pilaster

A pilaster is a shallow, rectangular vertical projection applied to or embedded in a wall. It resembles a column but is not freestanding; it is attached to the wall and typically features a base, a shaft, and a capital, though the projection is much flatter than a true column.

In classical architecture, pilasters serve to articulate a wall, frame openings, and contribute to the rhythm of a façade. They may be purely decorative or functionally related to the entablature, helping to visually support a cornice line. Pilasters can give a sense of architectural order and proportion even when they carry little or no structural load.

Common varieties include the blind pilaster, which is a decorative projection with no structural function; the engaged pilaster (or pilaster strip), which is attached to the wall and may project only slightly; and full pilasters that resemble miniature columns in form. The capital styles often echo the architectural orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan), although a pilaster may not bear the complete set of column features.

Originating in ancient Greek and Roman architecture, pilasters were widely used to express order and hierarchy on façades. They were revived and adapted during the Renaissance and remained prominent in Baroque, Neoclassical, and later architectural styles. Today, pilasters are commonly employed in both interiors and exteriors as decorative elements that reinforce symmetry and articulation of wall surfaces.