functions more as a conceptual placeholder in discussions of modularity and jointing in architecture than as an established technique.